UNROLL
First light over the whole camp of Israel on a desert plain: thousands of black goat-hair tents in ordered blocks around the white linen court of the tabernacle, a soft pale cloud resting low over the tent, the granite mountain beyond.

The Book of

Leviticus Intro

How can sinful people live near a holy God? By sacrifice, a priest, and a holy life.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min27 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

God has come to live among His people.

But He is holy, and they are not.

So He gives sacrifices to bring them near,

priests to serve, and a day to carry sins away.

Then He calls them to be holy, as He is holy.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

Moses

The one the LORD called from the tent

  • The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting.Leviticus 1:1
  • The book ends: these are the LORD’s commands to Moses at Sinai.Leviticus 27:34
  • Jesus sent a man He had cleansed to offer what Moses commanded.Mark 1:44
  • Given at Sinai in the weeks after the tabernacle was set up, a year after the exodus.Exodus 40:17

How it’s built

Five parts, one question

The offerings1–7 · how sinnersdraw nearThe priests8–10 · ordained, anda warningClean andunclean11–15 · life beforea holy GodDay ofAtonement16 · sins carriedawayA holy people17–27 · be holy, for Iam holy

Whiteboard

First, how to come near a holy God; then, how to live as His holy people.

Reading the law

God rescued Israel first, then gave these laws.

Its sacrifices pointed to Jesus, offered once for all.

Its food and cleanness laws were for Israel; in Christ they are set aside.

Its call to holiness and love still stands.

Where it happens

Mount SinaiEgyptGoshenRed SeaCanaanRamesesKadesh

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

At the foot of Sinai

Leviticus is given at Mount Sinai, between the rescue from Egypt and the journey toward Canaan. The mountain’s site is uncertain.

Big themes

Four threads to follow

Meet the cast

Five people to know

Watch for

therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Leviticus 11:45

Start reading

Question

Quick question

At the end of Exodus the glory filled the tabernacle, and even Moses could not go in.

Where did the LORD speak to Moses from at the start of Leviticus?

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