Leviticus: Who may draw near?

Where Leviticus sits

In the story

Act IV, Israel · Redeemed, c. 1446–1406 BC

In the Bible

Old Testament · The Law · book 3 of 66

Before it in the story

Exodus

After it in the story

Numbers

The third book of the Law and the center of the five: Israel is still camped at Sinai, and the LORD, newly dwelling in the tabernacle, teaches His redeemed people how to live with Him before they march (Num 10).

Leviticus summary

Exodus ends with the glory filling the tent so that even Moses cannot enter (Exod 40:35). Leviticus opens with the LORD calling to him out of that tent, and the whole book answers the question this raises: how can sinful, unclean people live near a holy God? The first half shows the way in. Five offerings teach how to draw near (1–7); priests are ordained, and their first day ends in glory and then in the deaths of Nadab and Abihu (8–10); laws on food, birth, skin disease and bodily flows keep uncleanness away from God's dwelling (11–15). At the summit stands the Day of Atonement, when the high priest enters behind the veil with blood and the live goat carries the people's sins away (16). The second half shows life in His presence: holiness in eating, family, justice and love of neighbor (17–20), in the priests and their holy things (21–22), and in holy time, from the weekly Sabbath to the Jubilee (23–25), sealed with blessing and curse (26) and closed with vows (27). Every rite is a shadow; Hebrews shows Christ as the priest, the sacrifice and the way into the holiest.

Leviticus in context

Written by

Moses in substance: the LORD gave these laws to him at Sinai (7:38; 26:46; 27:34), and Jesus and the apostles cite them as what Moses commanded (Mark 1:44; Luke 2:22; Rom 10:5)

Written to

Israel camped at Sinai: the priests, who must handle holy things and teach the difference between clean and unclean, and the whole congregation, who must live as a holy people around God's dwelling

Setting

The newly raised tabernacle in Israel's camp at the foot of Mount Sinai, about a year after the exodus

When

About one month at Sinai, c. 1445 BC on the early exodus date (1 Kgs 6:1): between the raising of the tabernacle on the first day of the first month of the second year (Exod 40:17) and the census on the first day of the second month (Num 1:1). The exodus date itself is debated.

Why

To teach a redeemed people how the holy God can dwell among them and how they may draw near to Him: through blood offered by an appointed priesthood, through separation from uncleanness and the realm of death, and through a holy life in every part, so that they may enjoy fellowship with Him. All of it was a shadow of good things to come, fulfilled in Christ (Heb 10:1).

Themes of Leviticus

• Atonement and holiness, inseparable
• The holy God among an unclean people
• Fellowship with God as the goal
• Life and death
• A life for a life
• Priestly mediation
• Holy time and the LORD's land
• Love of neighbor

Key verses in Leviticus

• Leviticus 1:4

  He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

• Leviticus 10:3

  Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.

• Leviticus 16:30

  because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

• Leviticus 17:11

  For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

• Leviticus 18:5

  Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD.

• Leviticus 19:2

  “Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

• Leviticus 19:18

  Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

• Leviticus 26:11–12

  And I will make My dwelling place among you, and My soul will not despise you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.

Leviticus chapter by chapter

Part 1 · The way in: by blood 1:1–15:33

1. 1
   Leviticus 1: A pleasing aroma to the LORD

   Calling from the tent, the LORD gives the burnt offering: a whole animal accepted in the worshiper's place.

2. 2
   Leviticus 2: The grain offering

   The grain offering, fine flour with oil and frankincense, is tribute to the LORD, seasoned with covenant salt.

3. 3
   Leviticus 3: The peace offering

   A peace offering is a fellowship meal with God; the fat is His, and blood is never eaten.

4. 4
   Leviticus 4: Unintentional sins

   For unintentional sin, a sin offering graded by rank: the priest makes atonement, and it is forgiven.

5. 5
   Leviticus 5: Confession and the guilt offering

   Named sins need confession and a sin offering the poor can afford; sacrilege needs a ram and restitution.

6. 6
   Leviticus 6: A fire kept burning continually

   Wronging a neighbor is acting unfaithfully against the LORD; then the priests learn the law of each offering.

7. 7
   Leviticus 7: The priests' portions

   The laws of guilt and peace offerings, the priests' shares, and a close: all commanded at Sinai.

8. 8
   Leviticus 8: Aaron and his sons ordained

   Moses ordains Aaron and his sons as commanded: washed, robed, anointed and set apart for seven days.

9. 9
   Leviticus 9: The glory of the LORD appeared

   Aaron's first offerings, for himself and the people, end with the glory appearing and fire from the LORD.

10. 10
    Leviticus 10: Unauthorized fire

    Nadab and Abihu offer fire the LORD had not commanded and die: He will be treated as holy.

11. 11
    Leviticus 11: Clean and unclean animals

    God tells Israel what to eat and what to shun, and why: be holy, because I am holy.

12. 12
    Leviticus 12: After childbirth

    After childbirth a mother waits out her purifying, then brings a burnt offering and a sin offering.

13. 13
    Leviticus 13: Unclean, unclean

    The priest examines spreading skin disease and mildew; the unclean must live alone outside the camp.

14. 14
    Leviticus 14: The day of his cleansing

    A healed person is cleansed in stages, a live bird set free, then restored to camp and altar.

15. 15
    Leviticus 15: Discharges of the body

    Bodily discharges make one unclean, lest Israel die defiling the tabernacle that stands among them.

Part 2 · The summit: the Day of Atonement 16:1–34

1. 16
   Leviticus 16: The Day of Atonement

   Once a year Aaron brings blood behind the veil, and Israel is made clean from all its sins.

Part 3 · Life in His presence: holiness 17:1–27:34

1. 17
   Leviticus 17: The life is in the blood

   Every sacrifice belongs at the LORD's altar, and no blood is eaten: the life is in the blood.

2. 18
   Leviticus 18: Not as Egypt, not as Canaan

   Keep God's statutes and live, not Egypt's or Canaan's ways; the land vomits out those who defile it.

3. 19
   Leviticus 19: Be holy

   Be holy as the LORD is holy: in worship, field, court and heart, loving your neighbor as yourself.

4. 20
   Leviticus 20: Consecrate yourselves

   Penalties for Molech worship, mediums and sexual sin: Israel is set apart by the LORD to be His.

5. 21
   Leviticus 21: Holy to their God

   Priests, the high priest above all, keep a higher holiness, for they present the food of their God.

6. 22
   Leviticus 22: Without blemish

   Holy food only for clean priests and households, only unblemished offerings: the LORD must be acknowledged as holy.

7. 23
   Leviticus 23: The feasts of the LORD

   The LORD's appointed feasts: the Sabbath and the yearly feasts, from Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles.

8. 24
   Leviticus 24: Before the LORD continually

   Lamp and bread stand before the LORD continually, and a blasphemer is judged under one law for all.

9. 25
   Leviticus 25: Liberty in the land

   The land keeps Sabbath, and the Jubilee proclaims liberty: the land is the LORD's, and Israel His servants.

10. 26
    Leviticus 26: If you follow My statutes

    Obedience brings rain, peace and God's presence; rebellion brings sevenfold discipline, yet God remembers His covenant.

11. 27
    Leviticus 27: Holy to the LORD

    Vows to the LORD are valued and redeemed; firstborn animals, devoted things and tithes already belong to Him.

See the outline of Leviticus