LEVITICUS, is the third book of the Pentateuch, and is so called from Aeverixov, the title given to the book in the Septuagint translation.
In Hebrew it is denominated Sipn, va yekra, "and he is called," its first word. Both titles indicate the contents, as the book treats principally of the rites, ceremonies, sacrifices, and services, of the Hebrew religion, of which the charge was committed specially to the descendants of Aaron, who, as well as the other Levites, whose duties are more particularly detailed in the book of Numbers, were of the tribe of Levi.
. That the book was written by Moses is proved, not only by the Jewish traditions, but by the intrinsic evidence afforded by passages in the book itself, and by others in the Old and New Testaments, in which he is mentioned as the inspired author. In Matthew viii. 4, Jesus himself appeals to_the law that " Moses commanded." Some of the German Rationalistic writers have unsuccessfully attempted to prove that the laws originated long after the time of Moses ; a con clusion manifestly incorrect, OS they have a special relation to the Exodic period, having constant reference to life in a camp, and that camp under the-command of Moses.
Leviticus contains little historical information : the deaths of Nadab and Abilin being the only event, besides the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the offices of the priesthood ; and the time occupied is by some confined to the eight days employed in this ceremony, while others extend it to a month, and fix the month as the first of the second year after the departure from Egypt. As there are no chrono logical data given in the book the fact cannot be certainly fixed. The book is closely connected with that of Exodus, which concludes with a description of the sanctuary and the external holiness, while this commences by describing the worship itself. It further developes
the legislation as propounded from Sinai, the beginnings of which are given in Exodus ; exhibits the historical progress of that legislation ; and contains the chief laws relating to the offerings, the feasts, the priests, and the definition of clean and unclean articles of food, not exactly in a systematic form, but in a certain order arising from the nature of the subject, of which the plan may be easily seen.
The book has doubtless also a prophetical character. The sacrifices and oblations which were to procure forgiveness of sins, have reference to the atonement to be made by Christ ; as is shown by the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. "The whole service" [of the priests], says Bishop Marsh, "like the veil of Moses, concealed a spiritual radiance under an outward covering ; and the internal import bearing a precise and indisputable reference to future circumstances and events, is stamped with the indelible proof of Divine contrivance." Leviticus is almost uniformly treated of by writers and com mentators in connection with the other books of the Pentateuch ; but Jahn 's EinIcitung ; Hengstenberg's Authentic des Pentateuehes; Haver nick's Ilandbuch der Historiach-Kritischen Einlcitang in des Alien Testament, 1839; Knohel's Handbuch rum Alten Testament, vol. all., die Fischer Exodus and Leviticus, 1858 ; Claire's Introduction historigu,e et critique aux Livres de I'd nrien et du Nouveau Testament, 1839, and Home's Introduction, may be usefully consulted.