Thursday, October 4, 2012

Leviticus BRI



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.

No comments:

Post a Comment