Leviticus

Question 1

What are the major themes and categories within Leviticus?

Answer 1

•Two sources in Leviticus: Priestly source (P) and holiness school (H) Book consists of further instructions given by God to Moses (Moses and Aaron), having to do with ritual and holiness
Biggest theme of Leviticus: what is holy and what is common, clean vs. unclean, pure vs. impure, etc.

Sacrifice: something common/impure (dead animal) becomes holy in the process of sacrifice

•Also “sacrificial meals” between deity and ppl in Lev. (unclear however how deity receives sacrifice – is he eating/smelling it?)

Maintenance of God’s space

Question 2

What and where are some of the major sources in Leviticus?

Answer 2

and where are some of the major sources in Leviticus?
•P and H

• P is inserting rituals of later times into the text; building of the tabernacle!
• H (Lev. 17-26) or the “Holiness Code” (comparable to Cov code and Deuteronomic Code) is separate b/c of repeated use of words having to do with holiness

•Theories of H origin:
o possibly earlier than P
o more likely from the same larger priestly school as P, thus probably originated among priests in the Temple in Jerusalem – close parallels to Book of Ezekiel (priest in Jerusalem Temple before exile to Babylonia in 597 BCE)
o also possible that it could have originated later than P

Question 3

How are the sources of Leviticus similar to and different from each other in style, emphasis, and/or concerns?

Answer 3

• P’s most important concern – sacrifice (the offering of something of value to a diety) how the place stays holy
H’s highest concern – holiness for the entire people “ You shall be holy, for I YHWH your God am holy” (Lev 19:2)

o Hebrew word for holiness means “separation” – God is separate from the profane, bad, etc., just as Israel is special, separate from other cultures/other nations” You shall be holy to me; for I the Lord am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples to be mean (Lev 20:26)

o To maintain holiness, Israel must separate itself from practices of other nations.

o From greatest to least in holiness: YHWH, chief priests, Priests, Levites, Israelites, other nations.
Pg 146 -types of offering and how they go with themes

Question 4

What are some of the different kinds of sacrifices described?

Answer 4

1. gift to God
   • minhah – from vassal to suzerain
2. collection and distribution system for agricultural products, both animals and crops – kind of taxation.

Question 5

How do the rituals recounted in Leviticus inform the theological concerns of the book?

Answer 5

All these rituals confirm the idea that God is with the people – a new idea for ANE that God is moving around with a special group.
• Reasons for sacrifice:

3. gift to God
   • minhah – from vassal to suzerain
4. collection and distribution system for agricultural products, both animals and crops – kind of taxation.
   • Kinds of sacrifice:
5. Whole burnt offering – ‘ola – holocaust – whole thing turned into smoke.
   o Septuagint translated ‘ola as Holocaust – now has theological issues since refers to the murder of 6 million Jews – was this a ‘ola offering to YHWH?
   o If whole thing burns, nothing left for priests to eat – this is why it becomes the signature offering – priests get nothing out of it/all for God.
6. Grain offering: some burnt, some given to priests for food
   o Only fatty portions burned, leaving good protein for priests – that’s the Shelamim part.
   o Can be offered for Thanksgiving, or when you make a vow, or out of freewill (the “just cuz” sacrifice)
7. Well-being sacrifice: Shelamim – peace offering
8. Sin offering/guilt offering – sacrifice animal served as a substituted for an offender
   o “Purification” for whole community better understanding for this kind of offering
   o in Bible, sin is never an individual problem; has impact on whole community.
   o As sins become more serious, blood must go closer to the holy holies. Grave sin threatens god’s presence in community. Threat: God might leave us if place is unholy/impure

5. Others: 
o Elevation offering
o Weekly offering
o Libations
o Incense offerings – smoke makes “shield” to keep people near the holy of holies away from other ppl – also provides relief from dead animal smell.