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From Law to Prophecy: Ezekiel's Use of the Holiness Code

(Hardback)

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Publishing Details

Full Title:

From Law to Prophecy: Ezekiel's Use of the Holiness Code

Contributors:
ISBN:

9780567027252

Publisher:

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Imprint:

T.& T.Clark Ltd

Publication Date:

3rd August 2009

Country:

United Kingdom

Classifications

Readership:

Tertiary Education

Fiction/Non-fiction:

Non Fiction

Main Subject:
Other Subjects:

Christianity
Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts

Dewey:

224.406

Physical Properties

Physical Format:

Hardback

Number of Pages:

240

Weight:

550g

Description

This work examines text-referencing practices and ideas about sacred texts in antiquity. This book shows how Ezekiel, an ancient Israelite author, borrowed from and transformed an earlier text containing religious instruction. Ezekiel used this earlier text (Lev 17-26, the "Holiness Code") in order to explain the sixth-century destruction of his city and the exile of its inhabitants, and to create hope for the exilic community of which he was a part. It was precisely because he regarded this text as authoritative and paradigmatic for his own day that he borrowed its words and phrases and transformed them for inclusion in his own work. The techniques behind these transformations include syntactic modification, inversion of word order, creation of word pairs, split-up and recombination of locutions, creation of word clusters, conflation, wordplay, and reversals. By transforming the Holiness Code's legal instructions and covenant rhetoric into accusations and descriptions of imminent or recent punishment, Ezekiel could explain the tragedy by creating a causal connection between the people's behavior and the disaster they experienced. By selectively and paradigmatically using the Holiness Code's covenant blessings, Ezekiel envisioned a future characterized by physical and spiritual restoration. Ezekiel transformed law into prophecy in his attempt to meet the needs of his community.

Author Bio

Dr. Michael Lyons is Lecturer in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at the University of St. Andrews, UK.

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