Introduction

Chapters 17-27 of Leviticus are known as the “holiness codes” (Dillard/Longman, 75).  This section of Leviticus begins instituting laws which the people of Israel were to be aware of and follow.  Prior to this section, most of Leviticus has been about rituals, and instructions for the priesthood. As we enter chapter 17 however, the focus of the writer becomes broader sweeping as it begins to incorporate God’s vision for Israel to be a light to the nations.  Specifically, within the holiness codes dealing with bloodshed, the repetitive mentioning of “aliens residing among them” brings to light the Missiological endeavors of YHWH throughout this section.  Although there are certainly health benefits from the observance of these codes, it is my intention to show that prohibition on bloodshed and eating blood primarily served the purpose of setting Israel apart as a light to the world.

Seventeen begins with a basic speech formula where Moses receives instructions from YHWH and is told to speak them to Aaron, his sons and all the people of Israel.  It is also important to note that the people are receiving a command from YHWH.  There is a unilateral covenant pre-existent between God and Israel, and it is understood that their obedience to YHWH’s commands brings about prosperity for the people and the land.[1] Hearing the commands of YHWH, through the voice of Moses, reminds Israel of this covenant.  The subsequent instructions and consequences are thus framed by the lens of the promised prosperity that awaits them if they act obediently.  So from here forward when we hear “shall be cut off,” we must think in terms of being cut off from the provision and protection of YHWH.

A Sacrifice to YHWH

The first law encountered in chapter 17 begins in verse 3.  “If anyone of the house of Israel slaughters an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or slaughters it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to present it as an offering to YHWH before the tabernacle of YHWH, he shall be held guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood, and he shall be cut off from the people.” (Lev 17:3-4) At first glance this law seems to be there simply to favor the religious system.  It is as if God wanted to ensure a steady supply of meat was being brought to the tabernacle for the priests to live off of.  However when you examine the co-text of this passage the true purpose is found in verse 5.  At the end of this verse you get the reason for the law, “so that they may no longer offer their sacrifices for goat-demons…”  From the text we learn that the practice of pagan cultures had in some form or another found its way into the Israelite camp, and this was a way of making it holy.  God is telling his people, “it’s okay if you want to make your killings out in the field, as long as you are doing it to draw near to me, and not some silly goat-demon.”  Knowing Israel’s radical monotheistic tendencies to deny the powers of other deities it is safe to assume that the use of the “goat-demons” here is more intended to poke fun of the practice of these sacrifices rather than offer a polemic against such rituals.[2] Nevertheless the consequence for shedding the blood of an animal is to be cut off from the presence of YHWH.

The Resident Alien

Prior to introducing the next law given in chapter 17 it must be pointed out that there is a literary change that takes place beginning in verse 8.  From this point on all the laws are introduced with the inclusion of the “aliens who reside among them.”  The preceding law was given to Aaron, his sons and the people of Israel, which indicates that some foreign practices had made their way into the practices of “the house of Israel.”  Verse 8 gives us a clue as to how this happened.  Although Dillard and Longman contend “there are no clear indications that Leviticus contains late preexilic or postexilic materials, (Dillard and Longman 1994, 74)” I would argue to the contrary with the evidence found here in verse 8.  The fact that there are aliens who have residence among them would be unlikely for a group of nomadic wanderers.[3] In fact it is they who are supposed to be the aliens at this time wandering about a foreign land.  It is therefore my conclusion that at least this section of Leviticus is being written back onto by the priests in exile.  Therefore the pagan practices of sacrifices to “goat-demons” would likely have come from the very real presence of the aliens residing among the people during exile. With that in mind we can now examine the second law in Leviticus 17.

The only thing that differentiates the second law from the first is the addition of “the aliens who reside among them.”  This strongly suggests that the first law was directed towards the people of Israel, whereas the second now includes the aliens.  Interestingly, the consequences for the aliens remain the same, separation from the presence of YHWH and his people.  This implicitly shows the Missiological endeavors of YHWH found in this chapter of Leviticus.  First God corrects the behaviors of the house of Israel. But shortly and in the same way he offers the same unilateral covenant for the resident alien.

