Introduction to Leviticus

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Introduction to Leviticus

• APTS-BIB509

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General The Name

• "Leviticus, the name of the third book of the
  Pentateuch, has nothing to do with Levites. In
  Hellenistic times, the term "Levites" meant
  priests, and this is what the Septuagint and
  Vulgate title Levitikon Leviticus' means. It is
  equivalent to the rabbinic title
  ????????????????? the manual of the Priest' and
  that of the Peshitta ???????????????????? The
  Book of the Priests.' The Levites, however, are
  mentioned only in one small passage of Leviticus
  (25.32-34), almost as an afterthought and in a
  noncultic context." (Milgrom)

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General The Name

• The third book of the Torah is referred to in
  Jewish usage as arqyw, and he called,' the word
  with which it begins. (Harrison)

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Textual Trajectories Qumran

• Total Count 14 Hebrew MSS, Greek Targum
• Proto-Samaritan 4QExod-Levf
• Proto-Masoretic MasLeva MasLevb
• Non-aligned 11Qpaleo-Leva 11QLevb
• Mixed 1Qpaleo-Lev, 2QpaleoLev, 4QLev-Numa,
  4QLevb, 4QLevc, 4QLevd, 4QLeve
• No Assessment 4QpaleoLev 4QLevg (Flint)

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Textual Trajectories Qumran

• . . . the text of Leviticus at Qumran remained
  fluid throughout the life of the community.
  Moreover, its fluidity often preserved
  conflicting testimony, a sure sign of the
  community's sense that "scripture" was not a
  settled textual phenomenon, the parameters of
  which were determined for all time. (Kugler)

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New Qumran Find!
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New Qumran Find!
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New Qumran Find!

• Lev 23.40-44
• Lev 24.16-18
• Proto-MT trajectory

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Textual Trajectories Sam. Pent.

• "When compared with the other books of the
  Pentateuch, Leviticus shows little variation
  between the different texts. Both the Samaritan
  and the Greek texts of Leviticus do not have any
  major expansionistic elements, which are frequent
  in the text of SAM in Exodus, Numbers and
  Deuteronomy. And no serious change of sequence is
  found between MT and SAM in Leviticus (LXX of
  Exodus is well known for this phenomenon). The
  fact that Leviticus is composed mainly of
  religious laws and ceremonial regulations may
  explain why the various texts differ only
  slightly." (Kim)

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Textual Trajectories LXX

• LXX at Qumran
• 4QLXXLeva
• 4QpapLXXLevb

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Textual Trajectories LXX

• Generally the OG of Leviticus attempts to render
  the Hebrew closer than to achieve good Greek
  style like Gen Exod. (Wevers)
• The text is translation Greek and not
  compositional Greek.
• A Late 2nd Cen. MSS

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Textual Trajectories Targum

• The Targumim of Leviticus, although maintaining a
  certain amount of expansion material, tends to
  have less than the other books of the Pentateuch,
  because it is mainly legal and ritual, with only
  a little narrative.
• Qumran 4QTgLev

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General Source Critical Theory

• The Priestly Source (P) is considered to be a
  post-exilic work of priestly origins, while
  chapters 17-27 are said to be part of a Holiness
  Code (H) that is dated to a different time.
• Jacob Milgrom argues that P is pre-exilic
• Traditional Source Criticism argues that P is
  older and used H.
• Israel Knohl argues that the H is older than P
  and is the final editor.

