Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Theology of the Book of Leviticus

New Studies in Biblical Theology #37

by L. Michael Morales

Who shall ascend the mountain of the LORD?" Psalm 24:3 In many ways, this is the fundamental question of Old Testament Israel's cult and, indeed, of life itself. How can creatures made from dust become members of God's household "forever"? The question of ascending God's mountain to his house was likely recited by pilgrims on approaching the temple on Mount Zion during the annual festivals. This entrance liturgy runs as an undercurrent throughout the Pentateuch and is at the heart of its central book, Leviticus. Its dominating concern, as well as that of the rest of the Bible, is the way in which humanity may come to dwell with God. Israel's deepest hope was not merely a liturgical question, but a historical quest. Under the Mosaic covenant, the way opened up by God was through the Levitical cult of the tabernacle and later temple, its priesthood and rituals. The advent of Christ would open up a new and living way into the house of God indeed, that was the goal of his taking our humanity upon himself, his suffering, his resurrection and ascension. In this stimulating volume in the New Studies in Biblical Theology, Michael Morales explores the narrative context, literary structure and theology of Leviticus. He follows its dramatic movement, examines the tabernacle cult and the Day of Atonement, and tracks the development from Sinai's tabernacle to Zion's temple and from the earthly to the heavenly Mount Zion in the New Testament. He shows how life with God in the house of God was the original goal of the creation of the cosmos, and became the goal of redemption and the new creation. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Old Testament, Nonfiction, Religion

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2016

Reviews

[Carmen Imes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An illuminating exposition of the book of Leviticus. Morales convincingly argues for the centrality of this book to the Pentateuch and to biblical theology as a whole. He is a careful reader of Scripture who is sensitive to the overall design and flow of the biblical narrative. One need not agree with every assessment he makes to benefit immensely from his work. This is quite simply the best thing I've read on Leviticus.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot praise this book highly enough. No review that I could write could do it full justice. Leviticus is a book that I have always struggled with, but when you truly realise that it is ultimately about the person and work of Jesus Christ for us and for our salvation, the book really comes alive. I plan to return to this volume many times if the Lord spares me.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: Dr. Morales is one of my professors (and colleagues) at GPTS, and currently serves as my academic advisor. I consider him a good friend, and I occasionally teach his sons in our church's Sunday School and midweek catechism meetings. I read half of this book in the summer of 2017, and half in February/March 2020.

This book is exceptionally good, and much more expansive than the subtitle (A biblical theology of the book of Leviticus) might suggest. While it certainly does present a biblical theological development of the book of Leviticus insofar as the center point of the Pentateuch connects to the rest of Scripture, Morales's work might rightly be subtitled, "A biblical theology of the priesthood/cultus of Christ." Toward that end, the eight chapters might justifiably be divided into three sections (section divisions are mine alone, and not indicated anywhere in the book itself):

Section 1 - Pentateuch Overview
Ch. 1 - Leviticus within the Pentateuch: a theological structure
Ch. 2 - Longing for Eden: Genesis, the narrative context of Leviticus
Ch. 3 - Returning to Eden: Exodus, the narrative context of Leviticus
Section 2 - Leviticus
Ch. 4 - Approaching the house of God: the dramatic movement of Leviticus 1-10
Ch. 5 - Cleansing the house of God: the dramatic movement of Leviticus 11-16
Ch. 6 - Meeting with God at the house of God: the dramatic movement of Leviticus 17-27
Section 3 - Zion/Ascension Theology in Numbers, Deuteronomy, John's Gospel & Beyond
Ch. 7 - Establishing the earthly house of God: from Sinai's tabernacle to Zion's temple
Ch. 8 - Entering the heavenly house of God: from the earthly to the heavenly Mount Zion

Central to the argument of this book is this sentence from the prologue, on page 21: "Entering the house of God to dwell with God, beholding, glorifying and enjoying him eternally, I suggest, is THE story of the Bible, the plot that makes sense of the various acts, persons, and places of its pages, the deepest context for its doctrines." And continuing on page 22: "For this ultimate end the Son of God shed his blood and poured out the Spirit from on high, even to bring us into his Father's house, in him, as sons and daughters of God."

