"At first sight the book of Leviticus might appear to be a haphazard, even repetitious arrangement of enactments involving the future life in Canaan of the Israelite people. Closer examination will reveal, however, that quite apart from the division of the work into two basic themes, many of the chapters have their own literary structure. Examples of this can be seen in material patterned after the fashion of a Mesopotamian tablet, with its title, textual content and colophon, as in Leviticus 1:3-7:37-38. Other chapters exhibit a distinct form of construction, which would doubtless prove extremely valuable for purposes of memorizing the contents. Examples of this are to be found in the triadic pattern of the leprosy regulations introduced by the phrase The Lord said to Moses' (Lv. 13:1; 14:1, 33), or the concentric arrangement of propositions (palistrophe) in Leviticus 24:16-22. A particularly attractive literary form is the introverted (chiastic) passage occurring in Leviticus 15:2-30, suggesting considerable artistic ability on the part of the writer."15
I. The public worship of the Israelites chs. 1-16
A. The laws of sacrifice chs. 1-7
1. The burnt offering ch. 1
2. The meal offering ch. 2
3. The peace offerings ch. 3
4. The sin offerings 4:1-5:13
5. The trespass offerings 5:14-6:7
6. Instructions for the priests concerning the offerings 6:8-7:38
B. The institution of the Aaronic priesthood chs. 8-10
1. The consecration of the priests and the sanctuary ch. 8
2. The entrance of Aaron and his sons into their office ch. 9
3. The sanctification of the priesthood ch. 10
C. Laws relating to ritual cleanliness chs. 11-15
1. Uncleanness due to contact with certain animals ch. 11
2. Uncleanness due to childbirth ch. 12
3. Uncleanness due to skin and covering abnormalities chs. 13-14
4. Uncleanness due to bodily discharges associated with reproduction ch. 15
D. The Day of Atonement ch. 16
1. Introductory information 16:1-10
2. Instructions concerning the ritual 16:11-28
3. Instructions concerning the duty of the people 16:29-34
II. The private worship of the Israelites chs. 17-27
A. Holiness of conduct on the Israelites' part chs. 17-20
1. Holiness of food ch. 17
2. Holiness of the marriage relationship ch. 18
3. Holiness of behavior toward God and man ch. 19
4. Punishments for serious crimes ch. 20
B. Holiness of the priests, gifts, and sacrifices chs. 21-22
1. The first list of regulations for priests 21:1-15
2. The second list of regulations for priests 21:16-24
3. The third list of regulations for priests ch. 22
C. Sanctification of the Sabbath and the feasts of Yahweh ch. 23
1. The Sabbath 23:1-3
2. The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread 23:4-8
3. The Feast of Firstfruits 23:9-14
4. The Feast of Pentecost 23:15-22
5. The Feast of Trumpets 23:23-25
6. The Day of Atonement 23:26-32
7. The Feast of Tabernacles 23:33-44
D. The preparation of the holy lamps and showbread 24:1-9
E. The punishment of a blasphemer 24:10-23
F. Sanctification of the possession of land by the sabbatical and jubilee years ch. 25
1. The sabbatical year 25:1-7
2. The year of jubilee 25:8-55
G. Promises and warnings ch. 26
1. Introduction to the final conditions of the covenant 26:1-2
2. The blessing for fidelity to the law 26:3-13
3. The warning for contempt of the law 26:14-33
4. The objective of God's judgments in relation to the land and nation of Israel 26:34-46
H. Directions concerning vows ch. 27
1. Vows concerning persons 27:1-8
2. Vows concerning animals 27:9-13
3. Vows concerning other property 27:14-29
4. The redemption of tithes 27:30-34
