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Leviticus

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The Book of Leviticus: The Call to Holiness

Leviticus: Book Overview

  • ​Total Chapters: 27
  • ​Total Verses: 859
  • ​Author: Traditionally attributed to Moses
  • ​Date Written: Approximately 1445–1405 BC

​NIV Chapter Pericopes (Sections)

​The Laws of Sacrifice (Chapters 1–7)

  • ​Chapter 1: The Burnt Offering
  • ​Chapter 2: The Grain Offering
  • ​Chapter 3: The Fellowship Offering
  • ​Chapter 4: The Sin Offering
  • ​Chapter 5: The Guilt Offering
  • ​Chapter 6: Further Instructions for Offerings; The Burnt Offering; The Grain Offering; The Sin Offering
  • ​Chapter 7: The Guilt Offering; The Priests’ Share; The Fellowship Offering; Eating Fat and Blood Forbidden; The Priests’ Share

​The Priesthood (Chapters 8–10)

  • ​Chapter 8: The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons
  • ​Chapter 9: The Priests Begin Their Ministry
  • ​Chapter 10: The Death of Nadab and Abihu; Priestly Regulations

​Uncleanness and Remedy (Chapters 11–15)

  • ​Chapter 11: Clean and Unclean Food
  • ​Chapter 12: Purification After Childbirth
  • ​Chapter 13: Regulations About Defiling Skin Diseases; Regulations About Defiling Molds
  • ​Chapter 14: Cleansing From Defiling Skin Diseases; Cleansing From Defiling Molds
  • ​Chapter 15: Discharges Causing Uncleanness

​The Day of Atonement (Chapter 16)

  • ​Chapter 16: The Day of Atonement

​The Holiness Code (Chapters 17–27)

  • ​Chapter 17: Eating Blood Forbidden; Sacrifice at the Entrance to the Tent
  • ​Chapter 18: Unlawful Sexual Relations
  • ​Chapter 19: Various Laws
  • ​Chapter 20: Punishments for Sin
  • ​Chapter 21: Rules for Priests
  • ​Chapter 22: Unacceptable Sacrifices
  • ​Chapter 23: The Appointed Festivals; The Sabbath; The Passover and Unleavened Bread; Offering the Firstfruits; The Festival of Weeks; The Festival of Trumpets; The Day of Atonement; The Festival of Tabernacles
  • ​Chapter 24: Oil and Bread Set Before the Lord; A Blasphemer Punished
  • ​Chapter 25: The Sabbath Year; The Year of Jubilee; Redemption of Property; Levite Towns; Help for the Poor; Redemption of the Enslaved
  • ​Chapter 26: Reward for Obedience; Punishment for Disobedience
  • ​Chapter 27: Redeeming What Is Lord’s

The Book of Leviticus takes place entirely at the base of Mount Sinai. Exodus ends with God’s glory filling the Tabernacle, Leviticus answers the essential question: How can sinful people survive and thrive in the presence of such a holy God?

Traditionally, the book is organized into two halves:

  1. The Way to God: Through sacrifice and mediation (Chapters 1–16).
  2. The Walk with God: Through holiness and obedience (Chapters 17–27).

I. The Sacrificial System (Chapters 1–7)

God provides a system of sacrifices to address sin and express gratitude. Each offering pointed to the need for a substitute to make “atonement.”

  • Voluntary Offerings: The Burnt, Grain, and Peace offerings allowed individuals to express devotion and thanks to God.
  • Mandatory Offerings: The Sin and Guilt offerings were required to address specific moral and ritual failures, restoring the worshiper’s relationship with God.

II. The Priesthood (Chapters 8–10)

Because God is holy, He appoints mediators to serve as a bridge between Him and the people.

  • Ordination of Aaron: Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons as the first priests of Israel (Lev 8).
  • The First Sacrifices: God’s fire consumes the first offering, showing His acceptance (Lev 9).
  • The Sin of Nadab and Abihu: Aaron’s sons offer “unauthorized fire” and are judged, illustrating the serious nature of approaching God’s presence (Lev 10).

III. Purity and Cleanness (Chapters 11–15)

God provides “purity laws” to distinguish between what is “clean” and “unclean.” These laws governed diet, hygiene, and skin diseases, teaching Israel that holiness extends to every part of physical life.

  • Dietary Laws: Specific animals are set apart as clean or unclean (Lev 11).
  • Laws of Purification: Rules regarding childbirth, infectious diseases, and daily hygiene (Lev 12–15).

IV. The Day of Atonement (Chapter 16)

The center-point of the book and the Hebrew calendar. Once a year, the High Priest enters the Most Holy Place to cleanse the sanctuary and the people of their sins.

  • The Scapegoat: One goat is sacrificed, while another (the scapegoat) is sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the nation’s sins away.

V. The Holiness Code (Chapters 17–27)

The second half of the book focuses on practical, everyday holiness. The recurring theme is: “Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

  • Moral and Social Laws: Laws regarding sexual ethics, charity for the poor, and justice in the community (Lev 18–20).
  • The Sacred Calendar: Instructions for the seven annual feasts, including Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23).
  • The Sabbath and Jubilee: Every seventh year the land rests, and every fiftieth year (Jubilee) debts are canceled and slaves are freed (Lev 25).
  • Blessings and Curses: A closing warning regarding the consequences of obedience versus rebellion (Lev 26).

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