Some of the remarkable features of this book include:
- the time/temporal structure of the creation week, presented on page 43ff. Unlike the artificial and idiosyncratic two/three-fold division of the Framework Hypothesis, Morales's presentation (not at all novel or particularly innovative) coheres with the actual structure of the week as well as the theological/structural significance of the number seven. Morales writes on page 198: "The creation account, let us recall, is structured by a Sabbatical principle, opening with a seven-word sentence, containing seven paragraphs with seven days, and climaxing on the seventh day of divine rest. The first, middle, and last days all deal with time: the period of a day (day 1), the heavenly lamps for marking annual cultic festivals (day 4), and the weekly Sabbath (day 7). the catechism is clear: the cosmos was created to be the meeting place between God and humanity, specifically on the appointed days of meeting, which are built upon the Sabbath."
- the development of the narrative/dramatic movement from משׁכן (mishkan) to אוהל מועד ('ohel mo'ed), from tabernacle to tent of meeting
- the narrative/dramatic situation of Leviticus within the Pentateuch and the rest of Scripture
- the intertextuality that exists between the Pentateuch (esp. Leviticus), former and latter prophets (temple and expulsion/exile), and New Testament (Gospels, epistolary literature, Acts/Pentecost, and Apocalyptic/Revelation)
- presentation of Christ as house and household (temple) of God and God's people
- the internal narrative contours of Leviticus: tension from Exodus 40, sanctification of priesthood to dwell with God in the microcosmic tabernacle, crisis of Nadab & Abihu in Leviticus 10, cleansing/purification, glorious highpoint of Atonement in Leviticus 16, resolution/denouement in Leviticus 17-24 as the tabernacle has become the tent of meeting.

I understand that the NSBT may have originally been intended for educated lay readership, but the transliteration of the Hebrew and Greek words was a bit annoying. I would have preferred to have the words spelled out in their respective languages. That is not a defect of Morales's making, and so I would not knock down my rating of the book on that score. Otherwise, I think that this book is extremely valuable, and I will be frequently returning to it.

[Lindsay John Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leviticus is a difficult book. The Levitical land is littered with detailed and verbose laws concerning cleanliness and uncleanliness, priestly garments, proper and improper food, bodily discharges, and the proper way to kill an animal. What’s more, scattered across the landscape are bodies of well meaning poor souls who resolved to read the Bible in a year. As difficult as the Bible can be at times, I am a firm believer that the books that demand a little more patience and hard work from their readers are always rewarding. Such is the case with Leviticus, a book that – along with 1 Maccabees – is often the punchline response to, “hey, what are you preaching from this Sunday?”. However, as with many foreign lands, Leviticus is in fact a rich and beautiful place once you begin to understand the accent and customs. L. Michael Morales has journeyed long in Leviticus and lived to tell the tale, and he has written a guide for us interested travelers through this treacherous terrain. This book is Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? (hereafter Who Shall Ascend) in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series; a series that is as excellent as its covers are bland.

As is the case with other Bible books in the NSBT series, Who Shall Ascend is not a commentary on Leviticus per se, but rather a “theological entry into Leviticus in the context of both the Pentateuch and the New Testament” (p9). As such, more space is in fact devoted to Leviticus’ placement and impact in the canon (ca. 180 pages) than walking through Leviticus itself (ca. 100 pages)! Though I was first suspicious when perusing the table of contents, I now see the error of my ways. By concentrating on the context around Leviticus, Morales strikingly reveals it to be a theologically foundational book to the message of the Bible. Indeed, as D. A. Carson reflects in the preface, “[Who Shall Ascend] promises to give us not only a theology of Leviticus, but also a richer theology of the Pentateuch and finally of the whole Bible” (p8) or in Morales’ words, “[our] understanding of Leviticus is foundational for grasping the story of the Bible in its depth and beauty” (p9).

