The Priestly Writings Exodus 25-Numbers 10:10 Exodus 2540: Israel's response - holiness in space (Tabernacle) and people

(priests)

IV
Holy of Holy Place Holies
Camp

Leviticus: God's callfor holiness in worship and life

tructure
1-7
8-1 0
1

iticus
Sacrifices Priests ordained and first sacrifices

1-15

16

Lalvs of Ritual Purity Lau, for the Day of Atonement

Laws for Holy Living (H = Holiness Code

11-26

Holiness
a. YHWH alone is the source of all holiness (people Ex 19:5, priests Ex29:44; Lev 8-9, Tabernacle Ex 40) b. The main idea is that which is devoted or belonging to God in a special way (e.g. nearness to God)

c. Two types of holiness i. General holiness: the holiness of Israel overagainstthe nations Ex 19:6; Lev 11:44-46;19

' '

Separation is a secondary implication of holiness, which is a positive not a negative concept. The opposite of holiness is impurity, which is often associated with death and disorder.

' . . . .

Found in Dt, H (the Holiness Code, Lev 77-26),the prophetic writing, NT, low church

Often implies a moral commitment ('holy and righteous,; Lev. 19) Develops in a moral direction, but never completely

ii. Particular and graded holiness: within Israel: the holiness associated with the sanctuary and God's service . holy here is a status achieved by ritual means (the priest as holyl)
the stress of P (cf. high church) this holiness is graded: very holy - holy - not holy

Purity and impurity Lev 11-15

You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean. Lev Purity is the necessary precondition for lrcliness Impurit_t is absoltdely incompatible with holiness
a.
10:

l0

Purity/impurity is frequently misunderstood by moderns . physical cleanliness - the materialist fallacy cf . blood cleanses ' hygienic precaution - "medical materialism" (Douglas) e.g. Lev l3 is not about quarantine ' rnoral sinfulness - although sin is sometimes linked with impurity e.g. Miriam Nu l2 ' disorder/ cosmic faultlines - impurity indicates a radical and comprehensive disorder in the world (see the non-physical use of terms such as 'impure' 'defilement' 'pollution' 'unclean'today) . association with death . mortality - possibly the most important facto

b. Purity/Impurity is a concept at home in traditional 'unequal' societies bormdaries and order and hierarchy are clear and important e.g. male/femal e, inside/outside camp, holy/impure, pri est/non-pri est purity/impurity concepts function to bring together into one system diverse aspects of

"

life

Pentatettch

Phi lip Jenson, 0'7 10212012

e.g. food, sex. society. disease, birth, death, cult

analogies between different orders of being:

Israel animals Clean animals Tabernacle Camp

Sacrificial

Priests

Gentiles Unclean animals Outside camp

c. Impurity (and holiness) is a graded concept There is a spectrum from very holy ('holy of holies') to very impure very holy holy clean unclean

very unclean

minor impurity - non-communicable to others, easily purified major impurity - communicable to others by touch or nearness, needs sacrifice moral/cultic impurity/sins - no atonement possible Lev 18:20-30

Sacrifice: Lev 1.-7;16

" . . '

'Sacrifice is a language used by all, but understood by none' (GLover) a flexible symbol with many different kinds of meanings no one theory is adequate (gift, Iife force, atonement, communion, ransom) several interpretations are already to be found in the Pentateuch the ritual details highlights the particular purpose cf. foreground/background

Three Goals of Sacrifice I . Restorative Sacrifice: Restores a state of affairs disturbed by some fault a. The primary atoning sacrifices are the purification offering and the reparation offering sin (inadvertent) purification offering Lev 4 impurity purification offering Lev 4 fraud reparation offering (Lev 5: monetary compensation plus a fifth) (NB sin with a high hand - no atonemenr possible Nu l5:30-31)
2. Maintaining Sacrifice: Maintains and strengthens the relation between God and Israel/lsraelites e.g. the peace offering Lev 3 (NB the shelamim does not atone)
3

. Transitiorrul Sacrifice: Effects a transition

from one state to another e.g. the 'blood of the covenant' initiates the covenant (Ex l9) e.g. ram of ordination enables the priests to be consecrated (Lev 8-9)

The system of Purification Offerings

a. 'hr
th.e

Lev 4
3-12
t3-21

year Zone Offender

anointed priest congregatlon leader anyone anyone

Animal
bull bull
goat (m)

Blood manipulation Sprinkle in front of the curtain x7 Put on horns of the incense altar x4 Put on horns of altar of Burnt

Food

for

(Lev 6:17ff) II
No one

No one
Priests Priests Priests

22-26
27-31

III

goat (f)
sheep

Offering x4

32-35

(fl

b. The Puriftcatiort Offerins on the Day of Atorlement

Lev 16 I l-16a
16b
18- 19

Offender high priest/

congresation

Animal
bull
goat (m)

II

Bull
Goat (m)

III

Bull + goat (m) mixed

Blood manipulation (total x49) Food for Sprinkle on front of cover x1 No one Sprinkle before cover x7 [Sprinkle in front of the curtain x7 Put on horns of the incense altar x4l Put on horns of a]tar x4 Sprinkle on altar x7

Pentateuclt

Philip Jenson, 01 10212012