Note: This Bible study was done by me years ago before I started in-depth theology. Enjoy...but not a source of research. Thanks for your understanding!
Timeline1526 b.c.- Moses' birth
1446 b.c.- The plagues and the first Passover 1446 b.c.- The Exodus 1446 b.c.- The Ten commandments & Mt. Sinai 1446-1406 b.c.- The desert wanderings 1406 b.c.- Moses dies; Joshua becomes leader 1406 b.c.- Israelites enter Canaan OutlineI. Laws & Instructions for Offerings (1-7)
II. Aaron & His Sons as God's Priests (8-10) III. Rules for Holy Living (11-15) IV. The Day of Atonement (16) V. Practical Holiness (17-22) VI. The Sabbath, Feasts, & Seasons (23-25) VII. Conditions for God's Blessing (26-27) |
Author & Audience
Tradition states that Moses is the author, as he is credited with authoring the other books of the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch is Genesis through Deuteronomy. It is also possible (and a bit more likely) that the stories and laws were passed down via oral tradition and then written, with many different authors contributing to the text. The audience was, of course, the Israelites. The Levites (priests) read it, as did the people (or had it read to them, as some weren’t literate). The purpose of the book was to teach God’s laws and the reason for the covenant they had with Him.
ThemesLeviticus covers- sometimes in tiring detail- the rules for living a holy life. It takes place at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were received.
1) Holiness. This book is very focused on how to live a holy life, with the “rules of conduct” written out in detail. This sort of detail makes it clear that there is not room for falling short when living a godly life. 2) Sin and atonement. It also highlights how when one does sin, it is important to make proper atonement. As with Numbers & Deuteronomy, there will be less "word by word" quotes from the book, and more "summaries." I will, however, post the actual chapters and verses I used; you can read them in full if you so wish. |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 1-4
As every day, if you went to read the chapters in full, feel free. In the daily readings, I have picked the "most important," for lack of a better term, parts.
Chapters 1 through 4 cover the five basic categories of offerings. Don’t allow what appears to be a simplistic reading and explanation overshadow the deep feelings and connotations that the Hebrews had attached to these rituals. A modern example would be a simple explanation of baptism- mere words sometimes have trouble showing the depth of emotion and importance attached to certain rites. Offerings were also combined in certain days with an elaborate system of rules dictating what offering(s) were required. 1) Burnt (Holocaust) Offerings- person kills and burns an animal to purify themselves from a sin they committed. The rich usually killed a bull, middle-class a male goat or sheep, the poor a dove or pigeon. The sin was “burned” out of the person with the burning of the animal. 2) Grain (cereal) offerings- grain from harvest is burned (with the priest keeping a portion) in thanksgiving. This later appears as not a separate sacrifice, but an addition to other types of offerings. 3) Peace/Fellowship offerings- person burns part of an animal as an expression of thanks to God. 4) Sin/purification offerings- person sacrifices an animal for unintentional sins (once they realize they committed a sin). 5) Guilt/reparation offerings- person makes sacrifice for unintentional sins against God’s holy things and commandments (once they realize they committed a sin). Questions: Why do you think the Lord required sacrifices? (Hint: see 11:44 & 17:11 if stuck...or wait a few days until we get there) Why do you think there were different "levels" of sacrifice based on personal wealth? We all know that we no longer have to burn animals and grain to "atone" for sin. However, do you feel that penance is necessary to forgiveness of sin (either a penitent heart or penitent actions)? If so or if not, why? |
Reading1: 1-3 (Holocaust Offerings)
The Lord called Moses, and from the meeting tent gave him this message: "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any one of you wishes to bring an animal offering to the Lord, such an offering must be from the herd or from the flock." "If his holocaust offering is from the herd, it must be a male without blemish. To find favor with the Lord, he shall bring it to the entrance of the meeting tent...." -further instructions for proper method of offering- 2:1 (Cereal Offerings) "When anyone wishes to bring a cereal offering to the Lord, his offering must consist of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense over it..." -further instruction for proper method of offering- 3:1 (Peace Offerings) "If someone in presenting a peach offering makes his offering from the herd, he may offer before the Lord either a male or female animal, but it must be without blemish...." -further instruction for proper method of offering- 4:1-3 (Sin offerings for Priests) The Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: When a person inadvertently commits a sin against some command of the Lord by doing one of the forbidden things, if it is the anointed priest who thus sins and thereby makes the person also become guilty, he shall present to the Lord a young, unblemished bull as a sin offering for the sin he committed...." -further instruction for proper method of offering- 4:13-14 (Sin offerings for the Community) "If the whole community of Israel inadvertently and without even being aware