The structure of Who Shall Ascend is simple enough. In Chapter 1, Morales finds Leviticus’ place within the Pentateuch, arguing provocatively that Leviticus is not merely the middle book of the Pentateuch, but that Leviticus is the very centre of the Pentateuch; “the very heart of the Pentateuch’s narrative” (p27). What’s more, the Day of Atonement (chapter 16) is “the book’s literary centre” (p27), and thus the very apex of the Torah, as without atonement, entrance into Yhwh’s presence is impossible. Next, Morales establishes Leviticus’ narrative context by tracing the theme of God’s dwelling in Genesis (chapter 2) and Exodus (chapter 3). Far from a appetiser preparing the way for the Levitical meat (lamb, of course), the chapters on Genesis and Exodus are a hearty meal in themselves. Whereas, Genesis is seen to tell a story of journey from “fullness of life to death”, and “alienation from the Presence of God” (p74), Exodus records Yhwh’s redemption of Israel from a place of death to a place of life, achieved through His very Edenic presence in the tabernacle.

Next, Leviticus is divided into three chunks that represent key narrative stages in the unfolding of its theology: Leviticus 1-10 (chapter 4), Leviticus 11-16 (chapter 5), and Leviticus 17-27 (chapter 6). Leviticus 1-10 is seen as the “dramatic resolution” (p113) to Moses’ inability to enter the tabernacle in Ex 40:34-35. If Israel’s mediator cannot enter Yhwh’s presence, then what can be done to turn His dwelling place to a meeting place? Following the commands given in Lev 1-10 opens the way to experiencing Yhwh’s Sinai presence in the climactic Leviticus 9:23-24. Unfortunately, Nadab and Abihu reverse the climax of chapter 9 by defiling the tabernacle in chapter 10. Leviticus 11-16 then answer this crisis through providing the answer to two relevant questions: 1) how can the sanctuary be cleansed and 2) how near may one approach Yhwh’s presence. Leviticus 17-27 further develop the response to Nadab and Abihu’s sin, recognizing the limitations of the ritual system and that “authentic holiness” is the only “lasting safeguard” in the presence of Yhwh (p186).

The next two chapters follow the reverberations of Leviticus in the remainder of the Old Testament (chapter 7) and then in the New (chapter 8). The Old Testament reflects the journey from Sinai to Zion and Israel’s expulsion from the latter. Hopes of return to Zion are presented as a return to Eden, where God will complete His plan to dwell unreservedly in a new heavens and earth. The New Testament chapter investigates the death, resurrection and ascent of Christ, as well as the descent of the Spirit, through the light of all that was seen in Leviticus, revealing that “[until] heaven descends to earth, [Jesus] has opened the way for earth to ascend into heaven” (p259).

Once in a while I will run into a book that feels like a revelation. Beale’s The Temple and the Church’s Mission (also in the NSBT series) was such a book; Who Shall Ascend is without a doubt another. Though the two overlap at a few points, both must be read. In fact, they could be seen as companion pieces. If Beale’s is about the dwelling place of God throughout Scripture, Morales is about what God has done to enable us to dwell with Him!

I had high expectations from a study of Leviticus and Morales did not disappoint! Every page is filled with multiple insights, some of them profoundly impacting. Morales revealed so many insights that it quickly became apparent that we all – scholars included! – have a deficient understanding (or none at all!) of Leviticus and its impact on the Bible’s theology.

One such eye-opener, though not stated directly in the book, was realizing the significance of our being raised with Christ (e.g. Col 3:1), the meaning of which having long eluded me. How can we be raised with Christ (Col 3), and yet we are waiting to be raised (Rom 6)? What does that even mean? The theology of Leviticus makes this clear. The Levitical High Priest would pass through the clouds into the Holy of Holies, “ascending to heaven” as it were, and, as their representative, bring the people of Israel into communion and worship in Yhwh’s presence. Jesus, our new High Priest, has done the same in His ascension (Dan 7)!

