Leviticus was written to the hebrew people of israel. Books of the bible click on a book listed below which will take you to its introduction page. In this coming weeks study i will attempt to not only familiarize you with this book, but also explain how it positively affects the debate. Book of leviticus the third book of the old testament. Understanding the book of leviticus for today by ralph. For new testament christians, you should be able to see how these feasts, which were a part of israels yearly.
Rather than being about the levites, the title refers to the usefulness of books contents to the levites in their ministry as priests, worship leaders, and teachers of morality. The book of leviticus is the third of five books of the law of moses, also known as the torah or pentateuch. Oct 08, 2018 this is the third book of the old testament immediately following the book of exodus wherein the hebrews have escaped the control and influence of the egyptians. The book of leviticus was written to elevate gods holiness and impress us with the great value and fantastic provision of entering his presence. Understanding the book of leviticus for today download study. Gods old covenant is replaced by his new covenant as explained in the nt book of acts chapter 2 and hebrews chapters 710. Mathison says this commentary is not only the best commentary on the book of leviticus, it is one of the best commentaries on any book of the bible that i have read. Leviticus emphasizes the importance of holiness and cleanness. But specifically, its a book of rules that the ancient israelites believed they had to follow in. Jul 01, 20 in leviticus, moses continues to list the ways israel can stay pure enough to live alongside their god. Unlike most books of the bible, revelation contains its own title.
The animals body was consumed entirely in the fire b. Aaronmoses older brother and the high priest of israel, aaron is a character to keep an eye on throughout the pentateuch. The law includes the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. Vaikro book of leviticus, warsaw edition, 1860, page 1. Summary of the book of jeremiah the story of the bible. And the lord spoke to moses, saying, speak to the children of israel, and say to them. Book of leviticus simple english wikipedia, the free. In hebrew, nadab and abihu take coals from an outside placethat is, not from the holy altar but from a notholyfied area such as their uncles beat up george foreman grill.
Several old testament books derive their hebrew names in the same manner e. Go to the bottom of that page to see the index chapters, which are hot links. Here are a few other themes to look for in this rich book. Leviticus summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of leviticus for bible study or sunday school lessons. A number of christians would agree with her analysis. This book explores how the sacrificial rituals and. In exodus god saved his people and formed an alliance with them.
The purpose of leviticus is to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed. Leviticus commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The setting of leviticus mainly appears to take place at mt. Although leviticus does not deal only with the special duties of the levites, it is so. His penalty for such behaviour was death, as it was gross wickedness, akin. Leviticus assumes that israel is sinful and impure, and it describes how to deal with sin and impurity so that the holy lord can dwell among his people. It explains how they are to be his holy people and to worship him in a holy manner.
Study the bible online using commentary on leviticus and more. Insists that the events of chapters 622, are yet future, and that those chapters literally and symbolically depict actual people and events yet to appear on the world scene. Leviticus overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, filling six volumes, provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the bible. The book of leviticus was written between 1440 and 1400 b. Read leviticus commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete.
The following are what i believe to be the five most helpful commentaries on the book of leviticus. For instance, the sexual sins listed in leviticus 18 are an elaboration. As a book of the pentateuch, attributed to moses himself, leviticus is considered one of the most sacred books of the bible. The english title, leviticus, is borrowed from the latin vulgate, which, in turn, is derived from the septuagint, the ancient greek translation of the hebrew text. In leviticus, those commandments are elaborated on in detail. Leviticus receives its name from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot and means relating to the levites. Yet it seems of little relevance to christianity, and even provides little practical guidance for jews ever since the dest. Leviticus stresses the role of sacrifice in creating and maintaining right relations between god and man, whereas numbers accentuates the indispensability of the priesthood for preserving the nations spiritual health. As a title, the word is translated from the septuagint, meaning pertaining to the levites, and although that tribe as such is not emphasized throughout the book. For those who have struggled to understand the meaning and relevance of leviticus, a good commentary can shed a lot of light. Again, thou shalt say to the children of israel, whosoever he be of the children of israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in israel, that giveth any of his seed unto molech.
It focuses on the levitical priesthood, who are prominently featured in. Ezras purpose was to accurately record the events of the return from the babylonian exile, after a seventy. We call the book leviticus, from the septuagint, because it contains the laws and ordinances of the levitical priesthood as it is called, hebrews 7. The first word of leviticus in hebrew is wayyiqra and he called and it shows how this book follows right on from the last chapter of the preceding book, exodus. Book of leviticus overview insight for living ministries. Revelation then becomes merely a collection of stories designed to teach spiritual truth. Book of revelation explained scripture by scripture.
Book of leviticus noun the noun book of leviticus has 1 sense 1. The book of leviticus is the book of fellowship or communion. After camping out with the book of leviticus for about 3 monthsreading the scripture and wenhams commentary along the way, i must say i agree 100%. Like the sun, gods presence is good, but dangerous. Book of isaiah, one of the major prophetical writings of the old testament. After camping out with the book of leviticus for about 3 monthsreading the scripture and wenhams commentary along the way, i. For, behold, i have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of judah.
Leviticus 10 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Leviticus lihvihtihkus is the third book of both the bible, and the torah. Ezra is a book of narrative history and genealogies. Leviticus overview matthew henrys complete commentary. In the past, ive oftentimes been unexcited about reading leviticus. But this third book of the pentateuch also illustrates that god was concerned that his people do what is right, and do it in the right way. The feasts of the lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are my feasts. Numbers reiterates the value of faith and obedience. When i embarked on this reading that old feeling was there but i wasam convinced that each book of the bible is important, because god had them included. Dec 23, 2010 if we wish to walk in our lords steps and think his thoughts after him, we must attempt to understand the sacrificial system of leviticus p. For instance, this morning i was reading about the feasts recorded in leviticus 23. 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.
