The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Torah in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, standing as a central component of the Pentateuch. The name "Leviticus" is derived from the Greek "Leuitikon," which means "pertaining to the Levites," reflecting its content primarily concerned with the duties and rituals of the Levitical priests who served in the sanctuary (Hartley, 1992). The traditional Jewish title for the book, "Vayikra," which translates to "And He called," originates from the opening words of the text, highlighting the divine call to Moses.

Authorship: Traditionally ascribed to Moses, a convention rooted in the documentary hypothesis that suggests the Pentateuch was composed from four main sources. This perspective, while traditional, has been nuanced by modern scholarship that proposes a composite authorship over several centuries, with final redaction likely occurring during the Exilic or post-Exilic period (6th-5th century BCE) (Wenham, 1979).

Date and Setting: The date and setting of the text reflect a complex editorial process, possibly spanning from the 15th to the 5th century BCE. The narrative setting is at Mount Sinai, immediately following the events detailed in the Book of Exodus, focusing on the Israelites' time in the wilderness.

Purpose: Leviticus serves multiple purposes: it prescribes rituals for sacrifices, details laws concerning purity, and outlines the moral and ethical standards for the Israelite community. Its themes include holiness, purity, atonement, and worship, emphasizing the need for God's people to live in a way that reflects the holiness of God (Milgrom, 1991). The book's purpose is not solely legislative but also pedagogical, teaching the community how to maintain a relationship with the divine and each other.

Structure: The structure of Leviticus can be broadly divided into sections on sacrifices (Leviticus 1-7), priestly ordinations (8-10), purity laws (11-15), the Day of Atonement (16), holiness code (17-26), and vows (27). This organization reflects an intricate theological narrative that guides the Israelites on how to be a holy community.

Significance: The significance of Leviticus extends beyond its ancient context, influencing Jewish and Christian liturgical practices and theological reflections. It challenges readers to consider themes of sanctity, community, and ethical living. Its detailed prescriptions for worship and community life underscore the importance of order, ritual, and ethical conduct in maintaining a covenantal relationship with God (Bellinger, 2001).

References:

Hartley, J. E. (1992). Leviticus. Word Books.

Wenham, G. J. (1979). The Book of Leviticus. Eerdmans.

Milgrom, J. (1991). Leviticus 1-16: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible.

Bellinger, W. H. (2001). Leviticus, Numbers. NIBC.

Outline

  I. ​Laws on Sacrifices (Leviticus 1:1 - 7:38)

A. Burnt Offerings (1:1-17)    

  1. Offerings from the Herd (1:1-9) 
  2. Offerings from the Flock (1:10-13) 
  3. Offerings of Birds (1:14-17)

B. ​Grain Offerings (2:1-16)

  1. Raw Grain Offerings (2:1-3)
  2. Baked Grain Offerings (2:4-10)
  3. Grain Offerings of Firstfruits (2:11-16)

C. ​Fellowship Offerings (3:1-17)

  1. From the Herd (3:1-5)
  2. From the Flock (3:6-17)

D. Sin Offerings (4:1 - 5:13)

  1. For a Leader (4:22-26)
  2. For an Individual (4:27-35)
  3. Lesser Sins (5:1-13)

E. Guilt Offerings (5:14 - 6:7)

  1. Violating Sacred Things (5:14-16)
  2. Breaking Faith (5:17-19)
  3. Trespass by Deception (6:1-7)

F. Further Instructions for Priests (6:8 - 7:38)

  1. The Burnt Offering (6:8-13)
  2. The Grain Offering (6:14-23)
  3. The Sin Offering (6:24-30)
  4. The Guilt Offering (7:1-10)
  5. The Fellowship Offering (7:11-38)
II. ​The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons (Leviticus 8:1 - 10:20)

A. ​The Ordination Ceremony (8:1-36)

  1. Preparations for Ordination (8:1-5)
  2. Washing and Dressing Aaron (8:6-13)
  3. The Sin Offering (8:14-17)
  4. The Burnt Offering (8:18-21)
  5. The Ordination Offering (8:22-29)
  6. The Anointing of Aaron (8:30-36)

B. ​​Beginning of Priestly Ministry (9:1-24)

  1. Offerings for Themselves (9:1-14)
  2. Offerings for the People (9:15-21)
  3. Blessing and Glory of the Lord (9:22-24)

C. ​​The Sin of Nadab and Abihu (10:1-20)

  1. Unauthorized Offering and Punishment (10:1-7)
  2. Regulations for Priests (10:8-20)
III. ​Laws of Purity (Leviticus 11:1 - 15:33)

A. ​​Clean and Unclean Animals (11:1-47)

  1. Land Animals (11:1-8)
  2. Water Creatures (11:9-12)
  3. Birds (11:13-19)
  4. Insects and Creeping Things (11:20-23)
  5. Carcasses and Uncleanness (11:24-40)
  6. Summary of Clean and Unclean (11:41-47)