of it does something that the Lord has forbidden and thus makes itself guilty, should it later on become known that the sin was committed, the community shall present a young bull as a sin offering. They shall bring it before the meeting tent....." -further instruction for proper method of offering- 4:22-23 (Sin offerings for the Princes) "Should a prince commit a sin inadvertently by doing one of the things which are forbidden by come commandment of the Lord, his God, and thus become guilty, if later on he learns of the sin he committed, he shall bring as his offering an unblemished male goat..." -further instruction for proper method of offering- 4:27-28 (Sin offerings for Private Persons) "If a private person commits a sin inadvertently by doing one of the things which are forbidden by the commandments of the Lord, and thus becomes guilty, should he later on learn of the sin he committed, he shall bring an unblemished she-goat as the offering for his sin..." -further instruction for proper method of offering- |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 5-7
There were/are many special cases listed in the bible in which offerings were required, but this one in particular struck me:
"or if someone, without being aware of it, rashly utters an oath to do good or evil, such as men are accustomed to utter rashly, and then recognizes that he is guilty of such an oath; then whomever is guilty in any of these cases shall confess the sin he has incurred" How often do we speak without thinking, and then realize later what we have said? Now read that section again. God knows that we do this. He understands that we are not perfect. BUT once we realize our actions, we must confess them to God and accept that we did them; not deny that we did anything wrong or say "Well, I didn't MEAN to do that". Question: What is an example of you rashly speaking, promising, etc. without thinking? How did you mend this? The next section we read (5:14-17) talks about someone who accidentally cheats God of what is "due." Do you think anything is required in giving to the- whatever one you attend/used to attend/might want to attend- church? Why or why not? Is there a difference between accidentally not giving what is due and willfully not giving what is due? Which is worse, in your opinion? God commands that the fire put on the altar for the daily holocaust not be put out. We can apply this to us....instead of an actual fire on an alter burning meat, we can look at the fire of our love for God in our hearts. How can we keep our fervor and love for God always burning? |
ReadingLeviticus 5:1-6, 14-17
(1-6) "If any person refuses to give information which, as a witness of something he has seen or learned, he has been adjured to give, and thus commits a sin and has guilt to bear; or if someone, without being aware of it, touches any unclean thing, as the carcass of an unclean wild animal, or that of an unclean domestic animal, or that of an unclean swarming creature, and thus becomes unclean and guilty; or if someone, without being aware of it, touches some human uncleanness, whatever kind of uncleanness this may be, and then recognizes his guilt; or if someone, without being aware of it, rashly utters an oath to do good or evil, such as men are accustomed to utter rashly, and then recognizes that he is guilty of such an oath; then whomever is guilty in any of these cases shall confess the sin he has incurred, and as his sin offering for the sin he has committed he shall bring to the Lord a female animal from the flock, a ewe lamb or a she-goat. The priest shall then make atonement for his sin." (14-17) The Lord said to Moses, "If someone commits a sin by inadvertently cheating in the Lord's sacred dues, he shall bring to the Lord as his guilt offering an unblemished ram from the flock, valued at two silver shekels according to the standard of the sanctuary shekel. He shall also restore what he has sinfully withheld from the sanctuary, adding to it a fifth of its value. This is to be given to the priest, who shall then make atonement for him with the guilt-offering ram, and he will be forgiven. "If someone, without being aware of it, commits such a sin by doing one of the things which are forbidden by some commandment of the Lord, that he incurs guilt for which he must answer...." Chapter 6:5-6 (5-6) The fire on the altar is to be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest shall put firewood on it. On this he shall lay out the holocaust and burn the fat of the peace offerings. The fire is to be kept burning continuously on the altar; it must not go out. Chapter 7:33-35 (33-35) The descendant of Aaron who offers up the blood and fat of the peace offering shall have the right leg as his portion, for from the peace offerings of the Israelites I have taken the breast that is waved and the leg that is raised up, and I have given them to Aaron, the priest, and to his sons by perpetual ordinance as a contribution from the Israelites. This is the priestly share from the oblations of the Lord, allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day he called them to be the priests of the Lord..." |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 8-10
In the first section, I copied out all of the details of how Aaron's sons were first anointed. These details tend to get lost amid all the other details of the offerings and setting up of the tent, and the many other things we read of. The reason I put these down is because I wanted to point out that it was not the actual actions, in their specific order, that was important to God.
