Here’s a key verse in the book of Leviticus: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (19:1) God is busy trying to build a nation of people who will be different from everybody else - he’s trying to make them in his image. His image has been in us all from Creation, but it’s been somewhat smudged. These people are going to be more like him - holy, like he is.
Conduct of God’s people
Leviticus 19:1-8
Laws concerning neighbours, the land, and foreigners
Leviticus 19:9-37
Punishments for disobedience
Leviticus 20:7-26
Instructions for priests
Leviticus 21:1-9
Concerning the High Priest
Leviticus 21:10-15
Physical requirements for priests
Leviticus 21:16-24
Priests and the holy things
Leviticus 22:1-16
After beginning chapter 19 with this trumpet call: “Be holy,” the rest of the chapter fleshes it out. Some of it is common sense, honest, straight dealing - don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t bear a grudge. Other stuff seems plain odd - don’t cut the hair on the sides of your heads, don’t tattoo yourself. Presumably commands like these prohibit practices that were common amongst the Canaanites. I can’t see that trimming the edges of your beard is such a sin (if it is, I’m in big trouble!) but anything that people do in imitation of other groups is likely to encourage them to imitate practices that are less innocent, such as worshipping false gods.
The standards for priests are even higher, some of them strange. I particularly struggle with the idea that only perfect physical specimens are acceptable in God’s presence. If you have a physical defect, you are barred from priestly ministry. I don’t get this at all.
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