LEVITICUS

HOLINESS AND RITUALS

(Purity concerns)

LEVITICUS The Book of Leviticus

provides instructions for Israel’s worship.

The Book of Leviticus can be thought of as a handbook of instructions for Israel’s worship.

Leviticus prescribes special sacrifices for sin and purification (chaps. 4-7)

It also describes sacrificial rituals of atonement

Leviticus Leviticus 4 prescribes rituals to

be followed in cases where people have committed unintentional sin. Sin is regarded as an objective

fact- it must be atoned for even if it was not committed intentionally.

Leviticus also legislates for cases of intentional sin. In some cases, such as

robbery or fraud, the sin entails damage done to other human beings, and restitution must be made (6:5).

The Writer

The writer of the Book of Leviticus was probably an Israelite priest Priests were members

of the tribe of Levi, who led worship in the Temple.

The book is described as having to do with matters associated with priests

The Purity Laws: Leviticus 11-15The Purity Laws: Leviticus 11-15

Impurity, or uncleanness, is Impurity, or uncleanness, is o having an imperfection of having an imperfection of some kindsome kindo not in itself a sinful statenot in itself a sinful stateo but renders a person unfit but renders a person unfit to approach the altar. to approach the altar.

oPriests very concerned Priests very concerned w/Purityw/Purity

oThe people as a whole are The people as a whole are expected to aspire to purity.expected to aspire to purity.

oLeviticus 11-15 deals with Leviticus 11-15 deals with various matters that can various matters that can cause impurity.cause impurity.oRitual cleanliness is next to Ritual cleanliness is next to GodlinessGodliness

Sources of ImpuritySources of Impurity1) Dead bodies1) Dead bodies

Stay away from what appear to Stay away from what appear to be dead bodiesbe dead bodies

2) Bodily emissions Lev. 12, 152) Bodily emissions Lev. 12, 15o childbirth (Lev. 12)childbirth (Lev. 12)

Mother of a boy unclean Mother of a boy unclean for 7 days, + 33 day blood for 7 days, + 33 day blood purification purification Mother of a girl 14 days Mother of a girl 14 days +66+66menstrual bloodmenstrual blood

o Sexual intercourseSexual intercourseo seminal or other dischargeseminal or other discharge

3) skin diseases3) skin diseasesleprosy leprosy Any blemishAny blemish4) Certain types of animals4) Certain types of animals

Sources of purificationSources of purificationMikvahsMikvahs

ritual bathsritual baths

Animal/grain sacrifices

THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM (Lev 1-7) Sacrifice is one of the oldest

and most basic ways in which people have tried to communicate with the gods. They thought of sacrifices as a

way of feeding the gods. The sacrificial system provides

a symbolic means for people to express their gratitude and indebtedness to God, or to make amends for their sins.

A sacrifice is something that is made sacred by being offered to god. In the case of animals, the

offering required that they be killed, and so made to pass over into the world of spirit.

Types of sacrifices in Lev. 1-7

1. The burnt offering

2. Sacrifice of Well-being

3. The Cereal or grain offerings

The burnt offering literally means “that which ascends.”

The equivalent Greek term is “holocaust,” which means “wholly burned.” In such a sacrifice, the

victim is given completely to God, as “a pleasing odor.”

The sacrifice of well-being was a communion sacrifice, where the animal was eaten by the worshipers. Since the slaughter of animals

was permitted only in the context of sacrifice in early Israel, these sacrifices were the occasions on which people could eat meat. The fat, like the blood, could not be

eaten, but was deemed to belong to the deity. The blood was given to God by being sprinkled on the altar.

Blood represents life People could eat the meat

after been “made sacred” It suggests some form of

communion with the Deity

The cereal or grain offerings (Leviticus 2) were less expensive than the meat sacrifices and so could be offered more frequently. Only part of the

offering was burned, and the rest belonged to the priests.

The Day of Atonement Ritual: Leviticus 16The Day of Atonement Ritual: Leviticus 16

Purpose: Cleanse community Purpose: Cleanse community from sinfrom sinRequirement: a young bull & Requirement: a young bull & two goatstwo goatso Young bullYoung bull

Is sacrificedIs sacrificedo Two GoatsTwo Goats

o one offered in one offered in sacrifice to Godsacrifice to Godo one driven into one driven into wilderness (scape wilderness (scape goat), for “Azazel goat), for “Azazel o(a demon of some (a demon of some sort) and is driven sort) and is driven away into the away into the wilderness. wilderness.

The “SCAPE GOAT” or AZAZEL GOATThe “SCAPE GOAT” or AZAZEL GOAT

The priestThe priest

“ “shall lay both his hands on shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head sins, putting them on the head of the goat. The goat shall of the goat. The goat shall bear on itself all their bear on itself all their iniquities”iniquities”

(Leviticus 16:21-22). (Leviticus 16:21-22). Iniquities (sins) Iniquities (sins)

deeds that people have done (murder, deeds that people have done (murder, for example), and in many cases they for example), and in many cases they cannot be undone. cannot be undone.

The action of the priestThe action of the priestis symbolicis symbolicIs effective if everyone involved Is effective if everyone involved believesbelieves

HOW IT ALL WORKSHOW IT ALL WORKS

In the ancient Near East, people explained that the source of all sorts of In the ancient Near East, people explained that the source of all sorts of problems were angry demons that had to be appeased.problems were angry demons that had to be appeased.

An individual who made an offering for sin would be pardoned not only by God but by the An individual who made an offering for sin would be pardoned not only by God but by the society that believed that the ritual works.society that believed that the ritual works.

Just as a judge in a court has the power to declare someone guilty or innocent, the priest has the power to declare sin forgiven.

The Motivation for Sacrifices

1. It acknowledged God’s dominion over all creatures by returning to him a portion of his gifts.

2. It was a means of communication with God.3. It repaired a covenant relationship.