Though Morales is thoroughly scholarly and clearly an expert in Leviticus, he also writes with a devotional and pastoral heart, wanting Who Shall Ascend to cause “a renewed glorying in [one’s] heavenly access to the Father through the new and living way” (p9). This content just crying out to be preached. Yes, as sermons. Yes, at church! A cleansing and renewing soak in all the Scriptures is just what our church needs today.

The NSBT series is of very high quality – although several recent volumes were quite disappointing – but Who Shall Ascend sits alongside Dempster, Beale and Rosner as one of the absolute best (am I missing one?). Who Shall Ascend has the potential to revolutionise one’s reading of the Bible, and cause a hereto obscure book become understandable, even treasured. One can forgive Morales for pursuing a few (most interesting, some fascinating!) side-trails loosely related to his main points, as an excited tour guide is wont to do. At the risk of overstatement, Who Shall Ascend was so impacting that my reading of the Bible has been forever changed. Do yourself and Moses a favor and read this book; who knows, maybe next year we can survive the journey and bring others too!

Many thanks to IVP UK, and SPCK for providing a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This subtitle of this exemplary book could well have been: A Levitical Theology of the Entire Bible. Working forward to Leviticus--the center of the Torah--and outward from Leviticus to the rest of the OT and NT, Morales frames the entire biblical message in light of the theology of Leviticus.

Humanity begins on the mountain of the Lord, that is, Mt. Eden. Once they are exiled from Eden, the pressing question becomes, "How can we reenter God's garden?" Or, in the language of the book's title, "Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?"

Throughout the book, Morales gives preliminary answers to that question, all linked inextricably to the sanctuary of the Lord, which is a "mountain," to which the high priest ascends on Yom Kippur. Built into the sanctuary theology, however, is a gnawing imperfection, a gap that needs to be crossed. Something better awaits.

That something better is a Someone better: the regal and priestly Messiah, who is the ultimate answer to the question, "Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?" Christ ascends the mountain. And when he does, he takes humanity with him.

So, like a masterful artist, Morales dips his brush in the paint of Leviticus, to create a portrait of the rest of the Bible, full of the hues and shades of sacrifice, sanctuary, and priest. The book was not only a delight to read, but was so packed with insights that hardly a page went by without my highlighter being hard at work.

For those who think Leviticus is boring, outdated, too ceremonial, or useless for teaching or preaching today, this book will not only change your mind. It very well may make you change the name of the book to the Gospel of Leviticus, for the good news ripples from this third book of the Torah outward to the rest of the Bible.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book from this series that I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last. It has much more scholarly depth than the other couple of series’ of Bible commentaries I’ve been reading recently. Of course those commentaries were formatted as verse-by-verse expositions, while this is more of an in-depth analysis of the broader themes and hidden undercurrents. I was surprised and amazed how much is really going on in Leviticus that apparently I was completely unaware of. This book thus serves as an incredible reminder of the wonderful richness and depth of God’s Word.
Highly recommended.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular. One of the best in the NSBT series. Morales helpfully works through the structure of the Pentateuch, and the structure of Leviticus, showing that the center is the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. There are numerous interpretive insights that help to highlight areas that can prove complicating on face value. The only minor quibble I have is that the final chapter could perhaps have used a little more editing. Beyond that, I loved this book and will likely reference it for years to come.

[Brian Jay Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

No words. Just unreal. If you want your view of Leviticus to be radically altered then read this book and find life & application to the daily workings of the local church. Praise God for this series by Carson.

[Philip De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely transformed the way I read the Pentateuch and consider the Mosaic covenant. This is a must-read for anyone interested in theology and okay with relatively dense, academic writing.

