Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 1

Verse 1

Leviticus

Book Comments

Leviticus 1:1

Walking Thru The Bible

LEVITICUS

INTRODUCTION

The first five books of the Bible are referred to as the Books of Law, or The Books of Moses. Leviticus is a continuation of the record begun in Genesis and Exodus. Without an acquaintance with these books it would not make much sense.

LEVITICUS

Title: Our English title for the book comes to us from the Greek and means "pertaining to the Levites." The priests of Israel came from the tribe of Levi and this book is like a manual for their call and function. The Hebrew title for the book comes from the first word of the book, meaning "And He Called" and emphasizes the theme of God’s call to holiness (cf. Leviticus 11:45).

Authorship: The contents of the book was given to Moses in the two month period just after the erection of the Tabernacle at Mt. Sinai. Moses must have written the book between 1489 and 1451 B.C. somewhere between Mt. Sinai and Mt. Nebo, where he died (Deuteronomy 34:1). Not only does the first verse (and some 55 other passages in the book) attribute the authorship to Moses, but Jesus quoted from the book and ascribed it to him. Twenty of the chapters begin "and the LORD spake unto Moses."

Purpose: The book of Exodus describes the Tabernacle and the book of Leviticus tells how it was to be used, and the holy sacrifices that were to be offered. Key words in the book are "priests" (189); "holy" (87); "blood" (86); "atonement" (45) and "sacrifice" (42);

The book shows that our holy God has appointed a way by which sinful man can come into His presence by means of sacrificial blood. The relationship is sustained only when the whole life is holy.

In Genesis we see man ruined, in Exodus we see man redeemed, and in Leviticus we see man worshipping.

Key Verse: "Ye shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy," Leviticus 19:2.

Lev 1.1

Verse Comments

Leviticus 1:1