Voted “the least favourite book of the Bible” [Bible Society] Leviticus is in many ways the small print of the 10 Commandments, which focuses on people’s relationship with God and people’s relationships with each other. Material originating from Moses, passed down by word of mouth, was put together in a “book” by scribes around 700 BC.
In a time when people were very aware of the “holy” and the “profane” the book gives instructions on sacrifice [meaning : “to make sacred”] for people to show their appreciation of God and to make amends when people failed to follow His Commandments. This sacrificial worship provided a ritual “bridge” between the sacred and the profane. Guidance is given for the appointment of a priesthood to enable the sacrificial worship. The book continues with instructions on ritual cleanness and uncleanness – in some ways, rules for health and hygiene as understood at the time – in which blood is seen quite clearly as “life” [17 v 14]. Directions are given for festivals [still followed today in Jewish communities],an annual Day of Atonement, a Year of Jubilee, and a Sabbath Year for the earth to have a rest. The latter two must warm the hearts of those concerned about social justice and ecology.
Whilst many of the requirements of Leviticus were jettisoned by Jesus and the Apostles, Leviticus is still important today. It helps us to understand :
the Jewish faith and practice of Jesus’ time;
the sacrificial theology which is used in the New Testament to describe who Jesus is [eg “Lamb of God”] and the language describing how He won salvation on the cross;
the ritual of this period still influences Christian ritual and worship today;
and how “blood” = “life” and how this relates to the Eucharist, Kosher and Halal foods,
Leviticus can be divided up into the following sections:
1] Rules about sacrifices and offerings : Chapters 1-7 [repetitive!]
2] Ordination instructions : Chapters 8-10
3] Rules about ritual cleanness and uncleanness : Chapters 11-15
4] Day of Atonement : Chapter 16
5] Rules about holiness in life, worship and festivals : Chapters 17-27
Try reading : Chapter 17 “Slaughter of animals”[NB 17 v 14] [re-read where appropriate substituting the word “life” for “blood”]; Chapter 19 v 18 “you shall love your neighbour as yourself”; Chapter 23 “Festivals”; Chapter 25 “The Sabbatical Year” & “Year of Jubilee”; Chapter 26 v 11-13 “God’s vision for His people” & “a prophecy of the coming Messiah” ?
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