Leviticus 23 - Introduction

A Calendar, enumerating Sacred Days and Seasons

This ch. and the next shew more of the influence of P than any earlier part of the -Law of Holiness." In fact, P is the source of more than half the verses in 23. In analysing the contents, we find a collection of independent laws introduced severally by special formulae (Leviticus 23:2; Leviticus 23:4; Leviticus 23:9; Leviticus 23:23; Leviticus 23:33). We also find two threads running through the ch., which are not difficult to separate. The one, drawn from H as its source (Leviticus 23:9; Leviticus 23:22; Leviticus 23:39b, Leviticus 23:40), contemplates sacred seasons in their relation to land and to agriculture. In the view of H, the three set feasts mentioned as -the morrow after the sabbath" (of Maẓẓoth, i.e. of unleavened bread), the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths, have for their purpose the celebration of three stages in nature's yield of the produce of the earth, viz. the first sheaf cut, the end of the barley and wheat harvest, and the completion of the vintage gathering. In presenting this point of view H agrees with JE (Exodus 23:15-16; Exodus 34:18; Exodus 34:22) and Deut. (Deuteronomy 16:1; Deuteronomy 16:9; Deuteronomy 16:13). On the other hand, the element drawn from P (Leviticus 23:1; Leviticus 23:21; Leviticus 23:23a, Leviticus 23:39 c, Leviticus 23:44) is in full harmony with the title (Leviticus 23:2; Leviticus 23:4), and regards these seasons as -holy convocations," and times for religious observances, in accordance with its fundamental aim, viz. to set forth Mosaic legislation. It apparently therefore fixes them without reference to their character as nature's festivals. Moreover, P forbids work (Leviticus 23:3; Leviticus 23:7; Leviticus 23:21; Leviticus 23:25; Leviticus 23:28; Leviticus 23:35), and prescribes in several instances an offering made by fire (Leviticus 23:8; Leviticus 23:18; Leviticus 23:27; Leviticus 23:30f., Leviticus 23:36 f.). The compilation was thus made by an editor (R p [71]) who had both H and P before him, and fitted together excerpts from each, with a certain amount of harmonizing, as elsewhere.

[71] A Reviser, who, probably after that collection had been combined with the Priestly Code, introduced further elements from that Code.