What Is the Structure of the Book of Leviticus?

A popular, two-part approach to Leviticus considers the means by which believers can approach God, and the means by which their approach can be maintained before God. In this light the book may be viewed as having two major parts:

Part 1: The Means of Access to God: Sacrifice (chaps. 1–10).
Part 2: The Walk before God: Sanctification (chaps. 11–27).

However, the book may be more appropriately divided along the lines of chaps. 1–16 and 17–27. If God was to dwell among His people according to His revealed purpose at Sinai (cf. Ex 25:8; 33:17) and in keeping with Moses’ petition for the Lord’s very presence to accompany the nation (cf. Ex 33:15-16), then “sacred space” must first be created (establishment of the tabernacle, Ex 40:1-33; Lv 1–16) and a national holiness and purity must be maintained (Lv 17–27) (Richard Averbeck, “Sacred Space and Sacred Community in the Old Testament and the New Testament,” paper read at the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, Danvers, MA, November 18, 1999.)

Leviticus 16 is the theological center of the book. On the Day of Atonement, the holiness of the tabernacle and the holiness of the nation are central. Thirteen times in chap. 16 the word “atonement” is used in referring to the result of the five varied sacrifices performed on that day. Two blood atonements were made on behalf of the priests and the people (vv. 3, 5); a scapegoat offering was made on behalf of the entire congregation (vv. 20-22); and two burnt offerings were presented for the priests and the people (vv. 23-24). The point is clear: atonement for sin is required in order to maintain a “space” in which God may dwell with His people. These rituals not only cleansed the tabernacle of God’s dwelling with blood (vv. 32-33, referring back to vv. 1119), but they also cleansed the people (vv. 29-31), making them fit for His inhabitation as well.