their redemption, occupy the closing chapter.  While there is not an exact parallel

between these two sets of five, it is noticeable that in both cases the opening offering is

the highest in character. In Lev. 1: it is the whole burnt offering, entirely devoted to

God. In Lev. 27: it is the devotion of persons, men, women or children, to the Lord.

The second offering is the meat (or meal) offering, while the second vow is the

sanctification of a house. The third offering is the peace offering and the third vow the

sanctification of a field and its produce. The sin offering and the firstling of beasts come

fourth, and include one kind that can never be redeemed (27: 28). Lastly we have the

trespass offering and the redemption of tithes. The fuller exposition of Lev. 27: must

await its place in the series.

The two sections under the letters B and B should be read and compared together.

The first is occupied with the sanctifying and the service of the priests. The second with

the feasts and service that were incumbent upon all Israel. In both there is a most

impressive warning. The sacred nature of the priest's office is most tragically enforced

by the destruction of Nadab and Abihu, when they offered strange fire before the Lord.

The equally sacred responsibility of the people is enforced by the tragic end of "the son

of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian", who for cursing the name of the

Lord was stoned to death.

Associated with both of these groups is the law concerning clean and unclean things.

Chapter 11: gives a long list of clean and unclean animals, and its true object is revealed

in the words: "Ye shall sanctify yourselves . . . . . make a difference" (Lev. 11: 44-47).

Chapter 12: is occupied with the purification of women after child-birth; 13: and 14:

deal with the plague of leprosy and the law of its cleansing, and  15: with various

physical causes of uncleanness. Chapters 18:-22:, which supplement 11:-15:, take up

the question of defilement and uncleanness once more, dealing with unlawful marriage

relationships and unchaste acts.

Chapters 17: and 19:  are concerned with the

abominable rites of Molech and further unchastity,  20: with defilement by death and

physical blemishes, and  21: with the peculiar separateness of Aaron and his seed.

Once again the teaching of these chapters focuses upon the separateness of Israel:

"Ye shall therefore put a difference . . . . . . . I have severed you from other people"

(Lev. 20: 24-26). The two outstanding features that remain are the atonement and the

punishment for sins in chapters 16:, 17: and 26:

It would serve no useful purpose to attempt the exposition of any one feature at this

stage; we leave the outline with the prayerful student, trusting that he will not only

compare it with the various outlines put forward at different times by other servants of

God, but above all test it by close reference to the Book itself. In subsequent studies we

hope to deal with a series of salient features that are of importance in the school of faith.