Book of Leviticus Facts for Kids

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Leviticus (say "lih-vih-tih-kus") is the third book in the Bible and the Torah. In Hebrew, its name is Wayiqra' (וַיִּקְרָא). This means 'And He will declare.' Many believe Moses wrote this book.

Leviticus was written for the Hebrew people of Israel. It teaches about important Jewish laws. These laws include how to make offerings to God. It also explains the work of the priests. These priests are sometimes called Levites, and the book is named after them.

When Was Leviticus Written?
What Is Leviticus About?
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When Was Leviticus Written?

This book likely developed over a long time. It probably reached its final form during the Persian Empire. This was between 538 and 332 BCE. However, many people believe Moses wrote it around 1300 BCE.

What Is Leviticus About?

Leviticus continues the story from the book of Exodus. The Israelites are escaping from Egypt. They have reached Biblical Mount Sinai. In Exodus, God taught Moses how to build the holy tabernacle. This was a special tent for praying and worshiping God.

In Leviticus, God gives more instructions to Moses. God wants Moses to share these rules with the Israelites. The book teaches Moses and the Levites how to make offerings. It also explains how they should live in a good way.

Laws for Offerings

The first few chapters of Leviticus explain God's laws for making offerings. These offerings were made for different reasons. For example, some were made to ask for forgiveness of sins.

The Role of Priests

After this, Moses makes Aaron a priest for God. The book gives many details about how priests should make offerings. These rules are sometimes called the "ceremonial law."

Rules for Daily Life

God also teaches the people about eating and staying clean. For example, some foods like pork and shrimp were forbidden. Meat was also not to be eaten with milk at the same time. Meat that was eaten had to come from animals killed in a special way. It also had to be free of blood. Blood was seen as representing life.

The book also gives rules about staying clean. This includes laws about skin diseases. It also covers how to handle dead bodies.

Holy Days and Rituals

The rest of Leviticus describes how priests, the Levites, should be chosen. It explains how they should dress. It also details how they should perform rituals. This includes important days like the Day of Atonement and other Holy Days.