On the sacrifices by which men drew near to God

In Hebrew, vay-yikra, from its opening words; in LXX, Levitikon, a title descriptive of the contents of the Book; for, as has been well remarked:

"As Exodus ended with the erection of the Tabernacle, 40:15, by which God drew nigh to men, so Leviticus treats of the sacrifices by which men drew nigh to God."

Divisions of Leviticus

The common division is as follows:

• Chapters 1-16. Laws regarding sacrifices, purifications, and the Atonement.
• Chapters 17-26. The law of Holiness.
• Chapter 27. Commutation of Vows.

But there are many objections to this division which does not adequately express the contents, and which is based upon the view that chapters 17-26 constitute an entirely separate document, a view which is far from being proved. It seems more natural to regard the book as a collection of ritual laws which were given at different times as occasion arose and which were then codified. The way in which the formula "The Lord said to Moses" recurs, is very striking. It seems legitimate to suppose that in each case it introduces a new precept due to some definite occasion which called it forth. We apparently have confirmation of this in the case of conscience given in 24:13, its resolution gave rise to definite legislation; it may well have been so in other cases as well. Taking, then, the recurrence of the expression "the Lord said to Moses" as the basis of our division, we have some thirty-one precepts presented to us in a codified form. It is possible to see in them a certain historical order, thus:

Chapters 1-10. The description of the sacrifices will naturally precede the ritual of the sacrifices, and this again will naturally precede the account of the consecration of the sacrificing priests, 8-9; similarly the episode of Nadab and Abiu could not have preceded the consecration of Aaron and his sons.

Chapters 11-15. The laws concerning purity, etc., naturally precede the institution in

Chapter 16. Of the Day of Atonement for sins committed against the foregoing rules.

Chapter 17. No sacrifice is to be offered up except at the tabernacle; it is probable that this law, like that in 24:14-23, was due to some casus which called it forth. This particular law is of great importance as containing in germ the Deuteronomic law touching the Central Sanctuary, q.v.

Chapters 18-20. Diverse ordinances touching marriage, charity, justice, etc., followed by a list of those breaches of the foregoing laws which were punishable with death.

Chapters 21-22. Laws concerning the priests and those who may partake with them of the sacrifices.

Chapters 23. The Feasts and Holidays. It is possible that the laws relative to each of these were promulgated as each feast came round, thus note the repetition of the formula the Lord said to Moses before each.

Chapter 24:1-9. Sanctuary laws relative to the oil and loaves to be used; this law seems to be out of place, it is hard to attach it to what precedes; this fact may serve as an additional confirmation of the view that the various laws were promulgated as occasion arose.

Chapter 24:10-23. The case of the blasphemer and the subsequent legislation.

Chapter 25. Legislation for the Jubilee.

Chapter 26. A series of promises and threats which should be compared with Deuteronomy 38. We might naturally expect the book to end here, but an appendix is added.

Chapter 27. On the commutation of vows.



By Very Rev. Hugh Pope, O.P., S.T.M.
Doctor in Sacred Scripture,
Member of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, and
late Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the Collegio Angelico, Rome.