Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus From Sacrifice to Scripture [Paperback]

This book uses rhetorical analysis to expose the motives behind the writing of this central book of the Torah/Pentateuch.This book grounds its rhetorical approach in a methodological critique of current trends in the study of Leviticus, then works systematically through Leviticus 1-16 to show the persuasive shaping of the text. However, it goes beyond Leviticus to show the unexpected impact of the book's ritual rhetoric about priests and sacrifice in later religious traditions.This book grounds its rhetorical approach in a methodological critique of current trends in the study of Leviticus, then works systematically through Leviticus 1-16 to show the persuasive shaping of the text. However, it goes beyond Leviticus to show the unexpected impact of the book's ritual rhetoric about priests and sacrifice in later religious traditions.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. Rhetorical analysis of Leviticus has implications not only for the form and contents of that book, but also for understanding the later history of the rhetoric of priesthood, of sacrifice, and especially of scripture.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. This is an important study that subsequent research on Leviticus and the development of the biblical canon should take seriously...Watts skillfully carries out his fresh reading of Leviticus with penetrating attention to persuasive effects of literary features.
Roy E. Gane, The CathlÃ-