Leviticus

An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture

Mark Rooker, Dennis R. Cole

• Publisher: Holman Reference
• Year: 2000
• Print ISBN: 9780805401035
• eBook ISBN: 9781433676307
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY is for the minister or Bible student who wants to understand and expound the Scriptures. Notable features include:* commentary based on THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION;* the NIV text printed in the body of the commentary;* sound scholarly methodology that reflects capable research in the original languages;* interpretation that emphasizes the theological unity of each book and of Scripture as a whole;* readable and applicable exposition.

SECTION OUTLINE

I. LAWS CONCERNING OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES (1:1–7:38)

1. God Commissions the Sacrificial System (1:1–2)

2. The Burnt Offering Sacrifice (1:3–17)

(1) Burnt Offering from the Herd (1:3–9)

(2) Burnt Offering from the Flock (1:10–13)

(3) Burnt Offering from the Fowl (1:14–17)

(4) Conclusion

3. The Grain Offering (2:1–16)

(1) Uncooked Grain Offerings (2:1–3)

(2) Cooked Grain Offering (2:4–10)

(3) Additional Regulations Concerning Grain Offerings (2:11–16)

(4) Conclusion

4. The Fellowship Offering (3:1–17)

(1) Fellowship Offering from the Herd (3:1–5)

(2) Fellowship Offering from the Flock (3:6–11)

(3) Fellowship Offering from the Goats (3:12–17)

(4) Conclusion

5. The Sin Offering (4:1–5:13)

(1) Introduction to the Sin Offering (4:1–2)

(2) Sin Offering for Inadvertent Sin of High Priest (4:3–12)

(3) Sin Offering for Inadvertent Sin of Congregation (4:13–21)

(4) Sin Offering for Inadvertent Sin of Ruler (4:22–26)

(5) Sin Offering for Inadvertent Sin of Individual (4:27–35)

(6) Sin Offering for Specific Inadvertent Offenses (5:1–13)

(7) Conclusion

6. The Guilt Offering (5:14–6:7[MT 5:26])

(1) Guilt Offerings for Inadvertent Sin (5:14–19)

(2) Guilt Offerings for Deliberate Sin (6:1–7)[MT 5:20–26]

(3) Conclusion

7. Disposal of Offerings (6:8[1]–7:36)

(1) Disposal of the Burnt Offering (6:8–13[6:1–6])

(2) Disposal of the Grain Offering (6:14–18[6:7–11])

(3) Daily Grain Offering of the High Priest (6:19–23[6:12–16])

(4) Disposal of the Sin Offering (6:24–30 [6:17–23])

(5) Disposal of the Guilt Offering (7:1–10)

(6) Disposal of the Fellowship Offering (7:11–21)

(7) Eating of Fat and Blood (7:22–27)

(8) Priests' Share of the Fellowship Offering (7:28–36)

8. Summary (7:37–38)

I. LAWS CONCERNING OFFERINGS
AND SACRIFICES (1:1–7:38)

At the close of the Book of Exodus the construction of the tabernacle is complete, for Moses and the Israelites have faithfully carried out the instructions given to them by God. Leviticus opens with God's call from the newly constructed tabernacle. Now the Lord will provide instructions for the operation of the sacrificial system. The communication of these instructions in the wake of the completion of the tabernacle underscores the preeminence of the sacrificial system in Israel's relationship with God. Here Moses explains how it is possible for the holy God to reside among sinful people. God's presence may reside among the Israelites through the instrumentation of sacrifices. The instruction of the sacrifices in Lev 1:1–7:38 has another function as well in the narrative structure of the Pentateuch. In Exodus 28–29 God had given Moses instructions for the ordination of the priesthood. This ceremony includes the offering of sacrifices. Hence, the instruction for sacrifices must be given before the priests can be inaugurated to their office. After the instructions for sacrifices are given in 1:1–7:38, the narrative immediately turns to the inauguration of the priests (Lev 8–9).

Leviticus 1–7 discusses the main components of the Israelite sacrificial system. In 1:1–6:7 the prescriptions for the sacrificial system are described from the perspective of the individual presenting the offering, while in 6:8–7:38 the laws are detailed from the standpoint of the priests who were the primary handlers of the offerings. The common denominator of these offerings is that they arise out of an unpredictable circumstance in the Israelite's religious life and are thus distinguished from public sacrifices, which were carried out at set occasions determined by Israel's religious calendar (Num 28–29).¹ Leviticus 7 (7:37–38) concludes the instruction regarding personal offerings by repeating information from the opening of the book (1–2a), suggesting that the entire section should be viewed as a unit.² The sacrifices described in Leviticus 1–7 remind us of the basic needs we have as God's people: commitment to God, communion with God, and cleansing from God.³

The offerings of 1:1–6:7 should be divided into two categories. The first three offerings—the burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings—were voluntary acts offered to God without a stated reason. The latter two offerings, the sin and guilt offerings, on the other hand, were obligatory and were mandated upon the violation of a particular statute.⁴ The first category of sacrifices resulted in an “aroma pleasing to the LORD” (1:3-3:17), while the result of the last two offerings (4:1-6:7) was to declare the offerer forgiven of sin.⁵

Leviticus 1 neatly divides into three sections following the two introductory verses (1:1-2), which not only introduce the book as a whole but introduce the first section of offerings and sacrifices as well. Leviticus 1:2 is a general statement (introduced by the particle

“when”) that encapsulates the entire Israelite sacrificial system and thus functions as the introduction to the first major section, 1:3-7:38. The verse states that offerings were to be from either the herd or the flock. Following this general statement are three sections introduced by three subordinate clauses. These clauses are structurally similar in that each begins with the particle

“if” (vv. 3, 10, 14),⁶ and ends with the statement, “It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD” (vv. 9, 13, 17).⁷

Thus Leviticus 1 may be divided into four parts, vv. 1-2, 3-9, 10-13, and 14-17. After the introductory statements in vv. 1-2 each of the three main sections of the chapter deal with four phases of the sacrificial process: presentation of the victim (vv. 3, 10, 14), slaughter of the victim (vv. 5, 11, 15), disposal of blood (vv. 5, 11, 15), and disposal of flesh (vv. 8-9, 12-13, 15, 17).⁸

1. God Commissions the Sacrificial System (1:1-2)

¹ The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, ²“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

1:1 Leviticus 1:1 records God calling Moses from the tabernacle and connects the narrative to Exod 40:34-35, where it is recorded that Moses could not enter the Tent due to the presence of the Lord residing there.⁹ The uniqueness of God's call to Moses in the opening of Leviticus is suggested from the fact that this is the only occasion where God's voice comes to Moses from the Tent. Elsewhere, the voice of the Lord emanates from the Ark, where Moses is positioned inside the Tent but outside the veil (see Exod 25:22, 30, 36; Num 7:89; 17:19).¹⁰

The Tent of Meeting,¹¹ the visible sign of God's presence for the Israelites, is another name for the tabernacle,

¹² and is to be distinguished from the Tent of Meeting that Moses set up outside the camp in Exod 33:7.¹³ The Tent housed the Ark (the special place of the Lord's ...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half Title
• Editors
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Editor's Preface
• Author's Preface
• Abbreviations
• Table of Contents
• Leviticus
• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Four
• Chapter Five
• Chapter Six
• Selected Bibliography
• Selected Subject Index
• Person Index
• Selected Scripture Index