B. ​​​Purification after Childbirth (12:1-8)

  1. Male Child (12:1-4)
  2. Female Child (12:5-8)

C. ​Laws on Skin Diseases (13:1 - 14:57)

  1. Diagnosing Skin Diseases (13:1-46)
  2. Contaminated Garments (13:47-59)
  3. Cleansing from Skin Diseases (14:1-32)
  4. Cleansing of Houses (14:33-53)
  5. Summary of Laws on Skin Diseases (14:54-57)

D. ​Laws on Bodily Discharges (15:1-33)

  1. Male Discharges (15:1-18)
  2. Female Discharges (15:19-30)
  3. Summary of Laws on Discharges (15:31-33)
IV. ​Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1 - 16:34)

A. ​​​Rituals for Atonement (16:1-34)

  1. Preparation of Aaron (16:1-4)
  2. Sin Offering for Aaron and His Family (16:5-14)
  3. Atonement for the Holy Place (16:15-19)
  4. Scapegoat Ritual (16:20-22)
  5. Conclusion of the Atonement Rituals (16:23-28)
  6. Annual Observance (16:29-34)
V. ​Laws on Sacrifices (Leviticus 1:1 - 7:38)

A. ​​​​Laws on Sacrifices and Blood (17:1-16)

  1. Proper Place for Sacrifices (17:1-9)
  2. Prohibition Against Eating Blood (17:10-14)
  3. Eating Meat from Hunted Animals (17:15-16)

B. Sexual Morality Laws (18:1-30)

  1. Prohibited Relations (18:1-23)
  2. Consequences and Warnings (18:24-30)

C. ​Various Laws and Regulations (19:1 - 20:27)

  1. Holiness in Personal Conduct (19:1-37)
  2. Punishments for Various Offenses (20:1-27)

D. Regulations for Priests (21:1 - 22:33)

  1. Holiness of Priests (21:1-24)
  2. Holy Offerings and Feasts (22:1-33)

E. Feasts and Festivals (23:1-44)

  1. Sabbath and Passover (23:1-14)
  2. Festival of Weeks (23:15-22)
  3. Festival of Trumpets (23:23-25)
  4. Day of Atonement (23:26-32)
  5. Festival of Booths (23:33-44)

F. Oil for the Lampstand and Bread for the Tabernacle (24:1-9)

  1. The Lampstand (24:1-4)
  2. The Showbread (24:5-9)

G. Blasphemy and Its Punishment (24:10-23)

  1. The Case of Blasphemy (24:10-16)
  2. Laws of Retaliation (24:17-22)
  3. Implementation of the Law (24:23)

H. Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee (25:1-55)

  1. The Sabbatical Year (25:1-7)
  2. The Year of Jubilee (25:8-17)
  3. Laws Concerning Redemption (25:18-34)
  4. Laws on Servitude and Redemption (25:35-55)

I. Blessings for Obedience and Penalties for Disobedience (26:1-46)

  1. Blessings for Obedience (26:1-13)
  2. Curses for Disobedience (26:14-39)
  3. God’s Covenant with Israel (26:40-46)
VI. Vows and Offerings (Leviticus 27:1 - 27:34)

A. ​​​​Laws Concerning Vows (27:1-34)

  1. Valuation of Persons (27:1-8)
  2. Valuation of Animals (27:9-13)
  3. Valuation of Houses and Land (27:14-25)
  4. Firstfruits and Tithes (27:26-33)
  5. Summary and Conclusion (27:34)

Priesthood and Sacrificial System: Leviticus outlines the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood, particularly the Aaronic priesthood. It provides detailed instructions for the offering of various sacrifices, such as burnt offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, and peace offerings, which were central to Israelite worship.

Holiness and Purity: A major theme of Leviticus is the concept of holiness, which encompasses moral and ritual purity. The book emphasizes the need for the Israelites to maintain ritual purity through practices such as dietary laws, purification rituals, and restrictions on contact with certain impurities.

Atonement and Forgiveness: Leviticus underscores the idea of atonement for sins through the offering of sacrifices. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is a central observance in the book, highlighting the annual purification of the Tabernacle and the people.

The Tabernacle: The book provides instructions for the construction and dedication of the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where God's presence dwells among the Israelites. The Tabernacle serves as the central place of worship and sacrifice.

Moral and Ethical Laws: Alongside the ritual and ceremonial regulations, Leviticus contains ethical and moral laws that govern daily life. These laws include commands related to justice, honesty, love for one's neighbor, and care for the vulnerable.

Forbidden Practices: Leviticus explicitly forbids various practices and behaviors, including idolatry, divination, sorcery, and sexual immorality. These prohibitions are meant to maintain the holiness and moral integrity of the Israelite community.

Sabbatical and Jubilee Years: The book also introduces the concept of Sabbatical years, during which the land is to lie fallow, and Jubilee years, which entail the release of debts and the return of ancestral land to its original owners.

Exodus
Summaries
Numbers