Leviticus

Leviticus is the third book of the Bible, and deals mostly with instructions for the men designated to be priests in the temple. The book is called Leviticus because only men from the tribe of Levi could be priests; God had separated that tribe from all the others to take care of the Temple and everything that went in it.

This book goes into detail about the different types of animal offerings that can be made.

Aaron is consecrated at the first ever high priest of the temple, Aaron's sons were also priests.

There are specifications for what makes an animal clean or unclean to eat.

There are several chapters about how the people were to spot leprosy, and how the priests were supposed to handle people that were diseased with it. This makes sense because of the large number of people traveling together- they didn't want a plague breaking out.

Rules for sexual conduct are written.

Reminders of the holy feasts throughout the year are written down; this includes Passover.

There are other various chapters on how to treat servants, the rules about tithing (giving 10%).

My favorite chapter from this book is chapter 26, towards the end of the book. This chapter talks about all the blessings the people will receive when they do God's commandments, and all the negative things that would happen to them if they didn't. This was written to show obvious contrasts- life and victory versus death and defeat.

Leviticus 26
3: If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4:Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
6: And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
7: And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
8: And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
14: But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
16: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
17: And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
30: And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
40: If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
44: And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.

If you get a chance, read chapter 26, it's really cool.