Introduction to Leviticus 18 February 2007 1 Leviticus

Introduction to Leviticus 18 February 2007 1

Leviticus It’s name is taken from the priestly tribe of Levi 2

Leviticus Background Ø Shows how God’s people fulfill their priestly calling Ø Led out of slavery and into the sanctuary of God Ø Israel must move from salvation to service: Ø Israel must move from deliverance to dedication Ø It talks about animal sacrifice for the atonement of the people’s sin Ø It also talks about series of strict laws to govern all aspects of daily life, worship and service 3

Leviticus Outline Ø Lev. 1 – 3 – Sweet Savor Sacrifices Ø Lev. 4 - 7 – Non-sweet Savor Sacrifices Ø Lev. 8 - 10 – Priestly Roles in the Sacrifices Ø Lev. 11 - 15 – Personal Purity for God’s People Ø Lev. 16 - 17 – Instructions For The Altar Ø Lev. 18 - 20 – Holiness For The Individual Ø Lev. 21 - 23 – Holy Priests And Yearly Feasts Ø Lev. 24 - 27 – Holiness In The Promised Land 4

Leviticus 1 -3 Sweet Savor Sacrifices Ø Burnt Offering Ø Grain Offering Ø Fellowship Offering 5

Leviticus 4 -7 Non-sweet Savor Sacrifices Ø Sin Offering Ø Guilt offering 6

Leviticus 8 -10 Priestly Roles in the Sacrifices 7

Leviticus 11 -15 Personal Purity for God’s People Ø Clean and Unclean Food Ø Purification After Childbirth Ø Regulations And Cleansing From Infectious Skin Diseases Ø Regulations and Cleansing From Mildew Ø Discharges Causing Uncleanness 8

Leviticus 16 -17 Instructions For The Altar Ø Day Of Atonement Ø Eating Blood Forbidden 9

Leviticus 18 -20 Holiness For The Individual Ø Unlawful Sexual Relations Ø Various laws Ø Punishments For Sins 10

Leviticus 21 -22 Rules for Priests 11

Jewish Calendar Sacred Civil Name of Months Farm Season 1 7 Nisan -- Mar-Apr Barley Harvest 2 8 Iyyar -- Apr-May Barley Harvest 3 9 Sivan -- May-Jun Wheat Harvest 4 10 Tammuz -- Jun-Jul Grape Harvest 5 11 Ab -- Jul-Aug Olive Harvest 6 12 Elul -- Aug-Sep Dates-Figs Harvest 7 1 Tishri -- Sep-Oct Early Rains 8 2 Heshvan -- Oct-Nov Plowing 9 3 Kieslev -- Nov-Dec Wheat-Barley Sowing 10 4 Tebeth -- Dec-Jan Winter Rains 11 5 Shebat -- Jan-Feb Almond Bloom 12 6 Adar -- Feb-Mar Citrus Harvest/Latter Rains Adar Sheni Intercalary Month 13 Feast Passover Pentecost Tabernacles 12

Leviticus 23 – Annual Feasts 1. The Passover § 1 st month, 14 th day of religious year § March or April of Roman Calendar 13

Leviticus 23 – Annual Feasts 2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread § A High Sabbath (See also Dt. 16: 16) § All men must appear at tabernacle § OK to work 6 days unless it was a normal Sabbath § Rest on 7 th day § 1 st month, 15 th – 21 st days of religious year § March or April of Roman Calendar § To commemorate the Exodus from Egypt 14

Leviticus 23 – Annual Feasts 3. The Feast of Firstfruits § Also called Pentecost § Also called Feast of Weeks § Also called the Feast of the Harvest § A High Sabbath § 3 rd month, 6 th – 12 th days of religious year § May or June of Roman Calendar § After the barley and wheat harvests § Coincided with the giving of the Law 15

Leviticus 23 – Annual Feasts 4. The Feast of Trumpets § Also called Rosh Hashanah § “Rosh” = head; “Hashanah” = year § 7 th month, 1 st day of religious year § Beginning of civil year § Sept. or October of Roman Calendar § After all the harvests § To blow trumpets § No work allowed 16

Leviticus 23 – Annual Feasts 5. Day of Atonement § Also called Yom Kippur § 7 th month, 10 th day § Sept. or October of Roman Calendar § Day of fasting and prayer § No work allowed § Annual sacrifice for sins of the people § Picture of what Christ did later on the cross 17

Leviticus 23 – Annual Feasts 6. The Feast of Tabernacles § Also called the Feast of Booths § Also called the Feast of Ingathering § For thanksgiving for all the harvests § To remember when Israel lived in tents § A High Sabbath § 7 th month, 15 th – 21 th days of religious year § Sept. or October of Roman Calendar 18

Leviticus 24 -27 Holiness In The Promised Land Ø Provision For The Sanctuary Ø Protection For The Land Ø The Sabbath Year Ø The Year Of Jubilee Ø Reward For Obedience Ø Punishment For Disobedience Ø Vows and Tithes 19

Bibliography Special thanks goes to the following: § Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa for their information in Talk Thru the Bible § Walt Henrichsen for his wisdom and insight shared during Bible studies he has led and in books, articles and e-mails he has written § Edward Reese for his chronology and dating in The Reese Chronological Bible 20