Leviticus 21-27
21-22 (Rules for Priests/Sacrifices)
This chapter lists specific regulations for the priests.
The Regular Priests
1. Don't touch the dead unless they are direct relatives
2. Don't shave heads, edge beards, or cut body
3. Don't marry a former prostitute or wife
4. Don't allow daughters to be prostitutes
5. Don't minister when unclean in any way
6. Don't allow unauthorized person to eat the offerings
7. Don't accept defected offerings (don't kill 2 generations of animals in 1 day)
The High Priest
1. Don't even enter a place with dead bodies (no exceptions)
2. Don't let hair be unkempt or tear clothes
3. Don't marry a non-virgin
4. Cannot be a person with genetic defect
5. Must tend to lamps (burn continuously) and 12 loaves of bread
23 (Festivals & Holy Days)
After mentioning the weekly Sabbath, Leviticus lists the 7 specials days/festivals in Israel's calendar year. All of these days were in the first 7 months of the year (harvest season).
1. Passover- This holy day was in the middle of the 1st month. It was a time of remembrance for their delivery out of Egypt, specifically referring to when the angel of judgment 'passed over' their homes. It was celebrated by sacrificing a lamb. The NT fulfillment of this is the crucifixion of Christ, our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread- This holy day was celebrated directly after the Passover celebration. It also commemorated their escape, in haste, from Egypt. Paul, in the NT, tells us to keep the feast by practicing sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8).
3. Firstfruits- This was the first harvest of the year (barley). In an agricultural society, this was a key moment of the year. They were to, in faith, offer the first of the harvest to the Lord. I believe the NT fulfillment to the 'first-fruits' is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:20 describes His resurrection as the 'first-fruits.'
4. Feast of Weeks- This festival was 50 days later (and, thus, later came to be known as Pentecost). This was the wheat harvest. The NT fulfillment, obviously, is the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
* These 1st four festivals were close to the beginning of the harvest year and all represent aspects of the beginning of the church (1st Coming of Jesus). After these, there was a gap before the remaining 3 holy-days. The 2nd three festivals seem to represent the end of the church age (the 2nd coming of Jesus).
5. Trumpets- Also known as Rosh Hashana, this day simply called for the blowing of trumpets (shofar). In the NT the 'trumpet' is a typical way of describing the return of Jesus Christ.
6. Day of Atonement- This occurred 9 days after the Trumpet celebration. It is also referred to as Yom Kippur. One highlight of this day was when the High Priest, who had gone into the Holy of Holies, successfully came out of that inner room. It may be that this represents the 2nd Coming as well (as Jesus will return from His Father's right hand.
7. Feast of Tabernacles- This is sometimes referred to as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of In-gathering. It was the final harvest (Fruit). The Israelites would live in little booths for a week to remember their time in the wilderness. Several aspects speak toward the 2nd Coming. The final harvest speaks of the end of the missionary age. Remembering the time in the wilderness speaks to the inhabitants of the New Earth remembering their non-glorified bodies and their experience on the Old Earth.
24 (Oil, Bread & Blasphemers).
A short narrative section is included in chapter 24. A fight broke out in the Israelite camp and God's name was blasphemed. It was revealed that God's will for punishment was the death penalty. The offender was stoned.
25 (Sabbath Year & Jubilee)
Sabbath Year- Every 7th year, the land itself was to be given a Sabbath rest. The fields were not to be worked. We know from other OT passages that the Israelites weren't too fond of keeping this aspect of the covenant. God, in fact, removed them from the land so that it could finally experience its Sabbath rest.
Jubilee Year- Every 50th year was to be a year of Jubilee. Debts were canceled. Land transactions were rescinded. This was to teach Israel that the land was God's, not theirs. This law would have eliminated generation poverty had Israel obeyed (it would have also limited generational wealth). Servants were freed.
26 (Rewards & Punishments for the nation)
Rewards- If the nation kept the covenant, they would be rewarded
1. Fruitful land
2. Peace in the land
3. Military victory
4. Multiplication of members
5. Presence of God
Punishments- If the nation didn't keep the covenant, they would be punished
1. Sudden terror
2. Paranoia
3. Attack of wild animals
4. Enemy attack
5. Cannibalism
6. Destruction
7. Land will vomit them out
* Despite this disobedience, God would not completely give up on Israel. If they confessed their sins while in exile, God would remember the covenant (40-42)
27 (Redeeming what is the Lord's)
This chapter is about things dedicated to the Lord. Instead of dedicating a person or land or whatnot, a person could give the equivalent value in some form of barter/currency.
