Leviticus and Numbers

by Richard N. Boyce

Overview

In this rich and thoughtful commentary Richard Boyce makes Leviticus and Numbers come alive for serious and lively preaching and teaching. In a clear and direct style, Boyce explains the various rituals and regulations in these books, while always showing what today's believers can learn from them. Attentive to the particularities of the text in its time, Boyce is nevertheless unabashed about seeing and hearing these books as a word to the church—a word that connects again and again with the New Testament and speaks in important ways to contemporary life.

Books in the Westminster Bible Companion series assist laity in their study of the Bible as a guide to Christian faith and practice. Each volume explains the biblical book in its original historical context and explores its significance for faithful living today. These books are ideal for individual study and for Bible study classes and groups.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664255251
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	02/18/2008
Series:	Westminster Bible Companion
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Richard N. Boyce is Associate Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Leadership at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Charlotte, North Carolina. A gifted teacher, preacher, and pastor, he served for many years as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Belmont, North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword     xi
Introduction     1
A Journey from One Land to the Next     2
A Journey from One Temple to the Next     3
A Journey from One World to the Next     4
At Sinai, Preparation for the Journey (Leviticus 1:1-27:34; Numbers 1:1-10:10)
General Instructions "on Mount Sinai": Leviticus 1:1-27:34     11
Instructions on Sacrifice: Leviticus 1:1-7:38     14
For All the People (1:1-6:7; 7:22-36)     14
Three Voluntary Offerings (1:1-3:17)     14
Burnt Offerings (1:1-17)     14
Grain Offerings (2:1-16)     17
Offerings of Well-Being (3:1-17)     19
Two Atoning Offerings (4:1-6:7)     21
Purification and Reparation Offerings (4:1-6:7)     21
Additional Instructions (7:22-38)     24
Prohibition of Fat and Blood (7:22-27)     25
Portions for Priests (7:28-36)     25
For the Priests Only, Five Offerings (6:8-7:21, 37-38)     27
Concluding Observations on the Manual of Sacrifice     29
Inauguration of Israel's Worship: Leviticus 8:1-10:20     31
The Ordination of the Priests (8:1-36)     32
The Beginning of Tabernacle Service (9:1-7, 22-24)     35
Tabernacle Service Goes Awry(10:1-20)     36
Instructions on Clean/Unclean: Leviticus 11:1-15:33     39
Foods (11:1-47)     40
Childbirth (12:1-8)     43
Skin and Fungus Diseases (13:1-14:57)     45
Genital Discharges (15:1-33)     50
Distinguishing Clean from Unclean: Summary Comments     52
Inauguration of the Day of Atonement: Leviticus 16:1-34     54
Once a Year     55
Some Particulars     56
Centrality for Judaism and Christianity     57
Instructions on Holiness: Leviticus 17:1-27:34     59
Holiness Regarding Animals (17:1-16)     61
Holiness in Sexual Relations (18:1-30)     64
Holiness in All of Life (19:1-37)     70
Penalties for Violation of Holiness (20:1-27)     76
Holiness of Priests (21:1-24)     80
Holiness of Offerings (22:1-33)     83
Holiness of Festivals (23:1-44)     86
Introduction     86
The Sabbath (23:1-3)     87
Spring Festivals (23:4-22)     88
Fall Festivals (23:23-44)     91
Holiness of Lamp and Bread (24:1-9)     94
Punishment for Blasphemy (24:10-23)     95
Holiness of Land (25:1-55)      99
Introduction     99
The Sabbatical Year (25:1-7)     99
The Year of Jubilee (25:8-55)     101
Closing Rewards and Punishments (26:1-46)     104
Final Instructions regarding Redemption (27:1-34)     107
Instructions for the March "in the Wilderness": Numbers 1:1-10:10     109
Taking the First Census: Numbers 1:1-54     111
The Scandal of Particularity     112
