The Book of Leviticus or Sefer Vayikra is the third book of the Tanach and the third of five books of the Torah written by Moses. The name Vayikra literally means “and He called” and is taken from the first word of the Hebrew text.
When the Bible was translated into Greek in the 3rd century BCE to produce the Septuagint, the name given to this book was biblion to Levitikon, meaning “book of the Levites”. This was in line with the Septuagint use of subject themes as book names. The Latin name became Liber Leviticus, from which the English name is derived.
Sefer Vayikra contains laws and priestly rituals, but in a wider sense is about the working out of God’s covenant with the Children of Israel set out in Bereishit (Genesis) and Shemot (Exodus). This means the Torah sets out the consequences of entering into a special relationship with God. These consequences are set out in terms of community relationships and behavior.
The first 16 chapters make up the Priestly Code, with rules for ritual cleanliness, sin-offerings, and the Day of Atonement, including Chapter 12 which mandates male circumcision. Chapters 17-27 contain the Holiness Code, including the injunction in chapter 19 to “love one’s neighbor as oneself”. The book is largely concerned with “abominations”, largely dietary, prohibition of idolatry, and sexual restrictions.
The book is generally considered to be divided into two large sections, both of which contain several mitzvot (commands).
The first section – the Priestly Code – encompasses chapters 1-16. These chapters describe the details of rituals, worship, and ritual cleanliness. This section is further broken down into three subsections:
Chapters 1-7 are concerned with the laws regarding the regulations for different types of sacrifice. Chapters 1-3 deal with the burnt offerings, meal offerings, and thanks offerings. Chapters 4-5 deal with the sin offerings and the trespass offerings. Chapters 6-7 deal with the priestly duties and rights concerning the sacrificial offerings.
Chapters 8-10 are concerned with the laws regarding the practical application of the sacrificial laws – specifically within a narrative of the consecration of Aaron and his sons. Chapter 8 deals with Aaron’s first offering for himself and the Children of Israel. Chapters 9-10 deal with the incident of Nadav and Avihu who broke the laws of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and were punished with death.
Chapters 11-16 are concerned with the laws of ritual purity and impurity. Chapter 11 deals with the laws of clean and unclean animals. Chapter 12 deals with the laws of ritual cleanliness after childbirth. Chapters 13-14 deal with the laws regarding tzara’ath of people, clothes, and houses. Chapter 15 deals with the laws regarding bodily discharges and purification. Chapter 16 deals with the laws regarding Yom Kippur.
The second section – the Holiness Code – encompasses chapters 17-27. These chapters describe the details of holiness not only for the priests but also for the Children of Israel.
This section is further broken down into eleven subsections:
Chapter 17 deals with the laws regarding idolatry, slaughtering animals, deceased animals, and the consumption of blood.
Chapter 18 deals with the laws concerning forbidden practices of the gentiles, forbidden relationships, and prohibition of worshiping Molech.
Chapter 19 deals with the laws concerning idolatry, peace offerings, gifts to the poor, honest dealings with others, forbidden mixtures, maidservants, fruit trees, and weights and measures.
Chapter 20 deals with the penalties for those who disobey the laws from chapter 18.
Chapter 21 deals with the laws concerning the kohanim, the kohen gadol, and disqualifying blemishes.
Chapter 22 deals with the laws concerning the sanctity of the offerings and the terumah, blemished animals, and the desecration and sanctification of God’s Name.
Chapter 23 deals with the laws concerning the observation of Shabbat, Pesach, the Omer, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret.
Chapter 24 deals with the laws concerning the Menorah, Show bread, blasphemers, applications of the death penalty, and restitution.
Chapter 25 deals with the laws concerning shemittah, yovel, Levite cities, preventing poverty, and Jewish slaves.
Chapter 26 deals with the blessings and curses that come from either obeying or disobeying God.
Chapter 27 deals with the laws concerning gifts to the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
Sefer Vayikra (ויקרא) is divided into the following Parshiot
