Leviticus Book Map - Standardized

Leviticus Book Map

A
Outer Ring (O₁)		 B
Middle Ring (M₁)		 C
Impurity Units		 D
Inner Ring (I₁)		 E
Focal Unit		 F
Inner Ring (I₂)		 G
Middle Ring (M₂)		 H
Outer Ring (O₂)
1
God-oriented
Unit 1
1-3
Three Spontaneously Motivated Private Sacrifices. "For the Lord" appears 21 times.
Unit 4
8-10
Inauguration of the Cult and Aftermath. Deaths of Nadab and Abihu.
Unit 7
13:1-46
Scale Disease diagnosis and isolation procedures.
Unit 10
16
Day of Purgation. Contains death warning: "Lest he die."
Unit 16
22:1-25
Sanctified Objects. Contains death warning: "And they die thereby."
Unit 19
24
Tabernacle Oil and Bread. The Case of Blasphemy. Death for blasphemy.
Unit 22
27
Consecrations and their Redemption. "For the Lord" appears 16 times.
2
Between
God and People
Unit 2
4-5
Sacrifices Required for Expiation. Individual guilt and purification offerings.
Unit 5
11
Diet Laws. Pure and impure animals for food, ritual impurity from animals.
Unit 8
13:47-14:57
Purification procedures for fabrics, people, and buildings.
Unit 11
17
The Slaughter and Consumption of Meat. Blood prohibition.
Unit 13
19
Holiness. "You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy."
Unit 15
21
Instructions for the Priests. Contains many familial terms.
Unit 18
23
The Holiday Calendar. "Seven days...on the eighth day."
Unit 21
26
Blessings, Curses and the Recall of the Covenant. National guilt.
3
People-oriented
Unit 3
6-7
Administrative Order. Priestly prebends, divine gifts to individuals.
Unit 6
12
Childbirth. "Seven days...on the eighth day."
Unit 9
15
Genital Discharges. Impurity from male and female genital discharges.
Unit 12
18
Illicit Sexual Practices. Contains over 30 familial terms.
Unit 14
20
Penalties for Sexual Offenses. Contains many familial terms.
Unit 17
22:26-33
Animal Birth. "Seven days...from the eighth day."
Unit 20
25
Jubilee. "For the land is mine. For they are my slaves."

The Chiastic Structure of Leviticus

The Leviticus Book Map reveals a sophisticated chiastic structure centered around Unit 13 (Chapter 19). This arrangement mirrors the concentric design of the Tabernacle itself.

Concentric Rings

The 22 units of Leviticus are organized into three concentric rings around the focal Unit 13:

  • Outer Ring (Columns A & H): Units 1-3 and 20-22 emphasize places of divine revelation
  • Middle Ring (Columns B & G): Units 4-6 and 17-19 feature the "seven days...eighth day" pattern
  • Inner Ring (Columns D & F): Units 10-12 and 14-16 contain extensive family terminology
  • Impurity Units (Column C): Units 7-9 stand outside the symmetrical structure, forming a "screen"
  • Focal Unit (Column E): Unit 13 (Chapter 19) contains the core command: "You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy"

Hierarchical Organization

Each row represents a distinctive hierarchical orientation:

  • Row 1: God-oriented units focus on divine requirements
  • Row 2: Mediating units address the relationship between God and people
  • Row 3: People-oriented units deal with human relationships and responsibilities

This organizational structure reveals that Leviticus is not a random collection of laws but a carefully crafted literary composition. The chiastic pattern functions as a journey into and out of the sacred center, mirroring the High Priest's movement on the Day of Atonement. Unit 13 (Chapter 19) serves as the theological heart, containing the essence of the book: the call to imitate God's holiness.

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