The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 48

CHAPTER L indicate that it had for its main subject the duties and functions appertaining to Tlll!l BAOBJFIOES (chs. i-vii). There are the chief house of the priestly tribe of Levi. five olasses of sacrifices instituted or regu- The word "and " connects the third with lated in the first seven chapters of Leviticus, the second book of the Pentateuch. God each of which has its special siguiflcation- is spoken of in this and in the next book the burnt offering, the meat offering, the almost exclneively under the appella- tion of " the LORD" or "Jehovah," the word sin offering, the trespass offering, and the "Elohim" being, however, used sufficiently peace offering. The burnt offering, in often to identify the two names. Cf. eh. which the whole of the viotim was con- ii. 13, :i:ix. 12. And spe.ke unto him. The sumed in the fire on God's altar, signifies manner in which God ordinarily communi- entire self-surrender on the part of the cated with a prophet was by " a vision " or offerer ; the meat offering, a loyal acknow- "in e. dream ; " but this was not the case with Moses; "My servant Moses is not so, ledgment of God's soverei1'!ltY; the sin who is faithful in all mine house; with him offering, propitiation of wrath in him to will I speak mouth to mouth, even ap- whom the offering is made, and expiation parently" (Numb. xii. 8). The Levitical of sin in the offerer; the trespass offering, code of laws, therefore, was delivered to satisfootion for sin; the peace offering, onion Moses in his ordino.ry mental state, not in trance, or dream. or ecstasy. Out of the Bnd communion between the offerer and te.beme.ole of the oongregation. The taber- him to whom the offering is made. nacle had just been set up by Moses (Exod. The burnt offering (eh. i.) typifies the xl. 16). It derives its name of tlU1 ecmgre- perfect surrender of himself, made by ·the gation, or rather of meeting, from being the Lord Jesus Christ, and exhibited by his life place where God met the representatives of his people (see Numb. :i:vi 42). Hitherto and death on earth ; and it teaches the God had spoken from the mount, now he duty of self-sacrifice on the part of man. speaks from the meroy-seat of the ark in Ver. 1.-And the LORD oalled 1111to llrloaea. the tabernacle. He had symbolically The first word of the verse, in the original drawn near to his people, and the sacri- Vayikra, meaning "and called," has been ficial system is now instituted as the means taken as the designation of the book in the by which they should draw nigh to him. Hebrew Bible. The title Leviticon, or All the laws in the Book of Leviticus, and Leviticus, was first adopted by the LXX., to in the first ten chapters of the Book ol LEVITICUS, »  2 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [CH, I, 1-17.