[Jared Greer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely frustrating book. Don’t get me wrong; there is much to commend here. Morales is clearly well-read, and I love his focus on the Pentateuch as narrative. Indeed, some of his insights are truly profound. But he consistently reaches logically fallacious conclusions because of prior theological commitments. In an attempt to gap-fill, he time and again reads ideas into the text with little to no exegetical warrant. In some cases, the conclusions he proposes are almost certainly precluded by broader contextual readings of the texts. This can be seen most clearly in his attempts to prioritize the logic of substitution in Israel’s priestly cult. In virtually every case, such logic is entirely absent from the text. For example, on pp. 128-130, he argues that the single-hand hand-leaning gesture indicates the sacrifice is a substitutionary death; but this makes little to no sense on several counts: 1) this gesture is required for non-atoning sacrifices, like the peace offering; 2) this gesture is *not* required for the guilt offering, despite that being an atoning sacrifice; and 3) sin offerings and guilt offerings were not even made available to defiant sinners who were sentenced to capital punishment or ‘kareth.’ The only time that the transference of sin is explicit in the hand-leaning rite is in Lev 16—and in that rite, *two* hands are used, and the goat is expiated, not killed. Several examples like this abound. Almost certainly, Morales’s conceptual gap-filling is informed by a desire to import reformed substitutionary logic into the logic of sacrifice in Torah. But again, this is exegetically unwarranted. Definitely worth a read, but keep an eye out for these frequent instances of dubious gap-filling.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the main reasons I read works of biblical theology is to gain insight into how the Bible is put together. This book provides that kind of insight in spades.

I recognize that a biblical theology of Leviticus is not a book most people are likely to pick up, even if they are already interested in biblical theology. But I wish that they would. This is not only one of the best books I’ve read this year, it one of the best books I’ve read in the NSBT series (running a close second to Dominion and Dynasty and holding its own next to The Temple and the Church’s Mission and With the Clouds of Heaven).

There were two things that surprised me about this book. The first was how fresh and full of insight it was even when covering well-trod ground (like Genesis 1-11). The second was how profound the last chapter turned out to be. That chapter shows how the NT (and especially the four Gospels) communicates the fulfillment of themes from Leviticus. I know I shouldn’t be surprised when an OT scholar knows his way around the NT, but the depth of this discussion would have been significant even in a work of NT theology.

Morales puts the theology of Leviticus not only at the heart of the Pentateuch but at the heart of the Bible's storyline of longing for the restoration of Eden in the new creation. Get this book and your understanding not only of Leviticus, but of the whole Bible, will be enriched.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Love. This. Book. I could string together enough positive adjectives to describe it to fully wrap three Christmas trees. Instead of exhausting the thesaurus, however, let me tell you why I love this book with descriptive nouns—essence, landscape, theme, theology, insight, wisdom, and treasures.

Morales knows how to step back and take in the horizon, so much so that after reading this book I have a much better grasp of not only Leviticus but the whole Pentateuch. For that matter, the whole OT and even the whole Bible are clearer. I know you think I’m getting carried away, but give it a try. The details are many, but they are not wasted. God is really after a sanctuary where we meet Him.

I’m not going to review the contents as I often do because I think you’ll enjoy the experience I had—just diving in with no idea of what to expect and just enjoying discovery after discovery.

As I read this book I fell more in love with Leviticus. Leviticus! You know, the place where Bible reading plans come to die!

The NSBT was developed into a mighty forest and this one is a Redwood. I could only wish that all 66 books of the Bible had such a one to honor it as this one does Leviticus.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Alex Yauk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first foray into Biblical Theology. And wow - I am amazed - completely fallen in love. But also, the bar has been set high. Though with DA Carson editing this series, I’m confident others will live up to Morales’s standard.

Leviticus is probably most famous for being a difficult book to read, where Bible reading plans go to die, and provoking questions like “why should I care about sacrifices and rituals of the old covenant?”. Morales does an amazing job placing Leviticus within the overall drama of the Pentateuch but also within the context and narrative drama of the whole Bible.

The Bible opens with humanity dwelling with God in Eden. The Bible ends with God’s people dwelling again in HIs presence in Eden. In between, we have a problem - Sin. An unclean people are unable to be in the presence of the Lord. So through a series of covenants, and culminating in the temple cult, God provisions his people a means to approach him and be in His presence.

