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[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles-1<\/strong> page.]<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leviticus is the center book of the five books of the Law of Moses, both numerically and by subject matter. Its name derives from the priestly tribe of Levi and literally means, \u201cpertaining to the Levites.\u201d It contains the system of laws (religious, ethical, criminal, and social) to be administered by the priests in Israel. It expounds upon the basic laws of the Ten Commandments, giving detailed application of them to specific cases.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Only the most extreme skeptics reject or question the authorship and authenticity of Leviticus. It contains over fifty references to Moses\u2019 authorship and the New Testament adds further testimony. It contains 103 direct statements from Jehovah, more than any other book, by which He certifies that this is His Law and Israel must obey it. This book covers a period dated from the setting up of the tabernacle to the departure from Mount Sinai, about fifty days. Like all the books of Moses, it weas written somewhere on the wilderness trek in about 1,500 BC. The purpose of Leviticus is to stress the absolute holiness of God and of sinful man\u2019s continual need for cleansing to approach Him. The theme of the book is entirely in keeping with its purpose. It is designed to preserve Israel as a nation that is apart from other nations, serving God\u2019s purpose. A good statement of this theme is in Leviticus 10:26: \u201cYe shall be holy unto me; for I the Lord am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that ye should be mine.\u201d God\u2019s purpose has not changed for those who are His people in modern times. To Christians, depicted as God\u2019s \u201cspiritual Israel\u201d in the New Testament, Peter wrote: \u201cBut ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God\u2019s own possession\u2026\u201d (1 Pet. 2:9).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leviticus is not light reading. It is almost altogether a book of legislation, with little narrative or history. One important historical event is emphasized. It is the record of Nadab and Abihu, two priests who assumed that doing things their way was just as acceptable as God\u2019s way. God destroyed them for their folly (Lev. 10). This book contains many matters that are typical of Christ and His plan for man\u2019s redemption from sin. The book of Hebrews in the New Testament is practically an inspired commentary on Leviticus, from which we learn that the Levitical system was but \u201ca shadow of the good things to come\u201d (Heb. 10:1).<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong>\u00a0I wrote this article for, and it was published in the \u201cBible Thoughts\u201d Column for the Hood County News<\/em>, Granbury, Texas, October 13, 1980.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 5[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles-1 page.] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leviticus is the center book of the five books of the Law of Moses, both numerically and by subject matter. Its name derives from the priestly tribe of Levi and…<\/p>\n