Leviticus 8 – 15 Consecration of the Priests Aaron’s Offering The Death of Nadab and Abihu Clean and Unclean Animals Purification Laws Leprosy Laws

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it, and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1 – 2)

Important Priestly Duties (10:10 – 11) They were to between the CLEAN and UNCLEAN and the HOLY ad COMMON They are were also responsible for TEACHING the people of ISRAEL all the statues that the LORD had spoken to them by Moses

Bear the Iniquity … (10:17) The Levites bore the iniquity of the people The Aaronic priests bore the iniquity of the whole priesthood The High Priest bore the iniquity for acts of sacrilege during worship The Day of Atonement bore the iniquities of both priests and people

Manuel of Purity (chapters 11 – 15) Chapter 11 – Dietary Rules (clean and unclean) Chapter 12 – Purification After Childbirth Chapter 13 and 14 – Laws About Leprosy Chapter 15 – Laws about Bodily Discharge

2x in chapter 11 we are reminded to “be holy, for I am holy.” v. 44 – For I am the LORD your God v. 45 – For I brought you out of Egypt.

For I am the LORD your God… This covenant phrase appears 45 times from here to the end of Leviticus. It serves as a reminder to the Israelites that YAHWEH had distinguished Israel from other nations (20:24), that He might sanctify the chosen people (20:8; 21:8) and be their God.

Purpose of the Dietary Rules Each dietary regulation was LOVINGLY put in place so that God might protect his PEOPLE from death such as what was experienced by Nadab and Abihu, who died because of their impurity. Disobedience to God’s Word results in DEATH, but when we follow his word, he grants LIFE and FELLOWSHIP by his GRACE.

Purification After Childbirth For a SON – Unclean for 7 days For a DAUGHTER – Unclean for 14 days For a Son on the 8th day circumcised For a SON – 33 days of purification (40) For a DAUGTHER – 66 days of purification (80) Provide a burnt offering and sin offering for purification

Purification After Childbirth Childbirth made a woman ceremonially unclean These rules would exempt the NEW mother from the RIGORS of the Law and her TYPICAL role in family/community life. The also promised cleansing and restoration for mother and child.

Laws About Leprosy (Leviticus chs ) Leprosy is a type of SKIN disease that was identified by discoloration or an ulcer surrounded by dying flesh. Leprosy would require the individual to be quarantine for at least two weeks. Leprosy would require ritual WASHINGS for both sanitary purposes and to remove ritual uncleanness before our Holy God.

Worst Kind Leprosy found on the head or forehead of BALD men Suffers would have to warn others with shouts of “Unclean, Unclean” The disease was transferable Excluded from divine worship and life within the community

Laws for Cleansing Lepers (Leviticus chapter 14) Purification rites for leprous people. God’s intervention through priestly action takes an unclean person and makes them clean in the sight of Yahweh and the community. The ancient Israelites held that BIRDS symbolized human vitality, so in verses 7-9 birds were RELEASED to symbolize the healed person’s freedom and return from social death to life.

And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. The he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field... Leviticus 14:7

Offering of Praise By a Healed Leper On the EIGHT day, the cleansed individual brought the required offerings, oils, and flours to the sanctuary. The purificatory priest received the offerings and dedicated them to God. Blood and oil were applied to the individual A sin offering, burnt offering, and grain offering followed, establishing the person clean and acceptable to God.

Sin, Disease, and God’s Power to Heal Disease is a consequence of the fall into sin Diseases bring about isolation and rejection from others. It brings hardship and pain in the life of the believer and the community. Just as in the OT God provides a way to be healed and restored, so to in Christ our impurities and disease are daily removed by the waters of Baptism.