The Cost of Census     112
The Cost of the Battle Ahead     113
Instructions for Camp and March: Numbers 2:1-34     114
God's People at Rest     114
God's People on the Move     115
Enrollment of the Levites: Numbers 3:1-4:49     116
Priorities for the March     117
Memorial of the Exodus     117
Accommodation by God     118
Further Instructions #1: Numbers 5:1-6:27     119
On Unclean Persons (5:1-4)     119
On Confession and Restitution (5:5-10)     120
On a Jealous Spouse (5:11-31)     121
On Nazirites (6:1-21)     124
Regarding Benediction (6:22-27)     125
Final Preparations: Numbers 7:1-10:10     127
Presentation of Offerings (7:1-89)      127
Setting Up Lamps (8:1-4)     129
Consecration of Levites (8:5-26)     130
Observation of Passover (9:1-14)     131
Appearance of Cloud and Fire (9:15-23)     133
Making Trumpets (10:1-10)     134
In the Wilderness, the Journey of God's People (Numbers 10:11-21:9)
The People Start to March: Numbers 10:11-36     139
This Is the Day the Lord Has Made     139
Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad in It     140
Who Wouldn't Want to Be a Member?     140
The People Start to Complain: Numbers 11:1-12:16     143
At Taberah, the People (11:1-3)     144
At Kibroth-hattaavah, the People and Moses (11:4-35)     147
At Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron (12:1-16)     151
The People Attempt an Invasion: Numbers 13:1-14:45     155
A Foretaste of the Future (13:1-24)     155
Thanks, but No Thanks (13:25-14:12)     158
A Prophet Stands (or Falls) in the Breach (14:5-19)     160
God's Gracious Discipline Continues (14:20-38)     163
A False Show of Piety (14:39-45)     165
Further Instructions #2: Numbers 15:1-41     168
To Follow Thee More Nearly     169
Missing the Forest for the Trees     170
The Thread of Gospel Woven In     171
The People Rebel, Threats from Within: Numbers 16:1-17:13     172
A Threefold Rebellion     175
A Threefold Response     177
From Bad to Worse     177
Signs of Hope in the Midst of Chaos     178
Attacks from Without or Within     179
Further Instructions #3: Numbers 18:1-19:22     181
Proper Relations with the Priests and Levites (18:1-32)     181
Proper Procedures with the Dead (19:1-22)     183
Further Rebellions, Defeats, Victories: Numbers 20:1-21:35     186
Rebellion at Meribah (20:1-13)     187
Edom's Refusal (20:14-21)     191
The Death of Aaron (20:22-29)     192
Victory over Arad and Kings Sihon and Og (21:1-3, 10-35)     194
The Fiery Serpents (21:4-9)     197
At Camp in Moab, Preparation for the Conquest (Numbers 22:1-36:13)
Enemies Attack, Threats from Without: Numbers 22:1-24:25     203
Balak Summons Balaam to Curse Israel (22:1-6)     205
First Refusal (22:7-14)     208
Regroup, Reload, Return (22:15-21)     209
An Interlude: The Story of Balaam's Ass (22:22-35)     210
The Main Act     216
Prologue (22:36-40)     216
Act 1 (22:41-23:12)     217
Act 2 (23:13-26)     219
Act 3 (23:27-24:14)     220
Another for the Road (24:15-24)     222
Some Conclusions     224
The People Rebel, Threat of Assimilation: Numbers 25:1-18     227
Atonement Must Be Made     229
Another Generation Must Be Raised     230
Some Space Must Be Cleared     230
Taking a New Census: Numbers 26:1-65     232
The Lord Knows People by Name     233
The Lord Keeps Promises     233
New Life and New Hope     233
Last-Minute Instructions: Numbers 27:1-30:16; 36:1-13     235
Daughters of Zelophehad (27:1-11; 36:1-13)     235
Appointment of Joshua (27:12-23)     238
Regarding Offerings (28:1-29:40)     241
Regarding Vows (30:1-16)     244
Final Victory in the Wilderness: Numbers 31:1-54     247
War as Vengeance     249
War as Worship     251
War as Threat     252
Instructions for the Conquest: Numbers 32:1-35:34     255
Regarding Transjordan (32:1-42)     255
Reviewing the Journey (33:1-49)     259
Regarding Conquest (33:50-56)     262
Regarding Boundaries (34:1-35:34)     266
Epilogue     273
In the Camp     273
On the Road     275
In the Land     276
Bibliography     281