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 those parts of the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch, which deal with the rituals and activities of the Temple. It describes the kinds of sacrifices, payment, qualifications and clothing of the priests, and the ceremonies the priests conduct.
             The Priestly Code follows the Covenant Code. It is principally in the book of Leviticus, but has some laws in Exodus and Numbers. 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. Moses was the law-giver in the sense that the basic principles from which all laws of Israel were to come were given through him"(81).
             Chapters 21-22 of Leviticus c...