You could sum up the book of leviticus with gods repeated command. The book covers the laws given by god for sacrifices, offerings, prescriptions for various types of uncleanness, lawfull and prohibited food to. It lies in the center of the pentateuch, between exodus and numbers. The book opens and closes at the same geographical spot, mount sinai, where god gave the law. Holiness is spoken of 152 times in the book of leviticus. The name leviticus was given to the third book of the pentateuch by the ancient greek translators because a good part of this book deals with concerns of the priests, who are of the tribe of levi. This book explores how the sacrificial rituals and purity practices cleared the way for. All the ceremonial to do with their consecration was a vivid reminder of the importance given to their function. Leviticus 1, new international version niv the bible app. The book of leviticus was written between 1440 and 1400 b. The book of leviticus also describes the duties of priests during the time of the old testament. Helminiak, a christian author and theologian says the antigay unnatural hullabaloo rests on a mistranslation and that nowhere does the bible actually oppose homosexuality.
But we do not obey all the rules in leviticus today, because we trust jesus see galatians 3. New testament writers quote the book of leviticus over 15 times. These passages also describe how to use the altar for the sacrifices and the offerings to god. It gives details about sacrifices, laws and rules for worship within the temple and for the people of israel living in community together. A knowledge of the book of leviticus would accomplish that. The holy bible book 03 leviticus kjv dramatized audio. The book of leviticus niv audio holy bible youtube. Moses anoints and ordains aaron and his sons as priests before the whole assembly of israel.
The word holy is mentioned more times in leviticus, than any other book in the bible. Leviticus is basically a text book for the priests, who were from the tribe of levi. This whole book is about how the nation of israel needs to live in order to survive living in the presence of such a powerful, holy. Because the israelites had been held captive in egypt for 400 years, the concept of god had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan egyptians. The third book of moses leviticus from the holy bible new international version niv book 3 please note we have increased the volume and the pitch of the audio for a clearer sound, so. To many, this book is like a stretch of desert where the bones of their good intentions bleach in an endless wasteland of ancient sacrifices and strange laws. The book of leviticus is the third book of the old testament. Then aarons sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar. The sons of aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Learning through leviticus, volume ii thru the bible books, pasadena, 1980 p.
Moses pled for the children of israel in this instance exodus chapter 32. While the book addresses issues of the levites responsibilities, much more significantly, all the priests are instructed in how they are to assist the people in worship, and the people are informed about how to live a holy life. King james version this book is named for the priestly tribe of levi and is made up of laws concerning rituals and ceremonies. Various laws the lord said to moses, speak to the entire assembly of israel and say to them. Milgrom interpretation, a prolegomenon to leviticus 17. The word qodesh occurs over a hundred times in the hebrew text of leviticus. Genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, deuteronomy the schocken bible, volume 1 paperback february 8, 2000.
Commentary on the book of leviticus by matthew henry old. The purpose of leviticus is to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed. The book of leviticus is the third book of the bible, in the group of five books known as the books of the law. It is mentioned here more than any other book of the bible. The priest will then burn it on the altar, on the wood which is on the fire, as a burnt offering, food burnt as a smell pleasing to yahweh. God was teaching his people that they were to be set apart or separated for holiness. Does leviticus seem intimidating because holy is its major term.
The book of leviticus contains many rules for the hebrew people. Summary of the book of leviticus the story of the bible. The following scripture is from the authorized king james version of the holy bible, now in the public domain. In the book of leviticus, the children of israel were marking time at mount sinai. The book of leviticus was the first book studied by a jewish child. God gives instructions about clean and unclean food. Bible commentary produced by tow project the book of leviticus is grounded in the truth that god is holy. The book of leviticus, the new international commentary on the old testament eerdmans, michigan, 1979 p. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. God invites israel to live in close proximity to his holy presence. Book of leviticus overview insight for living ministries.
Leviticus 19 niv various laws the lord said to moses, bible. This is the holy book of leviticus, known as the third book of moses called leviticus. The first part of the book of leviticus deals with offerings and the one that was offered and the last part of the book deals with feasts. Written by the prophet moses in the wilderness of sinai, apparently in 1512 b. The holy bible book 03 leviticus kjv dramatized audio duration. The foundational concept of holiness in leviticus bible. Leviticus 1 niv the burnt offering the lord called to bible.
Canon tristram, speaking of the remarkable discoveries regarding the flora and fauna of the holy land by the palestine exploration officers, makes the following statement. Bible survery leviticus hebrew name vayyiqra and he called greek name leviticus from levi author moses date 1490 bc approximately. The book of leviticus is the third book of the torah and of the old testament. Understanding the book of leviticus for today by ralph. Highlights from the book of leviticus watchtower online. It is a part of the pentateuch, the first five books of the bible. This is an indepth study on the book of leviticus, which was written in order to reveal how a sinful israel could have and maintain a relationship with the holy yahweh who dwelt among them and could express that relationship through worship. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Just like the israelites, we are to be different from the world.
Gods laws and regulations about priests and offerings, holy days, festivals, the sabbath. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Leviticus is a manual of regulations enabling the holy king to set up his earthly throne among the people of his kingdom. Leviticus bible study outlinecontents by chapter and verse. People who set out to read the bible straight through often stop at leviticus. Todays readers are often put off by the book s lists of laws regarding diet, sacrifice, and social behavior. The book of leviticus easyenglish bible worship the lord in the beauty of holiness leviticus a commentary by gordon churchyard sacrifices that god accepts leviticus 17 a commentary by gordon churchyard holy priests and a holy nation leviticus 816 a commentary by gordon churchyard be holy because i am holy leviticus 1722. Bible scholar idan dershowitz concludes there is good evidence that an earlier version of the laws in leviticus 18 permitted sex between men.