The Priestly Code

A large percentage of the Old Testament consists of legal stipulations, traditions and explanations. The bulk of this material is found in four major sections: the Covenant Code (Exodus 20: 22-23:33), the Deuteronomic Code(Deut 12-26), the Holiness Code(Lev 17-26), and the Priestly Code(Exodus 25-31, 34:29, Lev 16 and parts of Num). These sections appear in the first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch is the result of a careful and complex joining of several historical sources. These sources are divided into four parts: Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly and Deuteronomic (abbreviated as J, E, D and P). Each source brings to the Pentateuch its own characteristics, and its own viewpoint. Let us focus on the priestly tradition, P, which reveals in its Priestly Code interest and concern for direction for the Priesthood in the conduct of worship and the regulation of social life.

The Pentateuch reformation took place in the fifth century B.C., after the Babylonian exile. The key event is when Nehemiah organized a gathering that listened to his colleague, Ezra, read from a sacred book. This sacred book was The Priestly Code, which was written around 450 B.C.E. The Priestly Code is t

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There are five major kinds of offerings described in Leviticus. Guilt offerings involved sacrifice and an act of restoring ant loss that resulted from sin (Tullock 84). The laws are presented as if they were given directly to Moses, but according to Tullock, “closer examination reveals that they were developed over a long period of time. Inside the tent were two rooms: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of the Holies. Gold was to coat both the inside and outside. It had a mercy seat on top, which represented the throne of God. This Dwelling and all its finishings you shall make exactly according to the pattern that I will now show you”. It is principally in the book of Leviticus, but has some laws in Exodus and Numbers. Here we learn God wishes Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazer and Ithamar to be his priests. The priests and worshipers ate its meat as communion. Each time Aaron enters the sanctuary, he is to “bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breast piece of decision over his heart as a constant reminder before the Lord”(Exodus 28:29).

Finally, there were the High Priests. “The priest shall then burn the whole offering on the altar as a holocaust, a sweet smelling oblation to the Lord”(1:9). Gold, violet, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen were included in each piece.

Approximate Word count = 1664
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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