Day 28 Reading Schedule : Numbers 9-13

Leviticus 9: Aaron's First Duty 

[Overview]

This chapter records the inauguration of Aaron and his sons as priests after completing the seven-day inauguration ceremony. Unlike the inauguration ceremony in which Moses performed the sacrifice, Aaron himself began to offer the sacrifice from the inauguration ceremony. Moses commanded Aaron to begin his duties as priest (vv. 1-7). Aaron offered a sin offering and a burnt offering for himself (vv. 8-14) and a sin offering and a peace offering for the people (vv. 15-21). At this time, God burned the offering and the fat on the altar with fire to give a sign of his inauguration (vv. 22-24).

This chapter is a continuation of the priestly duties introduced in Leviticus 8. After completing the seven-day inauguration ceremony, the priest offered a sin offering for himself and the people of Israel. This was the first sacrifice offered to God after the priests were commissioned, and it consisted of sacrifices for the priests, sacrifices for the entire congregation, blessings from Moses and Aaron, and the glory of Jehovah revealed through fire. Among them, the first sacrifice offered by Aaron signified that Aaron had begun as a mediator between Israel and God with divine authority.

Leviticus 10: The Wrong Offering 

[Summary]

Aaron and his sons received the blessed mission of being priests. However, the blessing was given when they obeyed God’s command. This chapter shows the meaning of the law to the Israelites through the tragic incident of Aaron’s two sons dying on their first day of inauguration. Two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, were burned to death while offering incense with fire that was not commanded (vv. 1-7). As a result of this incident, God commanded that priests should not drink alcohol during the sacrifice and that they should eat the holy food next to the altar (vv. 8-15). In addition, Moses rebukes Eleazar and Ithamar for not eating the sin offering and instead burning it because they were afraid of Nadab and Abihu (vv. 16-20).

This chapter provides a glimpse into the theme that runs through the entire history of Israel: the blessing of obedience to God’s command and the curse of disobedience. After the sacred inauguration ceremony, Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu, were set apart as priests of God, but while they were burning incense, they were punished by God and died. This chapter records this punishment, the admonitions regarding priests' drinking that were enacted as a result of this incident, the regulations regarding grain offerings and peace offerings that were assigned to priests, and Moses' reprimand for the sins of priests Eleazar and Ithamar.

Leviticus 11: Clean and Unclean Animals 

[Summary]

Becoming God's people means being separated from the world in every way and having God's commands as the standard for all life. This chapter records the regulations regarding the food that the Israelites had to choose for their purity. Among animals, only those that chew the cud and have cleft feet were to be eaten (verses 1-8), and among fish, those that do not have fins and scales were considered unclean and could not be eaten (verses 9-12). In addition, birds (verses 13-19) and insects (verses 20-28) were divided into unclean and clean, and finally, among the things that crawl on the ground, they were divided into unclean (verses 29-47).

Chapters 1 through 10 of Leviticus discuss the path people took toward God through the sacrificial system and priesthood, and the life of communion. However, from this chapter to chapter 16, it contains specific content on the elements that hinder perfect fellowship with God, namely, the regulations on cleanliness and uncleanness, and the laws of purity. In particular, this chapter distinguishes between animals that humans can eat and those that they cannot.

Leviticus 12: Purification of Mothers 

[Summary]

This chapter mentions the purification regulations for mothers who have given birth. Women who gave birth were considered unclean for a certain period of time and could not come near holy things, but after that, they were purified by offering a sin offering according to their economic ability.

Leviticus 11 describes the laws regarding unclean and clean foods. This chapter continues with the laws regarding clean and unclean people after chapter 11. That is, the first part of the passage from Leviticus 12 to 15 mentions the regulations regarding the impurity and purification of women who have given birth. These regulations are ceremonial laws and teach the principles of spiritual purity through the cultural background of the time.

Leviticus 13: Diagnosis of Leprosy 

[Overview]

This chapter deals with the purification regulations for skin diseases. In particular, this chapter explains in detail the early symptoms and diagnosis of leprosy. The methods were to judge by the color spots on the skin (verses 1-8) or to diagnose only the skin by examining the flesh (verses 9-17). In addition, the priest diagnosed whether it was leprosy when there was a boil on the skin (verses 18-23) or when the skin became red and white due to a burn (verses 34-28). In addition, it mentions the diagnosis of abnormalities in the hair or beard (verses 39-46) and when leprosy occurred on clothing (verses 47-59).

Leviticus 13-14 discusses the removal of impurity caused by various leprosy diseases. This chapter describes in detail the early symptoms of leprosy and the diagnosis methods based on those symptoms. That is, the diagnosis of spots on the skin, the diagnosis of boils, the diagnosis of scabs on burns, the diagnosis of scabs on clothing, etc.