Selected Readings from the BibleLecture Seven

Fall 2013By: SU Xiaoxiang

Leviticus

• The third book of the Bible• Leviticus means “relating to the Levites”.• It gives instructions to priests and also

addresses the role and duties of the laity.

Day of Atonement

• From Leviticus 16, 23• This is the only day on which the High Priest is

to enter the holiest part of the sanctuary, the holy of holies.

• He is to sacrifice a bull for the sins of the priests, and a goat for the sins of the laypeople. A third goat is to sent into the desert to "Azazel”, bearing the sins of the whole people.

Scapegoat

• “Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer it as a sin offering; but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel”.

• On this day, the high priest would first offer a sacrifice for his sins and those of his household; then he would perform sacrifices for the nation. “From the Israelite community [the high priest was instructed] to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering” (v. 5). The priest brought the animals before the Lord and cast lots between the two goats – one to be a sacrifice and the other to be the scapegoat. The first goat was slaughtered for the sins of the people and its blood used to cleanse the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar (v. 20). After the cleansing, the live goat was brought to the high priest.

• Laying his hands on the scapegoat, the high priest was to “confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites – all their sins – and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness” (vv. 21-22). Symbolically, the scapegoat took on the sins of the Israelites and removed them (v. 10).

Yom Kippur Holiday

• It is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people.• Themes: Atonement and repentance• It is traditionally observed with a 25-hour period of

fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue 犹太教堂  services..

• There are no radio or television broadcasts, airports are shut down; there is no public transportation, and all shops and businesses are closed.

A view of The Holiday

Traditions Observed

• No eating and drinking• No wearing of leather shoes• No bathing or washing• No anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions• No marital relations

Book of Numbers

• Numbers begins at Mount Sinai, where the Israelites have received their laws and covenant from God and God has taken up residence among them in the sanctuary.

• The task before the Israelites is to take possession of the Promised Land. The people are numbered and preparation are made for resuming their march.

• The Israelites begin the journey, but immediately they “murmur” at the hardships along the way.

• They arrive at the borders of Canaan and send spies into the land, but on hearing the spies' report the Israelites refuse to take possession of Canaan and God condemns them to death in the wilderness until a new generation can grow up and carry out the task.

• The book ends with the new generation of Israelites in the plain of Moab ready for the crossing of the Jordan River.

Nazirite (Numbers 6)

• Refers to one who voluntarily took a vow described in Numbers 6:1–21

• The proper noun “Nazarite” comes from the Hebrew word nazir meaning "consecrated" or "separated".

Vows

• Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, intoxicating liquors, vinegar distilled from such substances, and eating or drinking any substance that contains any trace of grapes.

• Refrain from cutting the hair on one's head; but to allow the locks of the head's hair to grow.

• Not to become impure by corpses or graves, even those of family members.

Exploring Canaan (Numbers 13)

• Summary– God instructs Moses to send men to explore the

land of Canaan– 12 spies (one from each Jewish tribe) were sent– Reports on the exploration were given: Ten spies

believed that the land is impossible to claim; only Joshua and Celeb gave an encouraging report

– The Israelites refused to fight for the land, and God punished them and let them wonder in the desert for 40 years.

Balaam’s Donkey (Numbers 22)

• The Israelites traveled to Moab and camped there. Balak, the king of Moab was terrified and feared that Israelites would destroy them. He summoned Balaam to curse Israel. Despite the warning of the God, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials.

• The donkey saw the angel of Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword and turned off the road into a field. After Balaam starts punishing the donkey for refusing to move, it is miraculously given the power to speak to Balaam (Numbers 22:28), and it complains about Balaam's treatment. At this point, Balaam is allowed to see the angel, who informs him that the donkey is the only reason the angel did not kill Balaam.

Book of Joshua

• The sixth book of the OT.• It tells of the entry of the Israelites into

Canaan, their conquest and division of the land under the leadership of Joshua, and of serving God in the land.

• Part I: Conquest of Canaan • Part II: Division of the conquered land among

the 12 tribes

Joshua Installed as Leader (Ch.1)

• After the death of Moses, Joshua succeeded as the new leader.

• Joshua was to lead the Israelites to cross the Jordan and settle in the promised land.

Rahab and the Spies (Ch. 2)

• Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, Joshua sent spies to investigate the military strength of Jericho (the Canaanites city).

• The spies stayed in Rahab’s house, which was built into the city wall. When soldiers came to look for the spies, she hid them under bundles of flax on the roof.

• The spies promised to spare Rahab and her family after taking the city.

Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3)

• The two spies reported the good news that the people of Jericho were in a state of fear. Joshua decided to make his attack soon. And they needed to cross the Jordan.

• The Israelites followed the Ark of Covenant to cross over the Jordan.

• The Jordan was cut off and the waters ceased to flow and opened a path for the Israelites. The Israelites were able to cross over with ease.

Ark of the Covenant

• Ark of the Covenant is a chest containing the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed.

• When the Ark was borne by priests into the bed of the Jordan, water in the river separated, opening a pathway for the entire host to pass through.

The Fall of Jericho (Joshua 5-6)

• The Israelites laid siege to the city of Jericho, which is securely guarded by Canaanites.

• With the guidance of God, Joshua led the Israelites to march around the city once ever day for 6 days with the 7 priests carrying ram’s horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day they the priests sounded their horns and people shouted.

• The walls of Jericho crumbled and was taken.