This chapter lists specific regulations for the priests.
The Regular Priests
1. Don't touch the dead unless they are direct relatives
2. Don't shave heads, edge beards, or cut body
3. Don't marry a former prostitute or wife
4. Don't allow daughters to be prostitutes
5. Don't minister when unclean in any way
6. Don't allow unauthorized person to eat the offerings
7. Don't accept defected offerings (don't kill 2 generations of animals in 1 day)
The High Priest
1. Don't even enter a place with dead bodies (no exceptions)
2. Don't let hair be unkempt or tear clothes
3. Don't marry a non-virgin
4. Cannot be a person with genetic defect
5. Must tend to lamps (burn continuously) and 12 loaves of bread
23 (Festivals & Holy Days)
After mentioning the weekly Sabbath, Leviticus lists the 7 specials days/festivals in Israel's calendar year. All of these days were in the first 7 months of the year (harvest season).
1. Passover- This holy day was in the middle of the 1st month. It was a time of remembrance for their delivery out of Egypt, specifically referring to when the angel of judgment 'passed over' their homes. It was celebrated by sacrificing a lamb. The NT fulfillment of this is the crucifixion of Christ, our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread- This holy day was celebrated directly after the Passover celebration. It also commemorated their escape, in haste, from Egypt. Paul, in the NT, tells us to keep the feast by practicing sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8).
3. Firstfruits- This was the first harvest of the year (barley). In an agricultural society, this was a key moment of the year. They were to, in faith, offer the first of the harvest to the Lord. I believe the NT fulfillment to the 'first-fruits' is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:20 describes His resurrection as the 'first-fruits.'
4. Feast of Weeks- This festival was 50 days later (and, thus, later came to be known as Pentecost). This was the wheat harvest. The NT fulfillment, obviously, is the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
* These 1st four festivals were close to the beginning of the harvest year and all represent aspects of the beginning of the church (1st Coming of Jesus). After these, there was a gap before the remaining 3 holy-days. The 2nd three festivals seem to represent the end of the church age (the 2nd coming of Jesus).
5. Trumpets- Also known as Rosh Hashana, this day simply called for the blowing of trumpets (shofar). In the NT the 'trumpet' is a typical way of describing the return of Jesus Christ.
6. Day of Atonement- This occurred 9 days after the Trumpet celebration. It is also referred to as Yom Kippur. One highlight of this day was when the High Priest, who had gone into the Holy of Holies, successfully came out of that inner room. It may be that this represents the 2nd Coming as well (as Jesus will return from His Father's right hand.
7. Feast of Tabernacles- This is sometimes referred to as the Feast of Booths or the Feast of In-gathering. It was the final harvest (Fruit). The Israelites would live in little booths for a week to remember their time in the wilderness. Several aspects speak toward the 2nd Coming. The final harvest speaks of the end of the missionary age. Remembering the time in the wilderness speaks to the inhabitants of the New Earth remembering their non-glorified bodies and their experience on the Old Earth.
24 (Oil, Bread & Blasphemers).
A short narrative section is included in chapter 24. A fight broke out in the Israelite camp and God's name was blasphemed. It was revealed that God's will for punishment was the death penalty. The offender was stoned.
25 (Sabbath Year & Jubilee)
Sabbath Year- Every 7th year, the land itself was to be given a Sabbath rest. The fields were not to be worked. We know from other OT passages that the Israelites weren't too fond of keeping this aspect of the covenant. God, in fact, removed them from the land so that it could finally experience its Sabbath rest.
Jubilee Year- Every 50th year was to be a year of Jubilee. Debts were canceled. Land transactions were rescinded. This was to teach Israel that the land was God's, not theirs. This law would have eliminated generation poverty had Israel obeyed (it would have also limited generational wealth). Servants were freed.
26 (Rewards & Punishments for the nation)
Rewards- If the nation kept the covenant, they would be rewarded
1. Fruitful land
2. Peace in the land
3. Military victory
4. Multiplication of members
5. Presence of God
Punishments- If the nation didn't keep the covenant, they would be punished
1. Sudden terror
2. Paranoia
3. Attack of wild animals
4. Enemy attack
5. Cannibalism
6. Destruction
7. Land will vomit them out
* Despite this disobedience, God would not completely give up on Israel. If they confessed their sins while in exile, God would remember the covenant (40-42)
27 (Redeeming what is the Lord's)
This chapter is about things dedicated to the Lord. Instead of dedicating a person or land or whatnot, a person could give the equivalent value in some form of barter/currency.
posted by matthew at 10:55 AM
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