It was the fact that Moses, Aaron, and the others FOLLOWED his orders that was important. Do we sometimes confuse what is important to God? (aka- is it the actual crucifix that is important or that we are showing faith? Is it the actual church building that is important or the fact that we use it as a gathering of the spiritual body of Christ?) Aaron and his sons followed all of God's orders. And then Aaron's own two sons go and disobey those orders! God kills them. Why do you think they disobeyed God's orders so quickly? (This is opinion, there is no wrong answer). Do you think God's punishment was too harsh? Why or why not? Moses then counsels Aaron on why God's actions (aka- killing Aaron's two sons) was a good thing. Aaron says nothing. He doesn't agree....but he also doesn't disagree. (At least, that is how I read it). Reading that section, do you think Aaron agrees or disagrees? (He later says something that pleases Moses, but remains silent at first.) |
ReadingChapter 8:1-13, 33-36
(1-13) The Lord said to Moses, "Take Aaron and his sons, together with the vestments, the anointing oil, the bullock for a sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened food. Then assemble the whole community at the entrance of the meeting tent." And Moses did as the Lord had commanded. When the community had assembled at the entrance of the meeting tent, Moses told them what the Lord had ordered to be done. Bringing forward Aaron and his sons, he first washed them with water. Then he put the tunic on Aaron, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, and girded him with the embroidered belt of the ephod, fastening it around him. He then set the breastpiece on him, with the Urim and Thummim in it, and put the miter on his head, attaching the gold plate, the sacred diadem, over the front of the miter, at his forehead, as the Lord had commanded him to do. Taking the anointing oil, Moses anointed and consecrated the Dwelling, with all that was in it. Then he sprinkled some of this oil seven times on the altar, and anointed the altar, with all its appurtenances, and the laver, with its base, thus consecrating them. He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head, thus consecrating him. Moses likewise brought forward Aaron's sons, clothed them with tunics, girded them with sashes, and put turbans on them, as the Lord had commanded him to do. (33-36) "Moreover, you are not to depart from the entrance of the meeting tent for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed; for your ordination is to last for seven days. The Lord has commanded that what has been done today be done to make atonement for you. Hence you must remain at the entrance of the meeting tent day and night for seven days, carrying out the prescriptions of the Lord, otherwise you shall die; for this is the command I have received." So Aaron and his sons did all that the Lord had commanded through Moses. Chapter 9:1-5 (1-5)During this time Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers and, strewing incense on the fire they had put in them, they offered up before the Lord profane fire, such as he had not authorized. Fire therefore came forth from the Lord's presence and consumed them, so that they died in his presence. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is as the Lord said: 'Through those who approach me I will manifest my sacredness; In the sight of all the people I will reveal my glory.'" But Aaron said nothing. Then Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel, with the order, "Come, remove your kinsmen from the sanctuary and carry them to a place outside the camp." So they went in and took them, in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses had commanded. |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 11-15
1) In the first section, we get lists after lists of what is allowed to be eaten. And rules about dealing with the dead bodies of both the clean & unclean animals. The ancient Israelites must have wondered just as much as we do WHY these rules existed. Luckily for both of us, God answers in verses 44-45. Because he is holy, and wants us to be the same.