Climaxing at the day of Atonement in Leviticus 16, the book of Leviticus lays out a path for his people to approach Him in the Holies of Holy. This and so much more is available in this book. The pointing ahead to Christ is incredible.

For those that think Leviticus is unreadable or a waste of time, I challenge you to pick up and read this book!

[Laurent Dv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book Leviticus, more a thematic study of the three part of Leviticus. But more than that : it presents a study through the whole biblical canon (a part on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Israel's story and the New Testament) of the presence of God and of the temple. For Moracles each story of the Bible follows this pattern : saved through the chaos waters to ascend the moutain for God where is blessing, the presence of God and communion with Him.

Besides, there a lot of useful diagrams, I wish there were present in much more books as we (our generation) are visual. Like scientific results, diagrams are an excellent way to synthesise and resume data to help us remember it thoroughly.

It is so much good that I now prefer it to Beale's books on the temple.

[Camden Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of Biblical scholarship that needs to be spread! One of the best books I've ever read. I benefited most from Morales's explanation of the temple as an architectural embodiment of the cosmic mountain. I had never even considered that Eden was to be pictured as a mountain parallel to the holy of holies. The paradigm of approaching God on His holy mountain by His terms for presence with Him is a natural (though perhaps not obvious) and insightful way to read the Bible (cf. the Exodus to Sinai and Zion!). The section on Leviticus, with particular emphasis on the Day of Atonement, was so profitable to me! A must-read for anyone who wants to learn about Leviticus or the creation as a temple!

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle is misleading. This is a complete biblical theology that begins from the book of Leviticus and works its way back to Genesis and forward to Revelation. Morales writes well, but this is not an easy book to read. It is dense and requires careful attention and a good knowledge of biblical content. Or a very slow read with a lot of looking up of biblical passages and reading the context. Not for the faint of heart but highly recommended.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Leviticus is a whole new world that I am very excited to explore in light of what I learned from this book. Morales does have an overly optimistic view of the law, however, and all (and I mean all) of his sources are no older than 100 years, which is mildly concerning.

[Tim Casteel · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Who Shall Ascend’ focuses on the book of Leviticus but it’s summary and synthesis of the pentateuch (and the Bible) is astounding.
My favorite kind of book: one that helps me better understand (and be more hungry to read) the Word of God.
Morales' grasp of the meta-themes of the Bible is astounding. Numerous times I made a note in the book: 'If you can comprehend this paragraph, you can understand the entire Bible.'

"The goal of creation – and therefore the plot of the Bible – is for humanity to dwell with God."
But how is that possible?

I was drawn to this book because I believe this may be the fundamental questions of the Bible:
Who may ascend the mountain of YHWH? Or who may stand in his holy place? (Ps. 24:3)
Or: how can sinful man draw near to Holy God?
Morales calls it "the central theological dilemma: the danger posed by intimacy with a ‘consuming fire’"

The majority of the book is focused on how Leviticus reveals the (temporary) way God provided for man to be near the presence of God.

Morales' chief skill is summarizing vast amounts of scripture. This is an astounding summary question:
If we were to reduce to a single question the New Testament’s development of the theology of Leviticus, it would be this: How does the Son make possible our entrance into the heavenly abode of God?
That one question summarizes the book of Hebrews (and really the entire New Testament).

Leviticus is the center of the Pentateuch and the Day of Atonement is the center of Leviticus- "the day of humanity’s nearest approach into the Presence of YHWH." Not since Eden could humanity draw so near to God - but only one man, on one day.
"The one able to ascend is the Adam-like high priest, with blood, on the Day of Atonement. This is the way YHWH has opened for humanity to dwell in his Presence."

Morales' book will deepen your understanding of the holiness of God and the inability of man to enter his holy presence. So that when, near the end, Morales declares: "Who shall ascend the mountain of YHWH? Jesus Christ, the Son of God" - you will get chills!

