Book of Leviticus
The third book of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, presenting laws and rituals concerning worship, purity, sacrifice, and priesthood.
Torah: The foundational collection of Jewish scripture comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Leviticus is the Torah’s third book, between Exodus and Numbers.
Korban: A sacrificial offering brought to God in Jewish worship, encompassing several kinds of offering. Leviticus regulates offerings as a principal form of sanctuary worship.
Priestly source: A hypothesized source or literary tradition in the Pentateuch marked by priestly interests, ritual detail, and genealogies. Many scholars associate much of Leviticus with this priestly tradition.
Moses: The prophet and lawgiver through whom the Hebrew Bible says God delivered Israel from Egypt and gave the Torah. Leviticus repeatedly presents its laws as commands given to Moses.
Kedushah: The Jewish concept of holiness or sacredness, expressed in worship, conduct, and the sanctification of ordinary life. Leviticus makes holiness a demand on both worship and daily conduct.
Tabernacle: The portable sanctuary described in the Hebrew Bible as the Israelites’ dwelling place for divine worship. Many laws presuppose worship at the sanctuary established in Exodus.
Burnt offering: A biblical sacrifice wholly consumed on the altar, apart from the hide and other specified exceptions. Leviticus 1 gives detailed instructions for this offering.
Documentary hypothesis: A theory that the Pentateuch was composed from multiple textual sources combined by editors. It offers one influential account of how Leviticus took shape within the Torah.
Aaron: The brother of Moses and first high priest of Israel in the Hebrew Bible. Leviticus establishes Aaron and his sons as the priestly line.
Jubilee: A biblical institution proclaimed every fiftieth year, involving release, return of land, and rest. Leviticus 25 grounds this program of social and economic renewal.