Leviticus (Catholic Encyclopedia)

From BibleWiki

The third book of the Pentateuch, so called because it treats of the offices, ministries, rites, and ceremonies of the priests and Levites.

Leviticus, called by Rabbinic writers "Law of the Priests" or "Law of the Sacrifices", contains nearly a complete collection of laws concerning the Levitical ministry. They are not codified in any logical order, but still we may discern certain groups of regulations touching the same subject. The Book of Exodus shows what God had done and was doing for His people; the Book of Leviticus prescribes what the people must do for God, and how they must render themselves worthy of His constant presence.

• (1) First Part, i, 1-x, 20.-Duties of Israel toward God living in their midst.
• (a) i, 1-vi, 7.-The different kinds of sacrifices are enumerated, and their rites are described.
• (b) vi, 8-vii, 36.-The duties and rights of the priests, the official offerers of the sacrifices, are stated.
• (c) viii, 1-x, 20.-The first priests are consecrated and introduced into their office.
• (2) Second Part, xi, 1-xxvii, 34.-Legal cleanness demanded by the Divine presence.
• (a) xi, 1-xx, 27.-The entire people must be legally clean; the various ways in which cleanness must be kept; interior cleanness must be added to external cleanness.
• (b) xxi, 1-xxii, 33.-Priests must excel in both internal and external cleanness; hence they have to keep special regulations.
• (c) xxiii, 1-xxvii, 34.-The other laws, and the promises and threats made for the observance or the violation of the laws, belong to both priests and people.