Numerological Patterns in Leviticus

As Wilfried Warning points out in his engaging study, Literary Artistry in Leviticus, the book of Leviticus uses word repetitions to create meaningful literary and theological patterns. 

At times, the word repetitions are designed to highlight the themes of a particular section. “Fat” (chalev) occurs twelve times in chapter 3, the chapter that details the ritual of the peace offering. This offering leads to a meal, in which Israel enjoys the fat of the land, and the fact that the word is repeated twelve times suggests that Israel is the “fat of Yahweh,” the best portion of humanity.

Blood (dam) is used seven times in 6:1-7:38, and seven more times in chapter 14. The latter is the rite for cleansing lepers, and the repetition of the word “blood” emphasizes that those with skin disease are purified by the blood that is placed on their ear, thumb, and toe.

“Fire” (esh) occurs seven times in Leviticus 8-10:7, the description of the ordination of priests, and the final use of the word describes the outbreak of fire against Nadab and Abihu (10:2). Yahweh comes in fire to consume the flesh of the sacrifices, and also to consume those who do not honor him as the holy God that He is. 

A similar climactic pattern is found in the chapters 19-20. In chapter 19, the word “land” (eretz) is used seven times, and in chapter 20 the word “give” (natan) is used seven times. The seventh use of “land” (19:36) refers to the land of Egypt from which Israel has come; the seventh use of the word “give” in chapter 20 refers to Yahweh’s gift of land, but in a context of warning, where the threat is that Israel will be expelled if they follow the customs of the Canaanites in Yahweh’s land. Several of the uses of the word in the chapter refer to idolatry and illicit sexual relations that will lead to Israel’s expulsion from the gifted land (vv. 2, 4, 15).