Names of the Book
English: | Leviticus |
Hebrew: | ויקרא |
Transliterated: | Vayikra ("And He called") |
Other names: |
Who
Wrote the book: | Moses |
Are the key people: | Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abijah, Eleazar, Ithamar |
Is it written to: | The people of Israel |
What
Worship and the manner of worshiping of holy G-d (Leviticus 1:1-17:16) |
Life and the manner of living a holy life (Leviticus 18:1-27:34) |
When
Was it written: | c 1450-1410 BCE |
Did the events occur: | c 1476 BCE |
Was it canonized: | c 499-100 BCE |
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh) |
Where
Was it written: | On the plains of Moab near Jericho (Deuteronomy 31:9) |
Did the events occur: | Mt. Sinai |
Why
Leviticus was written to inform us that: |
G-d is Holy. |
G-d requires sacrifice to be in His presence. |
G-d requires a life of holiness from His people. |
Introduction
Leviticus is a book of narrative history and law. The book begins where Exodus concludes: Israel is at the foot of Mount Sinai, the glory of the Lord had just filled the newly constructed tabernacle, and nobody, not even Moses, can enter. G-d instructs Moses on the method by which the people can enter the tabernacle and draw near to the presence of the Living G-d. The Levitical priests are given responsibility to guide the nation in approaching and worshiping G-d. The key message is that G-d is holy and He requires His people to be holy. The book also shows that, while G-d has provided a means of cleansing and covering [atoning for] sin so that humanity can approach Him, the service of the Levitical priesthood cannot remove sin.
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