Question: We not longer have rules on what we can eat; however, can you think of some rules that we do follow in order to be holy? Do you think that the animals listed are something to be avoided or do you believe that God gave the rules in order for the Israelites to constantly be reminded of God's presence? 2) Chapter 12 deals with women and how they are unclean both after menstruation and after birth. After a boy's birth, she is unclean for seven days; after a girl's birth, she is unclean for fourteen days. Questions: Can you think of a good reason why a woman would be considered unclean after birth? Is there a good reason for people to avoid her and the child for a few days? Can you think of a reason for the difference in time for boys vs. girls? (There is no right answer; generally, scholars are guessing...this question is just for fun). 3) Chapters 13-15 mostly cover skin diseases. An interesting side-note is that while leprosy is referred to in the bible, it is not actually the disease we know as leprosy. It is a different skin condition that was simply translated as leprosy and then kind of stuck after awhile. Can you think of a good reason for all of the rules about skin diseases? (again, an opinion question) |
ReadingChapter 11: 1-3, 9, 13, 20-21, 27, 29, 44-45
(1-3)The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: Of all land animals these are the ones you may eat: any animal that has hoofs you may eat, provided it is cloven-footed and chews the cud." (9)"Of the various creatures that live in the water, you may eat the following: whatever in the seas or in river waters that has both fins and scales you may eat." (13)"Of the birds, these you shall loathe and, as loathsome, they shall not be eaten: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey...." (many more examples) (20-21)"The various winged insects that walk on all fours are loathsome for you. But of the various winged insects that walk on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs for leaping on the ground;" (27)"Of the various quadrupeds, all those that walk on paws are unclean for you; everyone who touches their dead bodies shall be unclean until evening," (29)"Of all the creatures that swarm on the ground, the following are unclean for you: the rat, the mouse, the various kinds of lizards..." (many more examples) (44-45) "For I, the Lord, am your God; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy. You shall not make yourselves unclean, then, by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground. Since I, the Lord, brought you up from the land of Egypt that I might be your God, you shall be holy, because I am holy." Chapter 12: 1-2, 5 (1-2) The Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: When a woman has conceived and gives birth to a boy, she shall be unclean for seven days, with the same uncleanness as at her menstrual period." (5) If she gives birth to a girl, for fourteen days she shall be as unclean as at her menstruation, after which she shall spend sixty-six days in becoming purified of her blood. Chapters 13-15 I'm not going to copy out specific rules for this section. It covers multiple rules for skin diseases, menstruation, uncleanness as related to sexual conduct, and many more. Feel free to read the chapters in full if you so desire. |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 17-18
In chapter 17, we cover the fact that all sacrifices must be made to God (and not to other gods) and that blood must not be ingested.
Question: We no longer have to offer sacrifice in front of the temple....however, can you list an example of showing proper respect to God? Can you list an example of "sacrificing to other gods"? Chapter 18 deals with sexual conduct. When the Israelites were in Egypt, it was common practice for royalty to marry their brother/sister. God clearly states many examples of what is wrong. Question: Can you think of a practical reason for avoiding inner-family relationships? Do you believe certain things are morally wrong no matter what God you believe in? |
ReadingChapter 17: Sacredness of Blood
(8-10) "Tell them, therefore: Anyone, whether of the house of Israel or of the aliens residing among them, who offers a holocaust or sacrifice without bringing it to the entrance of the meeting tent to offer it to the Lord, shall be cut off from his kinsmen. And if anyone, whether of the house of Israel or of the aliens residing among them, partakes of any blood, I will set myself against that one who partakes of blood and will cut him off from among his people." Chapter 18: The Sanctity of Sex (1-5) The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you once lived, nor shall you do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you; do not conform to their customs. My decrees you shall carry out, and my statutes you shall take care to follow. I, the Lord, am your God. Keep, then, my statutes and decrees, for the man who carries them out will find life through them. I am the Lord." [List of outlawed sexual acts and relationships] |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapter 19
Note the common refrain throughout the chapter: “I am the Lord, your God.” Every single rule/verse has this at the end, as if to remind the Israelites that it wasn’t the actual external act that had highest importance. Though often the act itself was important, but overriding that was the importance of obeying the Lord.
