In my last post, I pointed out that animal sacrifice and many other ancient worship practices existed well before the time of Moses.
I think this fact alone gives us a trustworthy basis for accepting the authenticity of Leviticus.
The reason I’m saying this is because some scholars will make the claim that Leviticus does NOT come from the time of Exodus.
They will say the contents of Leviticus have their origins in the 6th century BC when the Jews were exiled to Babylon.
Fortunately for us, more recent archaeological and documentary evidence has resurfaced that not only validates the contents of Leviticus but points to this book originating from around the 12th to 14th centuries BC.
Here’s the thing.
When the archeological and documentary evidence of the surrounding Middle Eastern nations from this era such as Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia are compared with what is detailed in Leviticus, it cannot be denied that there unmistakable similarities.
In addition, recently, much evidence has been unearthed that reveal much about the Hittites, who were a vast and flourishing culture.
Contained in this evidence are written documents and pictorials engraved on walls that depict pretty clearly what these pagan cultic practices were all about.
And again, all of the details of this evidence fits well with what is written in Leviticus.
And again, I assert that this supports the authenticity of Leviticus.
Yet in spite of this, there are many scholars who will claim that Leviticus’s description of Israel’s religious rituals are pure fantasy.
How come they don’t question ancient Ugaritic or Egyptian temple documents?
Why this bias toward the Holy Scriptures?
True, the Bible has undergone some redactions over the centuries.
The countless number of Bible versions in existence are a perfect example reflecting this reality.
However, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has shown us that any variations that do exist are very minor and are practically insignificant.
There is no reason for us to accept Leviticus for anything other that what it really is: the original Hebrew Sacrificial System given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Now having said all that and for the sake of integrity, I do need to let you know that some of the wording or phrases in Leviticus has changed over time.
What stands out about Leviticus is that much of the terminology being used is AGRICULTURAL in nature.
In other words, the terminology being used would have fit Israel many years later AFTER they had settled in Canaan as farmers, and not as desert wanderers which is what they are at this particular point in Scripture.
So this point has confounded many scholars and teachers alike when trying to decipher what parts of this book are original and what parts have been altered.
However, there is one point that even the harshest of Bible critics agree on.
After examining the many varied ancient scripture documents, regardless of which culture, language or time period they originated, the ATTRIBUTES AND CHARACTER of the God of Israel whose Name is YHVH is undeniably consistent and UNCHANGING.
This is the unanimous conclusion of even the harshest Bible critics!
“I the LORD do not change.
So you,
the descendants of Jacob,
are not destroyed.”
-Malachi 3:6
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