Leviticus (Apollos Old Testament Commentary | AOT)
Overview
The Old Testament Book of Leviticus is the sequel to Exodus in that it deals with a deeper dimension of the Sinaitic covenant, giving various rules for the life of the Israelites and for the sacrifices and offerings to be performed in the sanctuary. It addresses the question of how the Israelites—human beings—can live in proximity to the holy God who has promised to dwell in their midst.
In this excellent commentary, Nobuyoshi Kiuchi offers in-depth discussion of the theology and symbolism of Leviticus. He argues that its laws present an exceedingly high standard, arising from divine holiness, and the giving of these laws to the Israelites is intended to make them aware of their sinfulness, to lead them to hopelessness, and ultimately to destroy their egocentric nature.
To be confronted by the laws in Leviticus is to recognize the vast distance that separates the holy from the unclean and sinful, and so to appreciate afresh the grace of God, ultimately expressed in the life and work of Christ.
Top Highlights
“Humans are by no means viewed as neutral. They have to approach the Lord by making sacrifice, they have to be killed when they approach the holy realm without due qualifications, and, above all, are seen as having a strong tendency to defile themselves.” (Page 33)
“The last act, burning the offering on the altar, including the head and fat, symbolizes the extinction of the offerer’s worldly values (cf. Gen. 37:23; Ezek. 16:39; 23:26; Hos. 2:5; Mic. 3:3), which simultaneously functions as a soothing aroma to the Lord. It is clear the Lord abhors what is in the heart of the offerer. That is why he is pleased with its complete consumption by fire. Symbolically it is not painful for the offerer, since it takes place after his death in the spiritual sense.” (Page 58)
“At any rate, the offerer’s motive must be interpreted in view of the ritual’s purpose as a whole. The burnt offering takes the place of the offerer in order to appease the Lord’s wrath against his general sinfulness. Thus, while the purpose of the burnt offering is often associated with the idea of self-dedication, its essence lies in the death of one’s sinful and worldly desires (a forsaking of this world).” (Page 61)
“The central message of the offering is that a man cannot be accepted by the Lord without complete surrender and a laying bare of his egocentric nature before the Lord.” (Page 60)
“Moreover Lev. 1:3 is rare in that it is the animal that is the agent of kipper. This appears to stress that the offerer is to become the burnt offering itself, a point that supports the above interpretation of the hand-leaning rite.” (Page 56)
- Title: Leviticus
- Author: Nobuyoshi Kiuchi
- Series: Apollos Old Testament Commentary
- Volume: 3
- Publishers: Apollos, IVP
- Print Publication Date: 2007
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. O.T. Leviticus › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9781844741779, 9780830825035, 184474177, 0830825037, 184474177X
- Resource ID: LLS:AOT03LE
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-01-20T00:49:53Z