Limit search to available items
Book Cover
E-book
Author Watts, James W. (James Washington), 1960-

Title Ritual and rhetoric in Leviticus : from sacrifice to scripture / James W. Watts
Published Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2007

Copies

Description 1 online resource (xviii, 257 pages)
Contents Introduction : ritual text and ritual interpretation -- The rhetoric of ritual instruction -- The rhetoric of burnt offerings -- The rhetoric of sin, guilt, and ritual offerings -- The rhetoric of ritual narrative -- The rhetoric of atonement -- The rhetoric priesthood -- The rhetoric of sacrifice -- The rhetoric of Scripture
Summary Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus uses rhetorical analysis to expose the motives behind the writing of the central book of the Torah/Pentateuch and its persuasive function in ancient Judaism. The answer to the question, 'who was trying to persuade whom of what by writing these texts?' proves to be quite consistent throughout Leviticus 1-16: Aaronide high priests and their supporters used this book to legitimize their monopoly over the ritual offerings of Jews and Samaritans. With this priestly rhetoric at its center, the Torah supported the rise to power of two priestly dynasties in Second Temple Judaism. Their ascendancy in turn elevated the prestige and rhetorical power to the book, making it the first real scripture in Near Eastern and Western religious traditions
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Print version record
SUBJECT Bible. Leviticus -- Criticism, interpretation, etc
Bible. Leviticus -- Language, style
Bible. Leviticus fast
Subject Cohanim.
Ritual.
Purity, Ritual -- Judaism.
RELIGION -- Biblical Studies -- Old Testament.
Language and languages -- Style
Cohanim
Purity, Ritual -- Judaism
Ritual
Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9780511499159
0511499159
9780511296673
0511296673
0511295928
9780511295928
9781107407954
1107407958
9781139132695
1139132695
9780511294358
0511294352