Leviticus

Abstract The environmental concerns in Leviticus can be divided into two groups: those relating to animals, and those relating to agriculture. The animal-related topics are the system of sacrifices, the list of clean and unclean animals, the ban on nonsacrificial slaughter of domestic animals, and the ban on consuming animal suet and blood. The agricultural topics are instructions about harvesting, regulations for sabbatical years (when land is not cultivated) and Jubilee years (when land is returned to its original owner), and divine punishment via environmental chaos and exile for neglecting the regulations. Taken together, these provisions serve to limit humans’ use of the land and animals, encourage trust in God as the ultimate provider, and promote morally appropriate use of natural resources in a way that maintains a balance between all forms of life and their environment. This is part of what Leviticus views as “being holy.”