And even more so when he ends the book: "Who, then, shall ascend the mountain of YHWH? By the loving- kindness of the Father, the redemption of the Son and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a sure answer has been found: even the church of Jesus Christ."

In the Old Covenant God made a way (through the tabernacle and priests) to dwell among his people. In the New Covenant God dwells WITHIN his people. Our destiny is "akin to the burning bush, to be ‘burning with fire, but not consumed.’"
A living sacrifice, "alight with the glory of the Presence of God" - burning and yet not consumed.

[Tim Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this book. ‘A biblical theology of Leviticus’ may not be the most captivating subtitle, but rarely have I been this grateful for the hard work of another believer - both for helping me to understand my own relationship with God, and for opening to me a part of the Bible that had seemed so baffling before.

L. Michael Morales suggests that the key question addressed by Leviticus - and the Pentateuch, and ultimately the whole Bible - is “Who shall ascend the mountain of the LORD” (cf. Ps 24:3). Laying out a compelling structure for the Pentateuch (ch1) and a careful summary of Genesis (ch2) and Exodus (ch3), we finally arrive in Leviticus well-oriented and eager to see the titular question answered. His treatment of Leviticus itself (ch4-6) is helpfully controlled by key markers and a clear sense of the book’s overall purpose. The final two chapters show the development of these themes through the rest of the Bible, showing yet more careful treatment of much of the NT, especially John’s gospel and the book of Revelation - and provide a helpful summary of the teaching of the Bible as a whole.

Yet the real value of the book is in describing the narrative arc and ultimate message of Leviticus - the almost-impossibility of relationship with God, and yet God’s persistent opening of a way to exist in fellowship with Him. As a part of the Bible I am generally reluctant to explore, Leviticus has been something of an ‘inspired riddle’; it clearly shows the difficulty of relationship with God, but I have found the way it makes its point hard to understand. Morales, however, demonstrates a wonderful sensitivity to its developing argument, showing the problem that each section is designed to answer. The result is a clear sense of the holiness of God, and a wonder that He should have opened a ‘new and living way’ (Heb 10:20) for us to approach Him. It's not just that I understand Leviticus better, but that, armed with a better understanding of Leviticus, I understand my relationship with God better.

It is, of course, not The Perfect Book, but criticisms in this short review would probably comes across as nit-picking. It is also worth noting that, as an academic work, it is not an easy read. To pick up a copy is to pick up a challenge. But let me implore you to embrace that challenge. My copy is packed with innumerable positive annotations that I hope will bring me to revisit this book frequently - even some of the footnotes were highlighted as particular gems! In spite of stiff competition, it is hard to imagine any other book beating it for the top spot of the books I read this year.

[Andy Dollahite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd like to rate this book higher given how the parts that focus in on Leviticus were quite good. The Levitical cult is an enigma to most of us, and this book helps reveal its unifying logic. Still, I find it odd that about half or more of the text drifts into surveying the broader Pentateuch, major Prophets, Hebrews, or the gospel of John. These are necessary connections, but it means less detailed analysis of Leviticus. And even there, it's not exegetically driven but thematically organized. Also (and I'm not really qualified to make this assessment), but it's unclear to me how much is original thinking to Morales and how much is compiled/reorganized BT. HSAT, I'm not convinced there's *a central theme* to the Bible we can sufficiently capture with our finite language, but it is still wondrously edifying to study the complex and coordinated layers of scriptural testimony, to see how a gracious and holy God orchestrates history to bring man into intimate fellowship with Himself.

[Gwilym Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still great. The repetitiveness irked me a bit more this time than last time (he recaps points he's already made to a fault) and lots of the best stuff is now stated more simply and more succinctly in his newer book on Exodus. I learned so much from the central chapters on Leviticus the first time I read it, and I was still thankful for them. But this time, I especially enjoyed reading the survey of the Old Testament from Numbers to the end.

[Zachary Garris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of gold nuggets in here. I'm only docking a star because I think it could have been shorter and more compact, and the transliterations are annoying—academic theology should include some Hebrew and Greek. I realize this falls on the publisher, not the author.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Biblical Theology at its finest.

[Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ranks as one of my favorites of the NSBT series. Morales does a fantastic job showing how the book of Leviticus is a treasure chest to be explored, not a burden to be dreaded in one’s read-through-the-Bible plan. Perhaps the best praise I can give it is that even with all of it’s exegetical depth and scholarly discussion, this book moved me to spend more time in prayer, taking advantage of the privilege of being in God’s presence that was won for me by my Great High Priest.

[Brian Wiseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best biblical-theology books I have read! I highly recommend it.

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. I highly recommend it!

[Jonathan Josey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an excellent book. Theologically rigorous but doxological in nature.

From the last page:

“Who, then, shall ascend the mountain of YHWH? By the loving-kindness of the Father, the redemption of the Son and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a sure answer has been found: even the church of Jesus Christ.”

[Drew Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblical theology at its best.

[Bobby James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! There are only a few books that have reshaped my perception of something in theology, the Bible or the world. This is one of them!

Morales is a strange combination of technicality and devotion. He explains minute details of the Text with precision and at the same time encourages me to exalt Christ. He challenged my preconceived notions of Leviticus and the Pentateuch as a whole and persuaded me to see the five Books of Moses as a literary, thematic and theological masterpiece with the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) as the centerpiece of its structure and theme.

This book has transformed my understanding of Hebrews 10:4, “it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

“Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord” could justifiably be called a biblical theology of the Pentateuch as well. And not only that but it also provides an incredible description of the theological purpose behind the pouring out of the Spirit and the trinitarian work of redemption. Morales also clearly and pastorally lays out numerous textual correspondences of how the OT Scriptures testify of Jesus.

One of the links Morlaes offers between atonement and mediatory intercession that I thought was absolutely beautiful comes from Exodus 32-33:

“Having ascended Sinai's summit, Moses then offers himself in Israel's stead (v. 32): ‘Now if you will forgive their sin - but if not, blot me out, I pray, from your scroll which you have written!'. . . He is in effect calling upon God to forgive Israel by obliterating him instead. Here the essential nature of intercession is manifest: this profound gesture of atonement unveils the inner meaning of Moses' role as mediator. Mediatory intercession is not merely prayer in the sense of 'making requests’, but a plea that is also an act of self-giving, that flows from self-sacrifice. YHWH's response, bridging into chapter 33 through resumptive repetition, is that his Presence will not go with Israel into the land. YHWH goes on to promise that his angel will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Hivites and Jebusites, ensuring that the people enter the land flowing with milk and honey (33:3); only, YHWH himself will not go with them.
Moses, however, will have none of this, and it is critical to discern why this is so. This proposition brings us to the heart of God's promises to the patriarchs, as well as to the centre of biblical theology. Were these promises primarily about the land, as some suggest? Here God guarantees land entry, and yet Moses refuses (Exod. 33:15): ‘If your face does not go, then do not make us ascend from here.' What is the land if bereft of God's Presence, if it will not become a new Eden in which Israel may enioy life in fellowship with God? Meditation on the choice put before Moses brings recognition of Cain's city, the tower of Babylon, Lot's choice, Esau's shallow contentment - all examples of seeking satisfaction eastward of the flaming sword. So God tests Moses, sifting his heart and discerning its inward motivation and desire: Will he, after all, be willing to rest the matter short of its fundamental goal? No, . . . Better God’s presence in the wilderness than his absence in the land. Land, then, is not the core of the patriarchal promises, but life in the land with God” (91).

And Morales shows how this culminates in John 13:36-38 when Jesus says, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” And Peter responds, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” And Morales demonstrates the answer to Peter’s question comes from Jesus in 14:1-6, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Yet, Thomas said to him in v.5, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” And Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

And then as if sympathizing with Moses and craving the presence of the Lord, and knowing that Jesus is the true mediator between God and man, Philip says to Jesus in v.8, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

WOW!

[James Bunyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough, clear and wonderfully uplifting. This could be a brilliant series, if they are all like this!