Opening the Books of Moses (BibleWorld)

Opening the Books of Moses presents an introduction to the first five books of the Bible. It is written for any student engaged in the scholarly study of these most central of biblical texts. The aim throughout is to examine the books with a view to illuminating the ideas, beliefs and experiences of the time. This broad overview provides: a survey of the current state of Pentateuchal research; an analysis of how the texts were shaped by their time and audience; an outline of Jewish areas in the Persian period; the study concludes with an analysis of key concerns in the study of the Pentateuch, notably the Torah, geography, ethnicity, the nature of Yahweh and other deities, theories of cult, treaties and oaths, and Moses himself.

History

Thomas Römer

Christophe Nihan

Philip R. Davies

Diana V. Edelman

Ancient Civilizations

Routledge

Introduction À L'ancien Testament

Jean-Daniel Macchi

LABOR ET FIDES

Christophe Nihan investigates the composition history of Leviticus, which is considered a separate 'book' in the Torah/Pentateuch. In order to account for the distinct nature of the text, the author combines redaction criticism with comparative observations, cross-cultural studies in rituals, and inner-biblical exegesis. His analysis focuses on the sources used by the authors of Leviticus and the way in which they are reinterpreted in what is primarily a literary composition; on the book's relationship to the so-called 'Priestly' literature in the Pentateuch; and, finally, on the place of Leviticus in the composition of the Torah as a whole. In particular, he argues that Leviticus 1-16 (except for chapter 10) was initially composed as the conclusion to the Priestly narrative in Genesis and Exodus. This narrative reinterprets earlier ritual texts that served checklists for priests, transforming them into a revelation made to Moses on Mt. Sinai for the whole community and thereby achieving the sacerdotal ideal of Israel as the 'priestly nation' of the world. Thus, reinterpretation of earlier sources in Lev 1-16 goes hand in hand with a redefinition of the community's identity, that betraying the specific concerns of the Priestly scribes in Jerusalem under Persian rule, probably during the reign of Darius I. The introduction of Leviticus 17-26 (27), for its part, betrays an entirely distinct historical and literary context. Through the systematic reception of Deuteronomy on one hand and the 'Book of the Covenant' (Exodus 21-23) on the other, an attempt is made to close the revelation on Mt. Sinai with a legislation that bridges the gap between P and other biblical codes at the time of the Torah's composition.

From Priestly Torah to Pentateuch: A Study in the Composition of the Book of Leviticus (Forschungen Zum Alten Testament) (Forschungen Aum Atlen Testament)

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

Coronet Books Inc.

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Books by Christophe Nihan