This chapter can (almost) be read as stand-along, as it follows the same formatting of larger sections, books, and covenants: “rules to be followed, than blessings/curses for following/not following above rules.” In this section, the curses include being cut off from the people. While a specific blessing isn’t mentioned, the last verse does reference the benefit that God had already given the Israelites- aka: being brought out of the land of Egypt. Many more curses are mentioned in the following verses. Do you think God rewards and punishes us today based on our actions? Do you think everything that will happen to us is pre-ordained? Do these two concepts clash? Why or why not? |
Reading (entire chapter)
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy. Revere your mother and father, and keep my Sabbath. I, the Lord, am your God. Do not turn aside to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I, the Lord, am your God.
“When you sacrifice your peace offering to the Lord, if you wish it to be acceptable, it must be eaten on the very day of your sacrifice or on the following day. Whatever is left over until, the third day shall be burned up in the fire. If any of it is eaten on the third day, the sacrifice will be unacceptable as refuse; whoever eats of it then shall pay the penalty for having profaned what is sacred to the Lord. Such a one shall be cut off from his people. “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not be so thorough that you reap the field to its very edge, nor shall you glean the stray ears of grain. Likewise, you shall not pick your vineyard bare, nor gather up the grapes that have fallen. These things you shall leave for the poor and the alien. I, the Lord, am your God. “You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another. You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. “You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer. You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. “You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly. You shall not go about spreading slander among your kinsmen, nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord. “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. “Keep my statues: do not breed any of your domestic animals with others of a different species; do not sow a field of yours with two different kinds of seed; and do not put on a garment woven with two different kinds of thread. “If a man has carnal relations with a female slave who has already been living with another man but has not yet been redeemed or given her freedom, they shall be punished but not put to death, because she is not free. The man, moreover, shall bring to the entrance of the meeting tent a ram as his guilt offering to the Lord. With this ram the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the sin he has committed, and it will be forgiven him. “When you come into the land and plant any fruit tree there, first look upon its fruit as if it were uncircumcised. For three years, while its fruit remains uncircumcised, it may not be eaten. In the fourth year, however, all of its fruit shall be sacred to the Lord as thanksgiving feast to him. Not until the fifth year may you eat its fruit. Thus it will continue its yield for you. I, the Lord, am your God. “Do not eat meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or soothsaying. Do not clip your hair at the temples, nor trim the edges of your beard. Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves. I am the Lord. “You shall not degrade your daughter by making a prostitute of her; else the land will become corrupt and full of lewdness. Keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord. “Do not go to mediums or consult fortune-tellers, for you will be defiled by them. I, the Lord, am your God. “Stand up in the presence of the aged, and show respect for the old; thus shall you fear your God. I am the Lord. “When an alien resides with you in your land, do not molest him. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for him as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the Lord, am your God. “Do not act dishonestly in using measures of length or weight or capacity. You shall have a true scale and true weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Be careful, then, to observe all my statues and decrees. I am the Lord.” |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 20-22
Almost all of today's readings are rules that we have covered before. The difference is that in this section, the punishment for infringing upon the rules is laid out. This punishment is most usually death!
Can you imagine being put to death today because you used the Lord's name in vain? Being put to death because you didn't honor your mother and father?Why do you think that in the Old Testament death was a punishment and in the New grace is counseled? We will go into Aaron, the priesthood, etc. in later books in great detail. |
ReadingLeviticus: Chapters 20-22 (note: Sections in [ ] are my paraphrase of a verse)
Leviticus 20:22-27 [1-5: anyone who sacrifices their children will be put to death] [6-8: fortune tellers and those who see them put to death] [9-21: anyone who dishonors mother/father put to death....those who violate sexual rules of conduct put to death.] (22-27) "Be careful to observe all my statues and all my decrees; otherwise the land where I am bringing you to dwell will vomit you out. Do not conform, therefore, to the customs of the nations whom I am driving out of your way, because all these things that they have done have filled me with disgust for them. But to you I have said: Their land shall be your possession, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am giving it to you as your own, I, the Lord, your God, who have set you apart from the other nations. You, too, must set apart then, the clean animals from the unclean, so that you may not be contaminated with the uncleanness of any beast or bird or of any swarming creature in the land that I have set apart for you. To me, therefore, you shall be sacred; for I, the Lord, am sacred, I, who have set you apart from the other nations to be my own. A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortune-teller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death." Chapter 21: Sanctity of the Priesthood and those of Aaron's line excluded from the Priesthood Chapter 22: Further details on proper people to offer sacrifices and what animals are acceptable. |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapter 23
I think it is really important for our understanding of the New Testament to see the foundation for the behavior of everyone of the time. And that foundation can be found in the Old Testament.
