Last Supper (last SUP·per). The evening meal of Jesus and his disciples at the first Christian Passover the night before the Crucifixion.

Law of Association (law of as·SO·ci·A·tion). The principle that in undisturbed graves artifacts placed in a grave as part of a burial and found together generally consist of objects in use at the time of the decedent’s interment.

Law of Moses (law of MOS·es). Narrowly construed the Law of Moses consisted of the “statutes and judgments” set forth in Deuteronomy 12:2–26:15 for governance of the Israelite nation. It was made part of the Book of the Law of Moses (Joshua 8:31) which Joshua read before the assembly of Israel (Joshua 8:35) and wrote on an altar of uncut stones (Joshua 8:32). The Book of the Law of Moses was kept with the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the two tablets of stone bearing the Ten Commandments inscribed by God (Deuteronomy 10:5), and it was to remain there as a “witness” in perpetuity (Deuteronomy 31:26). Broadly construed the Law of Moses refers to the Torah or first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures. This was the general first-century CE use of the term (see Acts 28:23 and Luke 24:44) as used by the apostle Luke.

Law of Superposition (law of SU·per·po·SI·tion). In any deposit with a known top and bottom the order of succession from bottom to top constitutes the order of deposition.

layer (LAY·er). A discrete unit of material (rock, sediment, soil, cultural material) deposited, formed, or constructed in a given location.

Laying on of hands (LAY·ing on of hands). The “laying on of hands” is a symbolical act which sanctifies or sets individuals apart for a holy purpose signifying the imparting of spiritual blessings, authority, and power. In the Hebrew Scriptures, a blessing was often conferred in this way. An example is Jacob’s laying his hands on his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh to pass on blessings they were to receive from God (Genesis 48:13-20). The ritual was a principal doctrine of the Church of God (Hebrews 6:2). It was employed in the Church of God particularly in cases of baptism and ordination of elders and deacons. For example, the elders at Antioch after having fasted and prayed ordained Barnabas and Paul as apostles with prayer and the laying on of hands (Acts 13:1-3). This, by the way, is the only point where there is any indication of the laying on of hands for the setting apart of Barnabas and Paul to what was by necessity an office of the ministry. Another example is found at Acts 6. Here seven men became deacons when the apostles prayed and “laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:6). Notice in Acts 8:17-18 that after the apostles Peter and John laid hands on repentant converts whom Philip had baptized, they received the Holy Spirit bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands. Also see Acts 19:5-6, 1 Timothy 4:14, and 2 Timothy 1:6.

lesbian (LES·bi·an). A female whose sexual preference is for other females.

Levant (Le·VANT). The Levant is a geographical region which includes Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territory, and the western half of Syria (the Orontes Valley and the region of Aleppo). Fixed between cultures in Egypt and Mesopotamia, the geographical location of the Levant largely determined its role in history. The Levant is a more or less heterogeneous region divided into defined areas of different ecological and environmental character surprisingly similar to that of California.

levirate (LEV·i·rate). The custom, required in biblical times under certain circumstances (Genesis 38:8, Deuteronomy 25:5-10), that a younger brother of a deceased brother is to marry the widow so that the first child will bear the name of the deceased and take his inheritance rights. In this case the child is not deemed that of the biological father but of the deceased.

Levitical priesthood (le·VIT·i·cal PRIEST·hood). Under the Mosaic Code the tribe of Levi, known as the Levites, were set apart for religious duties. Of the Levites, the Law of Moses designates Aaron, the brother of Moses, and his descendants as the priestly class responsible for operations of the central sanctuary. Of the Aaronic priesthood, the high priest exercised oversight responsibility.

life expectancy (life ex·PECT·an·cy). The average number of years a person can expect to live.

lineage (lin·E·age). A descent group comprised of relatives all of whom trace their relationship through consanguineal or affinal relations to an actual, commonly known ancestor

linguistics (lin·GUIS·tics). The study of language. See anthropological linguistics.

lithic (LITH·ic). Consisting of or pertaining to stone.

locus (LO·cus), plural loci (LO·ci pronounced LO·see). A three-dimensional space, which in archaeology is the fundamental unit in the recording system, generally determined by the boundaries of any discernible soil layer or “thing” (wall, pit, hearth) within or related to a given soil layer.

Lord’s Supper (lords SUP·per). The full meal, the Last Supper, the evening before Jesus’ Crucifixion. Thereafter the ancient Church held an annual fellowship meal celebrated on the eve of Nisan 14. The annual fellowship meal, now known as the Lord’s Supper, was ceremonial not to satisfy hunger. Similar to the Pascal meal in the Mosaic Code its purpose was spiritual not physical.

lunar month (LU·nar MONTH). A “lunar month” refers to the period of a complete revolution of the moon with reference to some fixed point.

LXX (L·X·X). In the first century CE the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, normally referred to as the LXX, enjoyed wide use by Greek-speaking Jews throughout the Hellenistic world. The LXX came to be utilized extensively in the Greek-speaking congregations of the Church of God. Most of the quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures in the Christian Scriptures, that is, in the New Testament, are from the LXX. A niche, found in all synagogues, whether of Christian or of Jewish origin, provided a location for the Holy Scrolls of Scripture.