Leviticus

The word "Leviticus" means "pertaining to the Levites," and the book of Leviticus contains the system of laws given at Mount Sinai and administered by the Levitical priesthood, under which the Hebrew nation lived.

The Levite tribe were set apart for the work of God. God took them in place of first-born sons which were required to be purchased back from God by the parents of men and flocks.

One family of Levites, Aaron and his sons, were set apart to be priests. The rest of the Levites were to be the assistants to the priests. Their duties included the care of the tabernacle, and later the care of the temple. They were teachers, scribes, musicians, officers, and judges. They were supported by tithes, and when arriving in Canaan were allotted 48 cities.