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General Authorship Issues

• "Everywhere Leviticus claims to record what God
  revealed to Moses nowhere does it ever state
  that Moses wrote down what he heard. The book's
  lack of explicitness about it literary origin is
  one reason for the great diversity of views among
  modern scholars." (Wenham)
• 1. Leviticus presupposes that the Laws were given
  to Moses in the Wilderness.
• 2. Nothing in Leviticus outside the possible
  dates of Leviticus.
• 3. Ezekiel quotes or alludes to Leviticus (e.g.,
  Lev 10.10 // Ezek 22.26 Lev 18.5 // Ezek 20.11
  Lev 26 // Ezek 34)

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Structure Simplified Outline

• Lev 1-7 Laws on Sacrifice
• Lev 8-10 Consecration and Institution of Priests
• Lev 11-16 Uncleanness and its Treatment
• Lev 17-27 Prescription for Practical Holiness

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Structure Repetitive Phrases

• 1. Lev 1-3 "a pleasing odor to Yahweh" 1.9, 13,
  17 2.2, 9, 12 3.5, 16 (cf 4.31 23.13 26.31).
• 2. Lev 4-5 "the priest shall make
  atonement...they shall be forgiven 4.20, 26, 31,
  36 5.6, 10, 16, 18.
• 3. Lev 6-7 "this is the law of . . ." 6.9, 14,
  25 7.1, 11, 21.
• 4. Lev 8-10 "as Yahweh commanded (Moses)" 8.4,
  9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 36 9.6, 10, 21 10.15.
• 5. Lev 11-15 "they are unclean" 11.8, 28, 31,
  36, 38, 43. "she shall be clean" 12.2, 5, 7, 8.
  "pronounce him clean (or unclean)" 13.3, 8, 14,
  17, 23, 27, 30. "he shall be clean" 14.7, 9, 20,
  53. "it shall be unclean" 15.4, 6, 9, 18, 19,
  20, 24, 25, etc.

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Structure Repetitive Phrases

• 6. Lev 16 "he shall make atonement" 16.6, 10,
  11, 16, 17, 18, 24, 32, 33, 34.
• 7. Lev 17 "he shall be cut off" 17.9, 10, 14.
• 8. Lev 18-22 "I am Yahweh" 18.2, 4, 5, 6, 21,
  30 19.2, 3, 4, 10, 12, etc. 20.7, 8, 24, 26
  21.12 22.2, 3, 8, 30, 33. "I will set my face
  against" 20.3, 5, 6. "I am Yahweh who sanctify
  you (them)" 21.8, 15, 23 22.9, 16, 32.
• 9. Lev 23 "do no laborious work" 23.7, 8, 21,
  23, 28, 31, 35, 36. "it is a statute forever"
  23.14, 21, 41 24.3.
• 10. Lev 26 "my soul abhors" 26.11, 15, 30, 43,
  44.
• 11. Lev 27 "holy to Yahweh" 27.(9, 10), 14, 21,
  23, 28, 30, 32, 33.
• (Childs, OT Theology in a Canonical Context,
  158-159

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Canonical Context

• "Both the introduction (1.1) and conclusion
  (27.34) indicate that a continuity with the
  historical setting of the final section of Exodus
  is intended. The laws which comprise Leviticus
  were given to Moses by God at Sinai. (Childs)
• All materials of Leviticus is directly connected
  with the revelation at Sinai.
• Israels laws of impurities are given for the
  purpose of distinguishing between clean and
  unclean and like the law of sacrifice, stem
  directly from the will of God. (Childs)
• Leviticus is structured to emphasize that the
  Laws are to serve as perpetual statutes.

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 1. Prolegomena
• "The theology of Leviticus can hardly be
  discussed in isolation from that of the other
  books of the Pentateuch, particularly of those
  most closely related to it, the books of Exodus
  and Numbers. When these books are read in
  conjunction with Leviticus, some of the
  theological presuppositions of the latter stand
  out the more clearly. For instance Exodus
  describes the making of the Sinai covenant and
  the erection of the tabernacle both these
  institutions are fundamental to the theology of
  Leviticus." (Wenham)

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 2. The Presence of God
• 2.1 God is preeminently present in Worship
• "Leviticus distinguishes between the permanent
  presence of God with his people, a presence which
  is to regulate their whole way of life, and his
  visible presence in glory which was obvious on
  special occasions." (Wenham)
• 2.2 God is present in the peoples Daily Lives
• "God is present . . . even in the mundane duties
  of life. Leviticus knows of nothing that is
  beyond God's control or concern. The whole of
  man's life must be lived out in the presence of
  God." (Wenham)