Books of the bible explained scripture by scripture. Leviticus overview matthew henrys complete commentary on. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible and describes the exodus, which includes the israelites deliverance from slavery in egypt through the hand of yahweh, the revelations at biblical mount sinai, and the subsequent divine indwelling of god with israel exodus is traditionally ascribed to moses, but modern scholars see its initial composition as a product of the babylonian. Leviticus means concerning the levites and as the work of the ancient levites is explained so the prophesied work. Bible q where did leviticus and the levites get their names. Leviticus is a book of laws, but its also a book of worship. Leviticus with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The levites were principally charged with these institutions, both to do their part and to teach the people theirs. Leviticuss narrative elements have a lot to do with aaron. Understanding the book of leviticus for today by ralph drollinger. But within these highly detailed directives we discover the holinessthe. Old testament the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people. Revelation greek apokalupsis means an uncovering, an unveiling, or a disclosure. So reading leviticus typologically and eschatologically e.
Its hebrew title, wayyiqra, is the first word in the hebrew text of the book and means and he i. And he called third book of the latin vulgate bible, the name of which designates its contents as a book or manual primarily concerned with the priests and their duties. Summary of the book of leviticus the story of the bible. The key personalities of leviticus include moses, aaron, nadab, abihu eleazar, and ithamar. May 27, 2015 leviticus is a book of laws, but its also a book of worship. Enduring word bible commentary leviticus chapter 23. Book of leviticus synonyms, book of leviticus pronunciation, book of leviticus translation, english dictionary definition of book of leviticus. The superscription identifies isaiah as the son of amoz and his book as the vision of isaiah. After the publication of the two books of kings explained, in the early part of the year 1905, several very favourabl enotices of that work appeared in various periodicals. No other marriage definition affords such positive benefits to a culture. The title of leviticus comes from the ancient greek septuagint, which named the book leueitikon, meaning the book of the levites. Following the introductory materials is the commentary proper. Readers may find leviticus difficult to understand because they lack firsthand experience of the practices it describes. Leviticus is composed of two basic genres narrative history and law.
Wenham divides his commentary of the book of leviticus into four major sections. Leviticus tells us that we can have fellowship with god. The purpose of the book of leviticus is to make a clear focus on the holiness of god, and a clear distinction on the sinfulness of man in the light of gods holiness. Reading leviticus can be heavy sledding, but once you get familiar with the terrain, it can be incredibly profitable and encouraging. The book of leviticus was the first book studied by a jewish child.
In leviticus, moses continues to list the ways israel can stay pure enough to live alongside their god. Leviticus expert jacob milgrom notes that one of the main points in this story is the importance of ritual purity, which sets up the books next few chapters. Leviticus is a manual of regulations enabling the holy king to set up his earthly throne among the people of his kingdom. If this incident occurred at the solemn period of the consecrating and dedicating the altar, these young men assumed an office which had been committed to moses. God provides the necessary steps that man needs to take to restore the great fellowship which was lost between god and man as a result of the terrible defilement of sin. This book is filled with details on how the people of god should live, eat, sacrifice, celebrate and more. In leviticus the principles of approaching god are shown. It was written by the old testament patriarch moses. It was a free will offering surrender of life and will to god 1. Key personalities include cyrus, ezra, haggai, zechariah, darius i, artaxerxes i, and zerubbabel. But now there are no jewish priests with the same duties as they had at the time of moses. Understanding the book of leviticus for today n the samesex marriage debate there is increasing reluctance by believers to mention the book of leviticus. How many christians have purposed to read through the entire bible and made it through genesis and exodus only to get bogged down in this seemingly obscure collection of ceremonial laws and rituals. Because the israelites had been held captive in egypt for 400 years, the concept of god had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan egyptians.
It is probably no exaggeration to say that among christians, the book of leviticus is one of the most neglected books in the bible. On this reading of leviticus, i was richly rewarded, more so than ever. We can have fellowship with god because jesus died for us. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible and describes the exodus, which includes the israelites deliverance from slavery in egypt through the hand of yahweh, the revelations at biblical mount sinai, and the subsequent divine indwelling of god with israel. The book in hebrew is named after the first word wayiqra, and he called as the lord called the israelites to be a holy nation. The book has several main topics, some of which are the jewish laws of sacrificing to god, and the work of the priests. The book of leviticus new international commentary on the. Nonetheless, the spiritual principles that are embedded in the old covenant ceremonies, rituals, and laws are timeless and are brought forward in the. The book of leviticus is the third book of the torah and of the old testament. Jun 25, 2008 for those who have struggled to understand the meaning and relevance of leviticus, a good commentary can shed a lot of light. The book of jeremiah introduction to the book of jeremiah in the bible.
God invites israel to live in close proximity to his holy presence. Thus, leviticus is best explained as a guidebook for instructing gods people about holy living and worship. In the new testament, this word describes the unveiling of spiritual truth rom. Although leviticus is basically a book of laws, it also contains some narrative chapters 89, 10. The book of leviticus, wayyiqra, helped the priests to do their work. Book of leviticus definition of book of leviticus by the. Henry maclagan then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures. There is a kind of mental block which most christians seem to have about certain books.
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