LEVITICUS

I. INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FIVE MAJOR

OFFERINGS (1:1 7:38)
II. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRIESTHOOD (8:1
10:20)
III. LAWS ON CLEANNESS AND UNCLEANNESS
(11:1 15:33)
IV. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (16:1-34)
V. THE HOLINESS CODE (17:1 25:55)
VI. BLESSINGS & CURSES (26:1-46)
VII. VOWS & DEDICATION (27:1-34)

- The Israelites were still at the foot of Mt. Sinai when

these laws were given
- Various laws having to do with holiness before God
- Sacrifices, ritual cleanness, social obligations, etc.

I. INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FIVE MAJOR

OFFERINGS (1:1 7:38)
Chapter 1
Laws for burnt offerings

Bull
Small livestock (sheep / goat)
Bird

pleasing aroma to the LORD (v.9, 13,17)

Chapter 2
Laws for grain offerings

Fine flour
Oil
Frankincense
Salt
Salt of the covenant:
Preservative
Represent the permanent covenant
relationship b/w God and his people
Chapter 3
Laws for peace offerings

Fat of the animal sacrifice as an offering to the

LORD
Fat in ancient Israel is like choice steak in our
time

eat neither fat nor blood (v.17)

Chapter 4
Laws for sin offerings

Offered when:
Unintentionally violate the LORDs prohibitive
commandments (4:1-36)
Fail to do something that is required to do
(5:1-13)

Atonement of committed sin; metaphor of

purification
Chapter 5
Laws for sin offerings (cont.)
Laws for guilt offerings
Chapter 6
Laws for guilt offerings (cont.)

Resitution
The priest and the offerings
Chapter 7
The priest and the offerings (cont.)
*Five major offerings
1. Burnt offering
2. Grain offering
3. Peace offering
4. Sin offering

5.

Guilt offering

II. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE

PRIESTHOOD (8:1 10:20)
Chapter 8
Consecration of Aaron and his sons

Installation of priesthood

Ordination of Aaron and his sons

Chapter 9
The LORD accepts Aarons offering

The LORD accepts the offering by consuming it by

fire (v.24)
Chapter 10
The death of Nahab and Abihu

The LORD consumed Nahab and Abihu (Aarons

two eldest sons) because they offered a sacrifice
on their own terms

III. LAWS ON CLEANNESS AND

UNCLEANNESS (11:1 15:33)
Chapter 11
Clean and unclean animals

Deals with the matter of foods that are clean and

may be eaten, and foods that are unclean and
cannot be eaten
Chapter 12
Purification after childbirth
Chapter 13
Laws about leprosy

From the Hebrew tsaraat which may include many

skin ailments
Chapter 14
Laws for cleansing lepers
Laws for cleansing houses
Chapter 15
Laws about bodily discharges

A serious case of male discharge (v.2-15)

Mans emission of semen (v.16-17)

Sexual intercourse (v.18)

Female menstruation (v.19-24)

A serious case of female discharge (v.25-30)

IV. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT (16:1-34)

Chapter 16
The day of atonement

The sin offerings in this chapter in particular point

to the work of Christ on the cross (Heb. 9:7-14)

The goat is sent away to the wilderness to Azazel

to take sin away from Israel (v.3-10)

V. THE HOLINESS CODE (17:1 25:55)

Chapter 17
The place of sacrifice
Law against eating blood

V.10-12 provide key insight into the understanding

of sacrifice and atonement by explaining the
meaning and significance of animal blood
Chapter 18
Unlawful sexual relations

LEVITICUS

This chapter is a prohibition against pagan sexual

practices
Prohibits incestial relationships (v.6-18)
Prohibits sex while in menstrual period (v.19)
Prohibits homosexuality (v.22)
Prohibits beastiality (v.23)

Chapter 19
- This chapter is a call to holiness
The LORD is holy
Love your neighbor as yourself

Love your neighbors as yourself (v.18)

You shall keep my statutes

Prohibition of:
Eating raw meat (v.26)
Fortune telling (v.26)
Tattoo (v.28)
Mediums / Necromancers

Honoring the old (v.32)

Chapter 20
Punishment for child sacrifice
Punishment for sexual immorality
You shall be holy
Chapter 21
Holiness and the priests

Priests may marry (v.7)

Chapter 22
Holiness and the priests (cont.)
Acceptable offerings
Chapter 23
Feasts of the LORD

Chapter 24
The lamps
Bread for the tabernacle
Punishment for blasphemy
An eye for an eye
Chapter 25
The Sabbath year
The year of jubilee
Redemption of property
Kindness to poor brothers
Redeeming a poor man

VI. BLESSINGS & CURSES (26:1-46)

Chapter 26
Blessings for obedience
Punishment for disobedience

Punishment is a way of disciplining (v.23)

VII. VOWS & DEDICATION (27:1-34)

Chapter 27
Laws about vows and dedication

Underscores the importance of funding the

sanctuary