Leviticus

• DatesSet during Israel’s stay at Sinai, about 1446 BC on the early date (debated)
• GenreLaw (the Pentateuch)
• AuthorshipAnonymous; traditionally Moses
• TimelineExodus & Sinai
• Key textsLeviticus 1; Leviticus 16; Leviticus 19; Leviticus 26
• Read the textLeviticus in the World English Bible
• Covered in classSession 2

What the sources say, and how sure we are

• The text says

  Leviticus presents itself as the Lord’s words to Moses at Mount Sinai.Lev 1:1; Lev 27:34

• Debated

  Critical scholars assign much of the book to a “priestly” source and a “holiness” source, dating them anywhere from the monarchy to after the exile. Others hold that the material goes back to the Sinai period and was written down by Moses.Lev 17–26

• Christian conclusion

  The letter to the Hebrews reads the sacrifices and the Day of Atonement as pointing to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.Lev 16; Heb 9–10