Synopses & Reviews
This book argues that literary features and ritual dynamics within the book of Leviticus enlighten each other. The first two chapters establish that one may read Leviticus as a coherent literary work and define the genre of Leviticus as "narrativized ritual," a complex blending of descriptive narrative and prescriptive ritual. In conversation with Catherine Bell, they present several aspects of the text that are ritualized and show how this ritualization implies a negotiation of power relations among participants. The third and fourth chapters examine the first half of Leviticus, both the legal sections in Lev. 1-7 and 11-15 and the narratives in Lev. 8-10 and 16. These sections alternate between establishing the ritual system and exposing gaps and ambiguities in that system.Chapter 5 turns to the second half of Leviticus, traditionally called the Holiness Code. The ritual language found in this section is less formal and precise, mirroring the way in which the concept of holiness is expanded and extended to the whole people. As this material concludes the book, it relativizes and democratizes the strict ritual system contained in the first half.
Synopsis
This book argues that literary features and ritual dynamics within the book of Leviticus enlighten each other. The first two chapters establish that one may read Leviticus as a coherent literary work and define the genre of Leviticus as "narrativized ritual," a complex blending of descriptive narrative and prescriptive ritual. In conversation with Catherine Bell, they present several aspects of the text that are ritualized and show how this ritualization implies a negotiation of power relations among participants. The third and fourth chapters examine the first half of Leviticus, both the legal sections in Lev. 1-7 and 11-15 and the narratives in Lev. 8-10 and 16. These sections alternate between establishing the ritual system and exposing gaps and ambiguities in that system.Chapter 5 turns to the second half of Leviticus, traditionally called the Holiness Code. The ritual language found in this section is less formal and precise, mirroring the way in which the concept of holiness is expanded and extended to the whole people. As this material concludes the book, it relativizes and democratizes the strict ritual system contained in the first half.
Table of Contents
<p>I.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>Leviticus as Literature</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>Literature or History?</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Generic Possibilities</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Rhetorical Strategies</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>Leviticus as a "Book"</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Literary Separation</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Literary Artistry</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>The Structure of Leviticus</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Leviticus's Two Halves</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Narrative Structuring</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></p><br/><p class=MsoNormal>II.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>Narrativized Ritual</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>Ritual Genre</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Historical Possibilities</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>The Ritual World of Leviticus</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Ritual and Narrative Polyphony</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>Ritualization</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Reading, Writing, Ritualizing</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>The Practice of Ritual</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Aspects of Ritualization</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 3"> </span>Ritual and Power</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><span style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </span>Conclusion</p><br/><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><br/><p class=MsoNormal>III.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>Narrating Ritual: Leviticus 1-7 and 11-15</p>&am