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 3. Holiness "Be holy, for I am holy" 11.44-45
  19.2 20.26
• 3.1 Word frequency
• Holy vAdq" and it cognates "sanctify,"
  "holiness" occur 152 times in Lev which is about
  20 of the total occurrences in the OT.
• Unclean amej' and its cognates occur 132
  times, which is more than 50 of the total OT
  occurrences.
• Clean rAxj' and related terms occur 74 times,
  which is 35 of the total.
• Profane lLexi occurs 14 times in Lev. out of
  the 66 references in the OT.

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 3.2 Leviticus 10.10
• You are to distinguish between the holy and the
  common, and between the unclean and the clean
  and you are to teach the people of Israel all the
  statutes that the LORD has spoken to them through
  Moses.
• 3.3 Definition
• ". . . holiness, which may be defined basically
  as a state of being in places, objects,
  persons, and time that is commensurate with the
  divine presence. What is not holy, particularly
  what is impure, poses a threat to holiness."
  (Wright)

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 3.4 Holiness characterizes God himself and all
  that belongs to him
• Lev 10.3 "I will maintain my holiness by those
  who are near to me, and I will maintain my honor
  before all the people
• Certain behaviors that desecrate or profane
  that is, make unholy God's name, such as Molech
  worship (Lev 20.3), the priests' performing
  certain illicit funerary practices (21.6), and
  not keeping impurity away from sacrifices (22.2).
  Apparently, any transgression can profane God's
  name (v. 32).

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 3.5 Israel Yhwhs People are Holy
• Peoples sanctity will be seen in Num 6.1-21
  the Nazirite Vow as self-consecration.
• The people's holiness is made analogous to divine
  holiness "You shall be holy for I the Lord your
  God am holy" (Lev 11.44-45 19.2 20.7, 26).
• The mandate that the people be holy as God is
  holy heads a list of various commands in Lev 19.2
  and is associated with a call to general
  obedience in Lev 20.7-8.
• Sabbath (Exod 31.13 Ezek 20.12) Dietary Laws
  (Lev 11.44-45 20.24-26)

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 3.6 Priest A person dedicated to Yhwh
• Priestly holiness in Ritual and Cultic Terms -
  all priests (including the high priest) are
  sanctified by applying ram blood to their bodily
  extremities (symbolically, the part for the
  whole) and sprinkling them with blood taken from
  the altar and oil (29.20-21 30.30 Lev 8.23-24,
  30). The high priest is further sanctified by
  pouring oil on his head (Exod 29.7 Lev 8.12).
• In Lev 21 the Priests are holy via their Behavior

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 3.7 The Problem of the Firstborn Levites
• 3.8 Holy Places The Sanctuary, Camp, and Land
• 3.9 Holy Objects Sanctuary Furniture
  Offerings
• 3.10 Holy Times certain days of the main
  festival are occasions of holiness (Lev 23, Num
  28-29) Sabbath

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 4. A Theology of Sacrifice
• The sacrifices involved three parties God,
  priest and worshipper.
• Sacrifices provided for the restoration of
  relations of God's people with God. The basis is
  the Sinai Covenant which outside of it is the
  realm of death and disorder, within is fellowship
  with God characterized by life, order, harmony
  between God and man.

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The Theology of Leviticus

• 5. The Sinai Covenant
• 5.1 Although the term tyrb is mention only ten
  times in Leviticus and of these 8 are in chapter
  26 2.13 24.8 26.9, 15, 25, 42 (x3), 44, 45,
  yet it is the presupposition of Leviticus.
• 5.2 Three Features of this Law
• The Law is given in the context of Gods grace.
• There is an imperative to Gods relationship with
  his people.
• This Covenant is an eternal covenant.