Librería Samer Atenea
Librería Aciertas (Toledo)
Kálamo Books
Librería Perelló (Valencia)
Librería Elías (Asturias)
Donde los libros
Librería Kolima (Madrid)
Librería Proteo (Málaga)
In their different ways the essays in this collection ask, Why was Leviticus written? What is the relation of text to practice, and to the development of the idea of an Israelite society centred in its Temple through all vicissitudes of its history?The thirteen contributors are engaged in exploring the intersection ofliterary, historical and ritual approaches to Leviticus, as the centralbook of the Torah and as a utopian vision of an ideal society. Leadingscholars of Leviticus and the Pentateuch, like James Watts, IsraelKnohl and Christophe Nihan, combine with others whose primary interestis magic, reception, cultural memory and gender.The collection begins with a chapter by Michael Hundley on the ancient Near Eastern background of the priestly code and the issue of divine fluidity. Several scholars consider the social function of the book, particularly in the Second Temple period. James Watts, for instance, thinks that it combats scepticism about the efficacy of ritual; Reinhard Müller argues that the ’I am Yhwh’ formula locates the texts in a liturgical setting. Christophe Nihan discusses the manipulation of blood in sacrifice as having an indexical function, as part of the ’templization’ of Israel.Other chapters engage in analyses of particular texts. Leigh Trevaskisadvocates a symbolic interpretation of the prohibition of intercoursewith a menstruant. Deborah Rooke analyses the gender and ethnicimplications of the story of the blasphemer in Leviticus 24. Similarly,Francis Landy compares the chapters on the Nazirite and the womansuspected of adultery as challenges to the sacerdotal order. JonathanBurnside argues that the prohibition of necromancy is integral to Leviticus20. The book concludes with a moving reflection by JeremyMilgrom on his father’s views on the ethical implications of his work,and particularly its relevance to Israeli-Palestinian relations.
