LEVITICUSLeviticus 19:1-2

The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them:

'Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy. ...

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS

Let's get the big picture of Leviticus and of its

position in History and in the Bible.  In other words, let's put this book in its

context. 

HOW MANY BOOKS ARE THERE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE?

73!

AND HOW MANY BOOKS ARE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?

46!

AND HOW MANY BOOKS ARE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

27!

WHERE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IS LEVITICUS

PLACED? IE. IS IT THE FIRST BOOK? OR THE SECOND? THE THIRD, OR WHAT?

Leviticus is the 3rd Book of the Bible and it is one of 5 books which are

known collectively as the Pentateuch! 

PENTA - TEUCH

The penta part of the

word means FIVE.

The teuch part of the

word means

VOLUME.

DID YOU KNOW…

that originally the Old Testament books did NOT have names or titles (such as Genesis,

Exodus, Leviticus, etc.)? 

The names of the Old Testament books did not come about until the time they were

being translated into the Greek Septuagint. 

It seems that the scholars who were translating the books from the Hebrew into

the Greek gave the books their names!

DIFFERENT TITLES… Until that time, they were referred to by the

first word of each book!

Genesis "beginning"

Exodus “to go out”

Leviticus “Wayyiqra” or "and He called" 

ABOUT HOW MANY YEARS

DOES THE ENTIRE

PENTATEUCH COVER?

Approximately 2760 years

LEVITICUS

Covers a span ofAbout

30 days

SO WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

This book is basically teaching

the young Jewish Nation that their

God is HOLY and that they (and all mankind)

are ....gasp... sinners!!!!

LEVITICUS FACTS The Key Verse of Leviticus, the verse

that summarizes what Leviticus is teaching is:

Leviticus 19:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the

entire assembly of Israel and say to them:

'Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy. ...

BASIC OUTLINE OF LEVITICUS

Chapters 1-16 = Details concerning the way to approach God by Sacrifices and Offerings

Chapters 17-27 = The walk of Holiness  before God by separation from the world

LEVITICUS FACTS Leviticus is the FIRST BOOK that a

Jewish child studies !!!!  

Why? 

It was essential that they know and observe

God's Laws. 

LEVITICUS FACTSOne significant word is used OVER 80 TIMES in Leviticus!  

Astounding!  

Can you guess what that word is? 

HOLY!

ARE THE LAWS IN LEVITICUS FAIR?

Leviticus is a popular book for

skeptics to quote when attacking the Bible. The lengthy lists of

rules are easy to misrepresent when

separated from scriptural and historical context.

There is no question that some of what is described in Leviticus would be considered harsh by the standards of modern society.

FOR EXAMPLE… Don't let cattle graze with other

kinds of Cattle (Leviticus 19:19)

People who have flat noses, or is blind or lame, cannot go to an altar of God (Leviticus 21:17-18)

If a If the priest's daughter is a prostitute, she is to be burnt at the stake. 

(Leviticus 21:9)

Don't cut your hair nor shave. (Leviticus 19:27)

SOME MORE… Psychics, wizards, and so on are to be stoned to death.  (Leviticus 20:27)

If a man sleeps with his wife and her mother they are all to be burnt to death.  (Leviticus 20:14)

Any person who curseth his mother or father, must be killed. (Leviticus 20:9) 

You may not wear clothes made of more than one fabric (Leviticus 19:19)

If a man also lie with another man, as he lieth with a woman, they shall surely be

put to death; their blood shall be upon them." 

Leviticus 20:13

WHY SO HARSH? It is important to remember that much of

Leviticus is God’s response to sin. God has the sovereign authority to impose laws, as well as consequences for those who violate them.

God’s overall purpose in creating these laws was to set the Israelites apart from the other nations around them. God made it clear that He expected obedience to His authority; those who violated the laws had every reason to expect a strong response.

WHY ALL THE FOOD LAWS?

Well, as crazy as they may sound, there were practical reasons for these laws related to health and sanitation.

The flesh of pigs is highly susceptible to trichinosis, a malady easily transmitted to man.

Shellfish can develop a deadly poison if they are not killed and handled properly, etc.

BUT the Hebrew word for clean used in the dietary law means more than just physically clean. It carries the connotation of being “clean from all pollution or defilement . . . and implying that purity which religion requires, and is necessary for communion with God” (Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies, s.v. “clean, cleanse, clear,” p. 78).

FOR EXAMPLE:

A pig could be raised in an incubator on antibiotics, bathed daily,

slaughtered in a hospital operating room, and its carcass sterilized by ultra-violet rays, and would still be considered “unclean.”

God was using the diet as a teaching tool. People may forget or neglect prayer, play, work, or worship, but they seldom forget a

meal.

At every meal a formal choice was made, generating quiet self-discipline.

WHY SHOULD NATURAL BODILY FUNCTIONS RENDER ONE UNCLEAN?

“The term unclean in this and the following cases, is generally understood in a mere legal sense, the rendering a person unfit for sacred ordinances” (Clarke, Bible Commentary, 1:559).

The more nearly one approached perfection in

the performance of the law, the more closely one

approached the true symbolic

meaning of the ordinance.

The physical body and its natural functions remind one that he is of the earth, of the physical.

Therefore, to say that a man or woman was unclean (that is, not to perform sacred ordinances) at certain times was to suggest to the mind that the natural man must be put aside in order to approach God.

IN SUMMARY!

If we are to be God’s people, we must become different from other peoples. We must be set apart, or separated, from the influences of the world. To

ancient Israel God gave commandments not only to help

them remain physically and spiritually clean but also to help them

learn of and remember Him.

IN THE WILDERNESSA life-size replica of the biblical tabernacle has been constructed at Timna Park.  While no original materials (e.g., gold, silver, bronze) have been used, the model is accurate in every other way based upon the biblical description. 

THE OUTER COURTThe bronze laver and bronze altar were located in the outer court.  The altar was 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet high, was made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, and had a horn on each corner.  The fire on the altar was to be kept burning at all times and the daily sacrifices were offered in the morning and afternoon.

INSIDE THE TENT

The Altar of Incense

aka "inner altar"

The Ark of the Covenant

Contained the two tablets with the Ten Commandments,

the rod of Aaron that blossomed and the pot of

manna. 

MORE INSIDE THE TENT

The Table of Showbread The Holy Place