The Book of Leviticus deals with clear instructions on how the Israelites were to use the Tabernacle which they had built and which goes into great detail on the way this was constructed and the symbolism it represents. Principally, the book focuses on certain rituals which are part and parcel of proceedings and show a respect towards the Tabernacle as the Holy Place of God.
This intrinsically meant that the Tabernacle was a hugely important place of symbolism and was also part and parcel of God’s message towards the Israelites. The symbolism that Leviticus continues to propose also has to do with the rules of being clean or unclean, another important ritualistic method which was applied by the Jews towards their rituals.
Another interesting part of Leviticus which is discussed by Bandstra and Anderson is the preparation of animals for slaughter and eventual consumption. This is termed the Kashrut which also focuses on which animals may or not be eaten, something which is followed by the Jews to this day. Another important aspect is the Day of Atonement where all will come together and there will be light at the end of the tunnel whilst finally there is an extensive discussion on various moral and ritual laws which is called the Holiness Code.
Leviticus is perhaps not intrinsically a spiritual book as such but focuses more on traditions and other aspects of the symbolism of the Jewish faith. Perhaps Anderson sums it up best when he describes it as a rite of passage which always forms an important part of any Jewish characteristic and which is intrinsically the basis on which the faith is made.
Numbers:
The Book of Numbers reveals a certain amount of detail on how the Israelites managed to identify the land of Canaan and divided it into areas for their specific communities. The episode where the Israelites were made to wander in the Deseret for 40 years is also mentioned and given some importance. Here we also encounter Moses who himself has sinned and who will also not enter the Promised Land, a hugely powerful statement if there was one on the power of God and His sense of justice. There is much to learn here as Anderson comments especially with regard to faith in God which is not something to be taken lightly on any account. The Book of Numbers is certainly instructive in certain aspects but it also shows that God is someone who must not be tampered with or played around with as the consequences are intrinsically dire. Perhaps there is also the aspect of God’s wrath which has to be taken into account accordingly as although this is not the main focus of the book, it is always there in the background. The final part of the book where the Israelites move from Kadesh to the plains of Moab is also extremely poignant and moving in that respect.
Deuteronomy:
The Book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches which Moses gave on the Moab mountain which lies opposite Jericho. Here we can examine the importance and intricacy of the laws which God set down for the Israelites and Moses and how these laws were to be applied to everyday life accordingly. The word Deuteronomy actually means a Code of laws and these laws are to be applied strictly and to the letter in every respect.
The disappearance of Moses is another factor which has to be taken into account accordingly as part and parcel of the Book of Deuteronomy. The question of Moses’ successor is also crucial and important and here he appoints Joshua as that person who will eventually succeed him in this respect. This is another aspect of the Book of Deuteronomy which is dealt with by Bandstra who espouses on the importance of authority as the central figure in the Jewish life and upon which all sorts of authority rests. This is also reflected upon by Anderson who espouses on the importance of the central figure of authority who is the fulcrum of all the points in life. Yet again the figure of Moses is central to proceedings and provides us with a background of importance and of his life in general.
The fact that Joshua then begins the conquest of Canaan after Moses’ disappearance is another important factor which emphasises the importance of continuity in this respect. So the Book of Deuteronomy is kind of the concluding part of a cycle which began with Genesis and continued on with the other books that tell their own stories accordingly. Here life turns full circle and demonstrates that the Jewish people were indeed a nation with an identity which had been forged and tested to the full.
Works Cited:
Anderson, Bernhard W. Understanding the Old Testament. 4th edition. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1987.
Bandstra, Barry L. Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Grand Rapids, New York. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1995.
Flanders, Henry J., Robert W. Crapps and D. A. Smith. People of the Covenant: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. 4th edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
SDA Bible Commentary,Volumes 1 and 2
