B.R.I—Leviticus
1. Identify
what Author, wrote for which Original Readers, and When
a. Author/Compiler
of Leviticus-Moses
i. Internal
1.
Leviticus
26:46- ‘These are the statutes and ordinances and laws that the Lord
established between himself and the people of Israel on Mount Sinai through
Moses.’
ii. External
1.
The
traditional view is that the book of Leviticus was written by Moses, since it
would have been written around the same time as Genesis and Exodus. ( ISBE)
2.
The
authorship of Leviticus is widely argued. Some say that Moses wrote it, but
others insist that it was compiled by some unknown person. (Nelson’s)
iii. Conclusion
In
my opinion, the book of Leviticus was written by Moses, since I believe that
both Genesis and Exodus, which were written to the same people and around the
same time period, were written by Moses. Although it is widely argued, I think
that the idea of it being written or compiled by a different person at a later
date is ridiculous. The laws in Leviticus could only be commanded by God,
leading me to the conclusion that, since at the time Moses was the only one
with direct contact with God, that Moses had to have written Leviticus.
b. Written
To-The Israelites
i. Internal
1.
Leviticus
26:46- ‘These are the statutes and ordinances and laws that the Lord established
between himself and the people of Israel on Mount Sinai through Moses.’
ii. External
1.
According
to Nelson’s New Bible Dictionary, Leviticus was written to the Israelites, as
an instructional book.
iii. Conclusion
In
my opinion, Leviticus was written to the Israelites, since I believe that
Genesis and Exodus were also written to the Israelites. Because they were
coming out of Egypt, which had a monotheistic religion and going into Canaan,
which also had a monotheistic religion, they would have needed to have laws
keeping them from following along with the Canaanites disgusting religious
ceremonies and practices.
c. Written/Compiled
When/Where
i. Internal
1.
1
King’s 6:1- ‘In the four hundred eightieth year after the Israelites came out
of the land of Egypt...’ (when)
2.
Leviticus
26:46- ‘These are the statutes and ordinances and laws that the Lord
established between himself and the people of Israel on Mount Sinai through
Moses.’ (where)
ii. External
1.
Nelson’s
New Bible Dictionary states that Leviticus was written around 1400 BC.
2.
Nelson’s
New Bible Dictionary states that Leviticus was written in the wilderness of
Sinai.
iii. Conclusion
Because I believe that
Genesis and Exodus were written around 1446 BC in the wilderness of Sinai and
on Mount Sinai, I am of the opinion that Leviticus was also written around the
same time and place. The Israelites would have needed to know the Leviticus
laws before entering into the land of Canaan, to be able to keep from turning
to the pagan gods of Canaan.
2. Research
the Background of the Author, Original Audience, and Readers
a. Author’s
Background
Moses
was a ‘Hebrew prophet’ who was called by God to lead the Israelites out of 400
years of slavery in Egypt. He was born in Egypt, to Hebrew parents, but raised
by Pharaoh’s daughter. After killing an Egyptian taskmaster, he fled to Midian,
where he married the daughter of a Midianite priest, and where he was called by
God.
b. Original
Audience’s Background
The
OA, the Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were slave in Egypt
for 400 years, after the death of Joseph, and the rise of a new Pharaoh.
c. Original
Reader’s Background
The
OA, the Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were slave in
Egypt for 400 years, after the death of Joseph, and the rise of a new Pharaoh.
They were delivered out of slavery by God, speaking through Moses.
3. Reasons
Written
a.
God
wanted the OR to know that he set them apart from the other nations.
b.
God
wanted the OR to know that without him, there is absolute chaos.
4. Author’s
Literary Tools
a. Kind
of Writing
i. Prose
ii. Poetry
1.
10:3
b. Type
of Literature
i. Law
c. Structure
i. Topical
d. Composition
Tools
i. Chiasm
ii. Climax
5. Main
Ideas
a.
God
is holy; therefore the Israelites must be holy.
b.
God
is the one, true God, who only requires obedience, not horrific rituals, or
crazy sacrifices
6. Final
Book Overview
a. Reason
Written Summary
i. Without God, there is chaos.
b. Main
Idea Summary
i. God has sanctified the Israelites.
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