3. A Prophetical Character. The book of Leviticus has a prophetical character. The lawgiver represents to -himself the future his tory of his people. This prophetical character is especially manifest in chapters xxv, xxvi, where the law appears in a truly sublime and Divine attitude, and when its predictions refer to the whole futurity of the nation. It is impossible to say that these were vaticinia ex cventu, unless we would assert that this book was written at the close of Israelitish history. We must rather grant that passages like this are the real basis on which the authority of later prophets is chiefly built. Such passages prove also, in a striking manner, that the lawgiver had not merely an ex ternal aim, but that his law had a deeper purpose, which was clearly understood by Moses himself. That purpose was to regulate the national life in all its bearings, and to consecrate the whole na tion to God. (See especially ch. xxv :18, sq.).
But this ideal tendency of the law does not preclude its applicability to matters of fact. The law had not merely an ideal, but also a rcal char acter, evidenced by its relation tb the faithless ness and disobedience of the nation. The whole future hirtory of the covenant people was regu lated by the law, which has manifested its eternal power and truth in the history of the people of Israel. Although this section has a general bear
ing, it is nevertheless manifest that it originated in the times of Moses. At a later period, for instance, it would have been impracticable to promulgate the law concerning the Sabbath and the year of Jubilee: for it was soon sufficiently proved how far the nation in reality remained behind the ideal Israel of the law. The sab batical law bears the impress of a time when the whole legislation, in its fullness and glory, was directly communicated to the people, in such a manner as to attract, penetrate, and command.
The principal works to be consulted with refer ence to Leviticus will be found under the article PENTATEUCH. H. A. C. H.
LEVY (lev'S,), (Heb. 11:)/.?, mas, tribute).
1. To raise, by taking a part from amonv the rest, as tribute is raised from the rest of the in comes of the nation.
. 2. An. army, or number of workmen raised in a nation (1 Kings v :13, 14). The workmen were free Israelites, who to pay tribute (or tax) worked four months in the year, felling trees under the direction of subjects of Hiram. An other. Icvy was of Canaanites, who were assigned to tributary labor (ix :15), in this case for the erection of buildings.
LEWD (lrid), (Gr. roinip6r, ton-ay-ros'), in a mora 1 sense evil, wicked, unfirincifiled (Acts xvii:5).