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LEVITE HOLDS UP HOLY HANDS- James Tissot

Names of the Book

English:  Leviticus
Hebrew:  ויקרא
Transliterated:  Vayikra ("And He called")
Other names:   

 

whoWho

Wrote the book:  Moses
Are the key people:  Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abijah, Eleazar, Ithamar
Is it written to:  The people of Israel

 

whatWhat

Worship and the manner of worshiping of holy G-d (Leviticus 1:1-17:16)
Life and the manner of living a holy life (Leviticus 18:1-27:34)

 

whenWhen

Was it written:  c 1450-1410 BCE
Did the events occur:  c 1476 BCE
Was it canonized:  c 499-100 BCE
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh)

 

whereWhere

Was it written:  On the plains of Moab near Jericho (Deuteronomy 31:9)
Did the events occur:  Mt. Sinai

 

whyWhy

Leviticus was written to inform us that:
G-d is Holy.
G-d requires sacrifice to be in His presence.
G-d requires a life of holiness from His people.

 

whyIntroduction

Leviticus is a book of narrative history and law.  The book begins where Exodus concludes: Israel is at the foot of Mount Sinai, the glory of the Lord had just filled the newly constructed tabernacle, and nobody, not even Moses, can enter.  G-d instructs Moses on the method by which the people can enter the tabernacle and draw near to the presence of the Living G-d.  The Levitical priests are given responsibility to guide the nation in approaching and worshiping G-d.  The key message is that G-d is holy and He requires His people to be holy. The book also shows that, while G-d has provided a means of cleansing and covering [atoning for] sin so that humanity can approach Him, the service of the Levitical priesthood cannot remove sin.

 

 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

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Today is

Yom Sh'lishi, 9 Adar II, 5784

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

 

Learn more about this date in history.