Its Blood is Its Life

The third law given in this section includes an interpretive centerpiece to the passage.  This law explicitly states that anyone who eats any blood will be cut off and YHWH will set his face against that person.[4] Although the consequences for disobedience remain the same, the rationale behind the law is quite different, and this is what makes it so significant.  Verse 11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you for making atonement for your lives on the altar.”  To hear this passage correctly you must not view God as a wrathful, and bloodthirsty avenger, rather, as one who wants to preserve life.  The loss of blood indicates death, so we are to treat with great care any shedding of blood.  Verse 11 tells us that he gave us the option of shedding the blood of animals as expiation for sin, or as a way for humanity to reconnect and come near to God.  This is a sign of great mercy.  When someone drinks the blood they are then the takers of life, it is no longer being used to bring life as God intended.

The third law ends the same way it began.  By calling into account not only the people of Israel, but the resident alien as well, it shows that the purpose of sacrifice goes beyond a ceremonial practice, but stands as a sign to the people of Israel and to the world that God desires peace.   In this way God’s Missiological endeavors are demonstrated two ways. First, by demonstrating himself as one who is merciful and secondly by extending this invitation to anyone who is near.

Burying Blood

Verse 12 works as a transition to the end of the passage.  “Therefore…No person among you shall eat blood…”  Restating and simplifying the previous law gives us the context through which we should understand the remaining prohibitions.  This statement reminds us again that all people are responsible for observing this command, and at the same time reminding us that life is found in the blood and therefore blood should not be eaten. In verse 13 the law is now expanded to include the protection of animals that are hunted.  Previously it was the blood of animals that were sacrificed that was not to be consumed.  With this fourth law we get the affirmative action, “you shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.”  A necessary question at this point is, “why take the time to bury the blood?” Simply put, the act of burying blood is an action that connects you to the life of the animal as opposed to it’s death.  This serves two purposes.  First it serves to remove the hunter in that moment from presence of death by focusing on the life of the animal just killed.  By focusing on the life it removes them from a place of being savage carnivores to being recipients of a gift of life.  Secondly it serves to slow down the process of killing.  In talking with my brother-in-law about poachers, there is often one thing they all have in common, namely, they are all in a hurry.  Many times the meat of the animal is wasted because a poacher is simply after the head, antlers, tusks etc.   A single gunshot can layout a thousand pound animal and within minutes a hunter can be on to his next kill.  By taking the time to drain and bury the blood you are seriously limiting a hunter’s ability to take life.  These acts of preserving life serve to counteract the dehumanizing act of taking life.

Provision For Life

The final law of Leviticus 17 is the only one that does not bear the consequence of being “cut off.”  In this law all people who eat an animal who has died without being slaughtered or hunted will be unclean until they have bathed themselves in water.  In this law you see once again provision for life.  Imagine a family who’s livelihood is wrapped up in a small flock of chickens, and one night a fox gets in and kills several of them.  Without any other source of income what else would you expect that family to do besides eat chicken for the next few nights?  By removing the consequence of disenfranchisement from this law you have provided opportunities for life to exist, as opposed to the chaos of being out from under God’s provision and protection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the laws found in Leviticus chapter 17 revolve heavily around the value of life.  It is this characteristic of God himself that he wishes to communicate with the rest of the world. This is accomplished by prohibiting the shedding of animal blood without purpose, as well as the strict forbiddance of consuming blood, as blood is life.  By remembering the mercy associate with the giving of animal life to draw oneself near to God, we too can learn to value life.  As my thesis stated however, this was all part of the Missiological desire of God to establish his rule on earth through the people of Israel.  This is revealed in this passage by the inclusion of the resident alien into these holiness codes, which fulfill the unilateral covenant established between God and his people Israel.  In this way we can move beyond the health benefits of the law, and see the heart of God, whose desire is to be known in all the earth.

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[1] See: Ex 12:25,13:5; Lev 25:38, 26:4

[2] The Anchor Bible Dictionary, “Azazel” Accordance Bible Software.

[3] Lev 17:8,10,12,13,15 also include references to the alien who resides among them.

[4] This, once again includes the resident alien.  Theologically this is significant as it shows that someone brought into the community has the power to turn God’s face.  So for a nation who’s goal is to be a light to other nations, to have God’s face turned from you would make that task impossible.