Leviticus as Literature - Hardcover

Douglas, Mary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019815092X ISBN 13: 9780198150923

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 1999

Synopsis

This first full-scale account of Leviticus by a world renowned anthropologist presents the biblical work as a literary masterpiece. Seen in an anthropological perspective Leviticus has a mystical structure which plots the book into three parts corresponding to the three parts of the desert tabernacle, both corresponding to the parts of Mount Sinai. This completely new reading transforms the interpretation of the purity laws. The pig and other forbidden animals are not abhorrent, they command the same respect due to all God's creatures. Boldly challenging several traditions of Bible criticism, Mary Douglas claims that Leviticus is not the narrow doctrine of a crabbed professional priesthood but a powerful intellectual statement about a religion which emphasizes God's justice and compassion.

About this title

Review

Wealth of interesting ideas in this work, which will need to be taken into account by future readers of Leviticus (Journal for the Study of the Old Testament)

I enjoyed this book thoroughly, especially when arguing with it, and commend it to students both of biblical studies and literature as giving a great deal of food for thought on the relationship between form, content and function in texts (Hugh S. Pyper, Literature & Theology)

The thesis is set out with lucidity, charm and, above all, passion. Her infectious enthusiasm for the beauties and subtleties of this text which most readers have regarded as verging on the unreadable is hard to resist (Hugh S. Pyper, Literature & Theology)

About the Author

Mary Douglas is also the author of In the Wilderness, the Doctrine of Defilement in the Book of Numbers (1993)

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 019815092X
• ISBN 13: 9780198150923
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 298