THE THIRD BOOK OF MOSES
LEVITICUS
INTRODUCTION
AUTHOR – Moses uses the phrase “and the Lord said to Moses” as many as thirty times, usually to begin a chapter … Both Israel and the Church traditionally ascribe authorship to Moses …
DATE – The place and time at which this book was given is specifically defined as during the sojourn at Mt. Sinai – (Leviticus 7:38; and 25:1; 26:46; and 27:34) …
MAJOR THEME – How to worship God … This is our first- ever book of worship … It was especially written for priests to teach the Israelites how to rightly worship God … This book points out the differences between God’s law for His people and those of the polytheistic, idolatrous, corrupt nations surrounding them … “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” – (Leviticus 19:2) …
BACKGROUND – THE OPENING STATEMENT (Leviticus 1:1) presupposes the Tabernacle has been erected, as described in Exodus 40 … God spoke to Moses from the “tabernacle of testimony” – (Leviticus 1:1), or “on the Mount” – (Exodus 25:1), or “upon the door of the tabernacle” – (Numbers 12:5) … The writing of this book took place five months after Israel left Mt. Sinai …