Reading Law: The Rhetorical Shaping of the PentateuchA&C Black, 1999 M06 1 - 192 pages Watts here argues that conventions of oral rhetoric were adapted to shape the literary form and contents of the Pentateuch. The large-scale structure-stories introducing lists of laws that conclude with divine sanctions-reproduces a common ancient strategy for persuasion. The laws' use of direct address, historical motivations and frequent repetitions serve rhetorical ends, and even the legal contradictions seem designed to appeal to competing constituencies. The instructional speeches of God and Moses reinforce the persuasive appeal by characterizing God as a just ruler and Moses as a faithful scribe. The Pentateuch was designed to persuade Persian-period Judaeans that this Torah should define their identity as Israel. |
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Page 11
... Deut . 12-26 ) . But taken as a whole , Pentateuchal law contains a bewildering array of codes and indepen- dent provisions , and is marked by repetition , variation and occasional contradiction . It seems fair to ask , then , how the ...
... Deut . 12-26 ) . But taken as a whole , Pentateuchal law contains a bewildering array of codes and indepen- dent provisions , and is marked by repetition , variation and occasional contradiction . It seems fair to ask , then , how the ...
Page 16
... Deut . 31.9 , Moses writes ' this law ' . He then commands the Levites to read it to ' all Israel ' every seventh year during the festival of booths ( v . 11 ) . The emphasis is clearly on instruction , ' that they may hear and 1. U ...
... Deut . 31.9 , Moses writes ' this law ' . He then commands the Levites to read it to ' all Israel ' every seventh year during the festival of booths ( v . 11 ) . The emphasis is clearly on instruction , ' that they may hear and 1. U ...
Page 17
... Deut . 27.4-6 makes clear that the reading is from Deuter- onomy , and the mention of blessings and curses indicates that the 4. Following 105.13 namb nup and LXX Kai ouvetéλeoɛv Movoñs λaλ @ v to translate v . 1 ' So Moses finished ...
... Deut . 27.4-6 makes clear that the reading is from Deuter- onomy , and the mention of blessings and curses indicates that the 4. Following 105.13 namb nup and LXX Kai ouvetéλeoɛv Movoñs λaλ @ v to translate v . 1 ' So Moses finished ...
Page 18
... Deut . 27.3 , 8 , where the law is to be written on plas- ter - covered memorial megaliths rather than on the altar stones . 7. T.C. Butler suggested a possible development of this tradition : ' The original context of Deut 27 referred ...
... Deut . 27.3 , 8 , where the law is to be written on plas- ter - covered memorial megaliths rather than on the altar stones . 7. T.C. Butler suggested a possible development of this tradition : ' The original context of Deut 27 referred ...
Page 21
... Deut . 17.19 and Josh . 1.8 , the king and Joshua are instructed to study the law daily . Their positions as leaders ( and judges ? ) of the people suggest that the kind of study intended here is juridical in nature . 14 Other texts ...
... Deut . 17.19 and Josh . 1.8 , the king and Joshua are instructed to study the law daily . Their positions as leaders ( and judges ? ) of the people suggest that the kind of study intended here is juridical in nature . 14 Other texts ...
Contents
7 | |
8 | |
11 | |
15 | |
32 | |
Chapter 3 INSTRUCTION | 61 |
Chapter 4 COMMANDMENT | 89 |
Chapter 5 LAW | 131 |
Postscript on Rhetorical Ethics | 162 |
Bibliography | 168 |
Index of References | 179 |
Index of Authors | 185 |
Index of Selected Topics | 188 |
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ancient Near Eastern apodictic argued audience authority biblical law Blenkinsopp blessings and curses Blum Chapter characterization commandments context Covenant Code Crüsemann cult cultic Cuneiform Law Decalogue depicts describe Deut Deuteronomistic History Deuteronomy divine sanctions emphasizes Exod Exodus Ezra Genesis genre God's Hebrew Bible historical Holiness Code imperial inscription instructions Israel Israel's law Israelite Joshua JSOT JSOTSup Judean king law and narrative law codes law collections law-giver legal collections legislation Letoon Levinson Leviticus list and divine list and story literary literature mediation Mesopotamian Moab Moses motive clauses narrator O'Banion obedience Old Testament oral Patrick Penta Pentateuch's rhetoric Pentateuchal law Persian persuasive priestly prophetic public law readings public reading redaction religious repetition Rhetoric of Motives rhetorical analysis rhetorical strategy rhetorical theory ritual decalogue role royal Second Temple shaped Sheffield Sinai speaker speech structure Studien Temple texts Theology tion Torah tradition treaties voice words YHWH YHWH's