The name of this book is taken from the principal matter handled therein, namely, the Levitical ceremonies and the things related to them, of which the administration and observation was commanded by the Lord’s ordinance to the Priests and Levites, (who both descended from the tribe of Levi), for the maintenance of God’s holy and public worship service. For the most part here are instituted ceremonial laws, not only of various kinds of sacrifices, of clean and unclean, as well persons, as animals, of solemn feasts and holy days, but also of priests, in regard of their persons, as well as their office. Added to these are moral laws, teaching what is to be done, or left undone according to the Law of the Ten Commandments. Besides these, there are set down civil laws and constitutions of proceeding against certain abominable sins, to be exercised by the authorities. Among the laws there are inserted several histories, as that of the consecration of the priests in their office, of the anointing of the tabernacle and its implements, of the actual administration of the priestly office and its confirmation by a divine token, and the punishment of the two priests Nadab and Abihu, who trespassed in their office, and about the punishment of a blasphemer. We likewise find here various promises to them who would keep the law of God, and terrible threats to those who would transgress them. All these things happened in the space of one month, namely, from the beginning of the second year, after the Israelites had come out of Egypt, until the beginning of the second month of the same year.