\\INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS\\

This book is commonly called by the Jews Vajikra, from the first word
with which it begins, and sometimes \^Mynhk trwt\^, "the law of the
priests" {a}; and this is its name in the Syriac and Arabic versions:
by the Septuagint interpreters it is called \~leuitikon\~, and by the
Latins, Leviticus, or the Levitical book, because it gives an account
of the Levitical priesthood, as the apostle calls it, \\#Heb 7:11\\. It
treats of the sacrifices under the Levitical dispensation, and of the
priests concerned in them, and of the times and seasons in which they
were offered, and of many other rites and ceremonies. That it was wrote
by Moses is not only generally believed by the Jews, but is affirmed in
the New Testament; see \\#Mt 8:4 Joh 8:5\\ compared with \\#Le 14:2 20:10\\
from whence, as well as from other citations out of it in other places,
the authority of it may be concluded. The matter of it was delivered to
Moses, and very likely by him then written upon the erection of the
tabernacle, which was in the second year of the Israelites coming out
of Egypt, in the first month, and the first day of the month, \\#Ex 40:17\\
and it was on the same day that the Lord spake to Moses out of it, and
delivered to him the laws concerning sacrifices, recorded in the first
seven chapters; see \\#Nu 1:1\\ compared with \\#Le 1:1\\ and on the
eighth day of the same month, and some following days, the remainder of
it was given to him, and written by him, see \\#Le 8:1 12:1 16:1\\ to
which agrees the Targum of Jonathan on \\#Le 1:1\\.

``when Moses had made an end of erecting the tabernacle, Moses
thought and reasoned in his heart, and said, Mount Sinai, its
excellency was the excellency of an hour, and its holiness
the holiness of three days, it was not possible for me to
ascend unto it, until the time that the Word was speaking
with me; but this tabernacle of the congregation, its
excellency is an excellency for ever, and its holiness an
holiness for ever, it is fit that I should not enter into it,
until the time that be speaks with me from before the Lord;
and therefore the Word of the Lord called to Moses, and the
Word of the Lord spake with him out of the tabernacle of the
congregation, saying;''

and to the same purpose the Jerusalem Targum. It was written in the
year from the creation of the world 2514, and about 1490 years before
the coming of Christ. The various sacrifices, rites, and ceremonies
made mention of in it, were typical of Christ, and shadows of good
things to come by him: there are many things in it, which give great
light to several passages in the New Testament, and it is worthy of
diligent reading and consideration.

{a} T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 103. 2.

\\INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 1\\

This chapter contains certain laws and rules concerning sacrifices,
particularly burnt offerings, which were delivered by the Lord to
Moses, \\#Le 1:1,2\\ what those offerings should be of,
\\#Le 1:3,10,14\\ what rules should be observed, what actions should be
done, first by the persons that brought them, \\#Le 1:3,4\\ and then by
the priest that offered them, with respect to the burnt offering of the
herd, \\#Le 1:5-9\\ and to the burnt offering of the sheep and goats,
\\#Le 1:11-13\\ and to the burnt offering of fowls, \\#Le 1:15-17\\ all
which, when offered aright, were of a sweet savour to the Lord,
\\#Le 1:9,13,17\\.