Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus
From Sacrifice to Scripture

This book uses rhetorical analysis to expose the motives behind the writing of this central book of the Torah/Pentateuch.

James W. Watts (Author)

9780521871938, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 July 2007

278 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.58 kg

Review of the hardback: 'This brief review cannot do justice to the wealth of careful argumentation and textual analysis contained in this volume. I recommend it strongly as a study of ritual texts in Leviticus, and more generally as a work demonstrating the value of rhetorical analysis of biblical ritual texts, and as a study of the ideology and literary activity of ancient Israel's Aaronide priesthood.' AJS Review

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.

1. Introduction: ritual text and ritual interpretation
2. The rhetoric of ritual instruction
3. The rhetoric of burnt offerings
4. The rhetoric of sin, guilt and ritual offerings
5. The rhetoric of ritual narrative
6. The rhetoric of atonement
7. The rhetoric of priesthood
8. The rhetoric of sacrifice
9. The rhetoric of scripture
Bibliography
Index of biblical citations
Index of other ancient literature
Index of authors
Index of subjects.

Subject Areas: Judaism: sacred texts [HRJS]