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Life under the Covenant

Life under the Covenant. Leviticus and Numbers. Review. Genesis – Why is the Covenant necessary? Two major literary sections: 1-11 – Cosmological Origins Myths 12-50 – Ancestor Hero Stories Four major story cycles: 1-11 – Origins: What is the nature of reality?

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Life under the Covenant

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  1. Life under the Covenant Leviticus and Numbers

  2. Review • Genesis – Why is the Covenant necessary? • Two major literary sections: • 1-11 – Cosmological Origins Myths • 12-50 – Ancestor Hero Stories • Four major story cycles: • 1-11 – Origins: What is the nature of reality? • 12-25 – Abraham: Who are we as a people? • 26-36 – Jacob: What is our basic character? • 37-50 – Joseph: How did we get to Egypt?

  3. Creation plus Ten Genealogies Creation Communal Salvation (Esau) Individual Salvation Individual Sin Communal Sin (Ishmael) Genesis 1-11 Genesis 12-50

  4. Review & Anticipation • Exodus – What is the substance of the Covenant? • Struggles (1-19) • Stipulations (20-24) • Symbols (25-40) • Leviticus – How does the Covenant feel and function? • Numbers – Who is in the Covenant?

  5. Leviticus:How Does the Covenant Feel and Function? • Theme Verses (19:1-2): • The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.’” • “Holy” and “clean” mean the same thing in Hebrew

  6. Leviticus:How Does the Covenant Feel and Function? • 1-7 Personal Inward Cleansing (offerings) • 8-10 Symbolic National Cleansing (priests) • 11-15 Personal Outward Cleansing • 16 Symbolic National Cleansing (“Day of Atonement”) • 17-25 General Instructions Concerning Clean and Unclean Living • 26 Curses & Blessings (Covenant tie-in) • 27 Appendix: Instructions Concerning Dedications

  7. Leviticus:A Closer Look at the Offerings of 1-7 • Burnt Offerings (1) • Animal offerings only, totally consumed (no meat for priests or offerers) • To provide regular renewal with God • Cereal/Grain Offerings (2) • Either raw grain or baked loaf, token part burned, rest for priests/Levites • Indicates thankfulness • Peace Offerings (3) • Animal offerings only, only certain organs and fat burned • The rest appears to be available to eat as a symbol of relationships restored • Sin Offerings (4:1-5:13) • Animal offerings only, only certain organs and fat burned • Atones for wrong actions in social contexts • Guilt Offerings (5:14-6:7) • Animal offerings only, only certain organs and fat burned • Atones for wrong actions in specifically cultic religious contexts

  8. Leviticus:A Closer Look at the Offerings of 1-7 • Several underlying assumptions: • Visible Prayers • Mealtime with God • Note location in the space of God’s home and courtyard • Substitutionary Atonement • When “fellowship” is the focus – grain/loaf offering • When “guilt” is the focus – only animals (blood)

  9. Leviticus:A Closer Look at the Day of Atonement (16) • Annual Fast for Purification: • Cleansing of the High Priest: • Ceremonial Washings • Offering of a bull • Selection of two male goats: • One becomes Sin (Burnt) Offering • The other becomes Scapegoat (“Azazel”=“God has been strong”) • High Priest enters the Most Holy Place: • Fills the tent with a cloud of incense (hiding God or Priest) • Sprinkles blood from bull & goat offerings on Mercy Seat • High Priest bathes again

  10. Leviticus:A Closer Look at the Curses & Blessings (26) • Deliberate Link to Suzerain-Vassal Covenant format: • Implication: the instructions of Leviticus 1-25 are further “Stipulations” of the covenant (note verse 46) • Implication: the first “biblical” writings are actual covenant documents (note verse 46) • Blessings first, Curses later • Typical order reversed • Reflects the unique graciousness of Yahweh as covenant Suzerain • Provision made for failure, repentance, covenant renewal (40-45)

  11. Numbers:Who Is in the Covenant? • 1-10 – Signing on the Dotted Line: • Affirmation and Inclusion of those who are part of this Covenant relationship by way of clan registration • Structure of community organization • Special functions for certain families • Provisions for unique situations • 11-25 – Covenant Breaking & Renewal • Complaints & Rebellion among the people (11) • Complaints & Rebellion among the leaders (12) • Failure to trust Yahweh for victory in Canaan (13-15) • Clan uprising & aftermath (16-19) • Encounters with other nations, including Midian (Balak & Balaam) (20-25) • 26-36 – Covenant Reaffirmation (including a summary of the Covenant Calendar) and a final push toward Canaan

  12. Name Number Length Gregorian Equivalent Nissan 1 March-April 30 Iyar 2 April-May 29 Sivan 3 May-June 30 Tammuz 4 June-July 29 Av 5 July-August 30 Elul 6 August-September 29 Tishri 7 September-October 30 Cheshvan 8 October-November 29 or 30 Kislev 9 November-December 30 or 29 Tevet 10 December-January 29 Shevat 11 January-February 30 Adar 12 February-March 30 Adar II (leap years) 13 (leap years) February-March 29 Hebrew Calendar

  13. Hebrew Festival Calendar

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