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This book is written to a
particular tribe of the nation of Israel, the Levites. The purpose
is to give direction to their primary function in this nation, that
of priests. The book includes a listing of the laws of Israel and the
information necessary to allow the priests to carry out their
responsibilities faithfully.
In this study we need to
realize that this law was given to only one nation of people. It is
true that all people can probably benefit from a study of this law,
however we must realize that some parts of this text would never
have been given to any other people because the purpose of Israel
was to provide the Messiah for the world, and God wanted the people
of Israel to keep their bloodline pure.
This book clearly indicates
the importance of preparing for the Messiah to come, and also
provides us with information about the culture in which our Lord was
raised. Also, we should not discount the book and its law because it
was given to another people. Some of the laws listed in this book
are universal by nature, and are included in all covenants that the
Lord has given to men.
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Chapters one thru seven
and verse twenty-one lists the rules about offering sacrifice for
the sins of the people.
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Chapter seven and verse's
twenty-two thru twenty-seven restrict the eating of fat or blood.
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Chapter seven verse twenty
eight and following direct the share of the sacrifice that the
priests are to be able to use.
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Chapter eight gives
direction for the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priest.
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In chapter nine the priests
begin their work and by chapter ten Nadab and Abihu have let the
fire of God burn out and are killed because they substitute a
strange fire.
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The rules describing what
is to be considered clean or unclean are listed from chapter
eleven thru fifteen.
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Rules for entering into the
Most Holy Place on the day of atonement are given in chapter
sixteen.
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Chapter seventeen thru
twenty-two give a general listing of law.
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Chapter twenty-three is the
chapter of feast.
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Chapter twenty-five gives
information about the sabbatical year and jubilee year.
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The promise of punishment
to those who will not follow the commands of the Lord are listed
in chapter twenty-six.
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Chapter twenty-seven gives
detail of how man may meet his debt when he has made a promise to
the Lord and has been unable to keep the promise
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