Leviticus 1–16 (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentary | AYBC)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
At the beginning of his academic career, author Jacob Milgrom determined to make his lifework a probing study of the Laws of the Torah. Here, with Leviticus 1–16, the first of three volumes on Leviticus, he has reached the pinnacle of his long pursuit. No other contemporary commentary matches Milgrom’s comprehensive work on this much misunderstood and often under-appreciated biblical book.
In this richly detailed volume, the author traverses the shoals of legal thought and liturgical practice in ancient Israel. He clearly explains the role of the Tabernacle of the Wilderness as the all-important center of Israelite worship, the locus of the priestly orders, sacrificial rituals, and practices of purity to which the congregation repaired for penitence and reconciliation, restoration, and renewal. At the heart of the dwelling place of God was the real presence of the God of Israel, present through his splendor in the midst of the camp and the congregation—a permanent sign of the unique privilege and responsibility of Israel, perceived as a worshipping and serving people.
Logos Bible Software gives you the tools you need to use this volume effectively and efficiently. With your digital library, you can search for verses, find Scripture references and citations instantly, and perform word studies. Along with your English translations, all Scripture passages are linked to Greek and Hebrew texts. What’s more, hovering over a Scripture reference will instantly display your verse! The advanced tools in your digital library free you to dig deeper into one of the most important contributions to biblical scholarship in the past century!
- Offers original translations, including alternative translations, annotations, and variants
- Provides verse-by-verse commentary on the text
- Presents the reader with historical background, including analysis of authorship and dating
- Features an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary literature
Contents
- Part I: The Sacrificial System (Chapters 1–7)
- Sacrificial Instructions Directed to the Laity (1:1–5:26)
- Sacrifices: The Administrative Order (6:1–7:38)
- Part II: The Inauguration of the Cult (Chapters 8–10)
- Consecration of Priests (8:1–36)
- The Inaugural Service (9:1–24)
- The Tragic Aftermath of the Inaugural Service (10:1–20)
- Part III: The Impurity System (Chapters 11–16)
- Diet Laws (11:1–47)
- Childbirth (12:1–8)
- Scale Disease (13:1–59)
- Purification after Scale Disease (14:1–57)
- Genital Discharges (15:1–33)
- The Day of Purgation (Yôm Kippûr) (16:1–34)
Top Highlights
“That there are two traditions concerning the ʾōhel môʿēd ‘Tent of Meeting’ is clear from its two loci: according to the Priestly tradition it is located in the very center of the camp (e.g., Num 2:17; 3:38) and according to the epic tradition it is located outside the camp (e.g., Num 11:24–27; 12:4–5). Some scholars believe they are one and the same Tent. There is, however, a rabbinic source that speaks of two Tents, one inside the camp for cultic purposes, the other outside the camp for oracular purposes (Midr. Exod. Rab. 51:2; Midr. Tanḥ. Pekude 5; Midr. Tanḥ. B. Exod., 127; Yal. 1, 737; Sipre Zuṭ on Num 10:33). This rabbinic tradition is followed by most moderns (e.g., Haran 1960a).” (Pages 139–140)
“No longer Adam, the ideal, but Noah, the real, he insists on bringing death to living things to gratify his appetite and need. This concession is granted him, reluctantly, but not without reservation: he is to refrain from ingesting the blood.” (Page 706)
“The common denominator of the tĕnûpâ may be clarified by two principles. The first is that any offering that is still in its owner’s possession before it is sacrificed on the altar requires a dedication ritual, which is called tĕnûpâ.” (Page 462)
“Moreover, its use is confined to the sanctuary, but it is never applied to a person (Milgrom 1970c” (Page 255)
“Evidently, then, the ḥaṭṭāʾt purifies, and the conclusion is therefore irrefutable that the ḥaṭṭāʾt blood daubed on the altar (v 8) lekappēr ʿal-halĕwiyim (v 12) purges the altar on the Levites’ behalf.” (Page 290)
- Title: Leviticus 1–16
- Author: Jacob Milgrom
- Series: Anchor Yale Bible (AYB)
- Publisher: Yale University Press
- Publication Date: 1998
- Pages: 1,184
Jacob Milgrom, an ordained rabbi active in his profession, is emeritus professor of Hebrew and Bible at the University of California, Berkeley. Distinguished author of four books and over 10 scholarly articles on the Bible, Milgrom is a Guggenheim fellow, a Fulbright fellow, a fellow of the Institute of Advanced studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a fellow of the American Academy of Jewish Research.
Reviews
5 ratings
Anatolii Tsoniev
9/5/2024
Anderson Abreu
5/29/2024
Mark McDonnel
5/7/2024
Whatever limitations the Logos experience may have for this book, the book itself is worth having if Leviticus is a concern at all.
Josh Watford
10/7/2021
Jeremiah
5/20/2019
The book itself is fantastic; the Logos version, however, is chock full of incomplete references. It seems at least 1 in 10 references to not have the full title or any kind of information available in popup. It's as if the digitalization process was extremely rushed and they just didn't check to see if all references were done. I constantly report "spelling error" to correct the references but don't see changes so have slowed down in reporting. Volume 1 seems to have fewer "missing complete references" than Volume 2. Perhaps it had higher QA scrutiny. The shades of many Hebrew words are different in the priestly literature and Milgrom does a superb job investigating the nuanced meanings of certain words, phrases, etc. in Leviticus. Slightly on the liberal edge at times but a bang up scholar for his linguistics and knowledge / consideration of the sages. My understanding of the Hebrew in Leviticus has been deeply enriched by this commentary. I only give it 4 stars b/c many of the references have not been Logos-i-fied (no popup, you'll need to search the bibliography for the references).
