who wrote leviticus

The Book of Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses as its author. According to longstanding Jewish and Christian tradition, Moses compiled Leviticus from direct instructions received from God (Yahweh). The text itself frequently references God speaking to Moses, indicating that Moses served as the mediator of these laws and teachings. This view holds that Moses wrote Leviticus during or shortly after the time of the Exodus in the 13th or 15th century BCE. However, modern biblical scholarship presents a more complex picture. While Moses is traditionally credited, many scholars argue that Leviticus was likely composed or compiled over time by multiple priestly authors and editors, possibly finalized during or after the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BCE. This scholarly view emphasizes that Leviticus is part of a larger composite work known as the Pentateuch and contains layers of different sources, often associated with the Priestly tradition. In summary, the traditional authorship of Leviticus is attributed to Moses by religious tradition and internal textual references, but critical scholarship sees it as the product of multiple contributors over centuries, including priestly scribes and editors.