Of all the sacred days, feasts, and celebrations, the first that God talks about it the Sabbath. How many of us, traveling across country, would actually stop for one whole day on our journey for the Sabbath? (Be honest…I admit that my answer is ‘no’.) What do you think has changed in life that the ancient Israelites traveling through great hardship would observe the Sabbath and, often, we don't today? There are seven feasts listed in the reading section. Question: Please go pick one....do some research on the internet, or in your bible, or in other religious books. Come back and state two facts about that feast that you did not know before. |
ReadingLeviticus: Chapter 23 covers the "Sabbath, Feasts, and Seasons" of the Israelites. It is a very informing experience to look at the list, and then compare it a bit to what we celebrate today (and realize that we even celebrate some of the same things, 4,000-5,000 years later!).
Feel free to read the chapter in the Bible if you want. I am going to lay out the "events" in a different format. First of all, the Hebrews and we are on different calendars! Use this as a reference as we do a quick overview of the Holy Days, Weeks, Etc. of the Hebrew Year. 1st month- Nisan-----late March-early April 2nd month- Iyar-----late April-early May 3rd month- Sivan-----late May-early June 4th month- Tammuz-----late June-early July 5th month- Ab-----late July- early August 6th month- Elul-----late August-early September 7th month- Tishri-----late September-early October 8th month- Heshvan-----late October-early November 9th month- Chislev-----late November-early December 10th month- Tebeth-----late December-early January 11th month- Shebat-----late January-early February 12th month- Adar-----late February-early March Obviously, there was the Sabbath day each week to be observed. Leviticus 23:1-3- The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: The following are the festivals of the Lord, my feast days, which you shall celebrate with a sacred assembly.” "For six days work may be done; but the seventh day is the Sabbath rest, a day for sacred assembly, on which you shall do no work. The Sabbath shall belong to the Lord wherever you dwell." Now we have seven annual feasts (though they sometimes run consecutively [like Good Friday and then Easter Monday] to add to the confusion!). A. Passover- also called Pesach (celebrated on 10th or 14th [depends on bible] day of the first month of the Hebrew calendar, Nisan. Commemoration of the night that God stuck down the firstborn of Egypt while sparing the Israelites. B. Feast of Unleavened Bread- also called Mazzot (celebrated the seven days directly following Passover). Ate bread without yeast and offered sacrifices to God. C. The Offering of Firstfruits- a slightly "tricky" holiday. The offering of the firstfruits of the barley usually took place during Mazzot. However, the rest of the produce that started to grow/ripen between Passover & Pentecost were offered during the Pentecostal celebration. Main Point: Off first fruits of any harvest to thank God. D. The Feast of Weeks- also called Pentecost- also called Shavout. Occurred seven weeks after Passover. Had a solemn gathering of the people and main purpose was to thank God for the wheat harvest. E. The Feast of Trumpets- celebrated on the first day of the seventh month (Tishri). This feast marked the end of the agricultural year. The blasting of Trumpets (hence its name) was used to announce the coming month, which included the two yearly "feast" or "events." F. Day of Atonement- took place on the tenth day of the seventh month. The High Priest made solemn sacrifice on behalf of everyone in Israel. This was the one day a year that the high priest could enter the most Holy Place. This was, as the name implies, a day of atonement. E. Feast of Booths (also called Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth)- took place five days after the Day of Atonement. People "camped out" in small huts that were hastily thrown up in order to recall the time in the desert before taking Canaan. This was a joyous week, time of final celebration before the New Year, and thanksgiving for the year's harvest. |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 24-25
