15th Century BC (Traditional Dating of the Exodus)
The Israelites were in the wilderness, having recently been delivered from Egyptian bondage. They were receiving instructions on how to worship Yahweh in a manner distinct from the surrounding nations.
The Israelites were a nomadic people at this time, not yet settled in the Promised Land. They were organized under the leadership of Moses, with a theocratic system where God was their king.
The events and instructions in Leviticus were given at Mount Sinai, where the Israelites camped after leaving Egypt.
The Israelites were being instructed in a new system of worship that included various offerings and sacrifices. The grain offering (or meal offering) described in Leviticus 2 was a voluntary act of worship, expressing devotion and thanksgiving to God.