Called Ones

On the theological structure of Leviticus

A draft snippet from my eventually-forthcoming commentary on Leviticus.

קָרַא (“call”) appears only nine times in Leviticus, but it is the first word of the book, and serves as the Hebrew title (וַיִּקְרָא).

Leviticus is Yahweh’s personal address, first to Moses (1:1) and then, through Moses, to the priests (9:1) and finally to all Israel, which gathers for festivals (23:2) and to celebrate the year of release (25:10).

Israel is called to draw near through the covenant mediator, Moses, and then through the liturgical leaders into whom Israel has been incorporated (priests). The summons in 23:2 does not come directly from Yahweh; rather, “y’all call them” (תִּקְרְאוּ אֹתָם). Since the verse is addressed to the “sons of Israel,” the text implies that Israel summons herself to the appointed times. No doubt, Israel’s self-summons is mediated through the priests, using the two silver trumpets Yahweh commissions later on (Num 10:2; they are used לְמִקְרָא הָעֵדָה).