The Jubilee year, as you read, happened every 49 years...during that year, all property reverted back to the family who originally owned it. Do you think this rule could be applied to our society (the land being divided up, and reverting to the original owning family every fifty years)? Do you think it would work? Why or why not? I'm going to copy the entire section here (24:17-22) "Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death; whoever takes the life of an animal shall make restitution of another animal. A life for a life! Anyone who inflicts an injury on his neighbor shall receive the same in return. Limb for limb, eye for eye, tooth for tooth! The same injury that a man gives another shall be inflicted on him in return. Whoever slays an animal shall make restitution, but whoever slays a man shall be put to death. You shall have but one rule, for alien and native alike. I, the Lord, am your God." This is a very heated debate in our society today: abortion and capital punishment. Now we know that Jesus redeemed us from all sin and gave us salvation. This freed us from following the Law of the Old Testament. I'm sure we'll all be nice, but I would like a good discussion: What is your view on abortion....Does it agree or disagree with the Old Testament? Does it agree or disagree with the New Testament? What is your view on capital punishment (the death penalty)...Does it agree or disagree with the Old Testament? Does it agree or disagree with the New Testament? |
ReadingChapter 24:17-22
"Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death; whoever takes the life of an animal shall make restitution of another animal. A life for a life! Anyone who inflicts an injury on his neighbor shall receive the same in return. Limb for limb, eye for eye, tooth for tooth! The same injury that a man gives another shall be inflicted on him in return. Whoever slays an animal shall make restitution, but whoever slays a man shall be put to death. You shall have but one rule, for alien and native alike. I, the Lord, am your God." Chapter 25: 3-4, 8-10 (3-4) "For six years you may sow your field, and for six years prune your vineyard, gathering in their produce. But during the seventh year the land shall have a complete rest, a Sabbath for the Lord, when you may neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard." (8-10)"Seven weeks of years shall you count- seven times seven years- so that the seven cycles amount to forty-nine years. Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month let the trumpet resound; on this, the Day of Atonement, the trumpet blast shall re-echo throughout your land. This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when every one of you shall return to his own property, every one to his own family estate." |
Lesson: Leviticus: Chapters 26-27
Today's reading covers both the blessings God promised to bestow upon the Israelites if they obeyed his commands and the punishments for not doing so.
Can you list one blessing God has given you? God, in this section, also lays down the many curses that will fall on the Israelites if they don’t follow his commands. Do you think that God curses us today as punishment? Why or why not? |
ReadingChapter 26:3-16
"If you live in accordance with my precepts and are careful to observe my commandments, I will give you rain in due season, so that the land will bear its crops, and the trees their fruit; your threshing will last till vintage time, and your vintage till the time for sowing, and you will have food to eat in abundance, so that you may dwell securely in your land. I will establish peace in the land, that you may lie down to rest without anxiety. I will rid the country of ravenous beasts, and keep the sword of war from sweeping across your land. You will rout your enemies and lay them low with your sword. Five of you will put a hundred of your foes to flight, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand of them, till they are cut down by your sword. I will look with favor upon you, and make you fruitful and numerous, as I carry out my covenant with you. So much of the old crops will you stored up for food that you will have to discard them to make room for the new. I will set my Dwelling among you, and will not disdain you. Ever present in your midst, I will be your God, and you will be my people; for it is I, the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of the Egyptians and freed you from their slavery, breaking the yoke they had laid upon you and letting you walk erect. "But if you do not heed me and do not keep all these commandments, if you reject my precepts and spurn my decrees, refusing to obey all my commandments and breaking my covenant, then I, in turn, will give you your deserts. I will punish you with terrible woes- with wasting and fever to dim the eyes and sap the life. You will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will consume the crop...” [more descriptions of punishments]. Chapter 27: paraphrased Redemption of votive offerings and things that cannot be redeemed (as they already belong to the Lord). |