Brian Somers Torah: Leviticus 1:1 – 6:7
Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23
Brit Chadassah/New Testament: Hebrews 10:1-18
We begin the third book of the five books of Moses, also known as the Torah or the Pentateuch (Greek). It’s called Leviticus and is primarily written to the tribe of Levi, both the priestly Aaronids (sons of Aaron) and the regular Levites. Frankly, there’s not a lot here for the non-Levite son of Israel because neither the Tabernacle nor the Temple currently exist. But when Yeshua is sitting on His throne at Jerusalem, we will be instructed in what He considers appropriate post-crucifixion. For the present purpose of what Hebrew Israelite men should learn and teach their families, the inescapable takeaway is that the father has a lot of responsibility to listen to the commandments of YHVH via Moses and teach them to his family.
How did I get to this takeaway? Well, a quick scan of the five chapters and seven verses of the sixth chapter shows that all of the pronouns used are masculine. In fact, the first time a woman is mentioned in Leviticus in the NASB version is not until Leviticus 12:2 in the context of being unclean. In fact, in Leviticus 12, which we will further discuss in the parashah Tazria, the instruction is about purification related to motherhood but the commands were still given to the sons of Israel to teach their families. Therefore, everything in this opening parashah of Vayikra is given to the sons of Israel and is their responsibility.
However, there are two Hebrew words used in these chapters that are significant. This discussion will essentially be a word study to generate some conclusions.
In Leviticus 1:2, YHVH is talking to Moses, and His word choice is very significant.
Now the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When anyone of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or the flock.
Leviticus 1:1-2.
The first thing to notice is that YHVH told Moses to speak to the “sons of Israel”, that is the men. The bolded word “anyone” is the NASB translation of אָדָם ‘âdâm (H120) or man. This is used in the generic sense to refer to men. In fact, אָדָם is what is used from Genesis 1:26 to 2:22.
The other Hebrew word to translate man is אִישׁ ‘ish’ (H376) and its first occurrence is in Genesis 2:23 to describe how the woman was formed. This word tends to refer to a specific male.
The second Hebrew word that I found particularly significant is found in Leviticus 2:1.
‘Now when anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it.
Leviticus 2:1
The Hebrew word translated “anyone” (bolded above) is נפשׁ ‘nephesh’ (H5315). It is translated by the following list of English words: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
I find this significant because the first time these two words אָדָם and נפשׁ were used together in the same sentence is the creation of man as recorded in the second chapter of Genesis.
7 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person.
Genesis 2:7
Man is אָדָם and living person (or soul) is נפשׁ.
Going back to Genesis 3 which records the Fall, I looked again at the Hebrew words used and there are three words for man in 3:1-17.
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6
Husband is אִישׁ ‘ish’ (H376).
8 Now they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:8-9
Man is אדם ‘âdâm (H121) which is Adam’s personal name.
12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me some of the fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
Genesis 3:12
Man is אָדָם (H120).
Our English translations hide some key understandings. Adam was the specific man who transgressed the commandment not to eat the forbidden fruit. He was also the first adam or אָדָם.
Circling back to our portion Vayikra, the use of אָדָם (H120) and נפשׁ ‘nephesh’ (H5315) should take us back to the creation of Adam who was perfect and his creation was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). The contrast between the perfect adam with the penitent at the door of the tent of meeting should be on our minds. The use of אָדָם (H120) and נפשׁ (H5315) also indicates that every male member of mankind have the right to approach the door of meeting.
This thought should also bring to mind what Yeshua said to his disciples.
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:7-9
Contrast the door of the sheepfold with the door of the tent of meeting.
he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, so that he may be accepted before the Lord.
Leviticus 1:3b
To conclude our discussion of Vayikra, the men have access to the door of meeting to offer sacrifices. In parallel, the men have access to Yeshua for salvation. Since salvation is offered to all of the congregation of Israel, so also do the women and the children. While salvation is offered to all, the primary responsibilities of leadership, instruction, and offering sacrifices fall to the men.
This is what Job did. He didn’t know that his children sinned, but he didn’t want to take chances with them.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send word to them and consecrate them, getting up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.
Job 1:1-5
We men are to teach and cover our families and since there are no more animal sacrifices, offer sacrifices of prayer instead for our families and those that we cover.