Legal friction law, narrative, and identity politics in biblical Israel / [electronic resource] :
Gershon Hepner.
- New York : Peter Lang, c2010.
- xx, 1110 p.
- Studies in biblical literature, v. 78 1089-0645 ; .
- Studies in biblical literature ; v. 78. .
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Pt. 1. Introduction -- Pt. 2. Illustrations of the connection between biblical narratives and laws taken from Genesis -- Divided we part : the separation of Abraham and Lot reflects the deuteronomic prohibition of intermarriage with Ammonites and Moabites -- A tale of three covenants : the interplay between Genesis 9, 15, and 17 -- Don't think--twice! Lot's exodus from Sodom echoes the laws of Passover and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt -- Stranger than (legal) fiction : Sarah's expulsion of Hagar violates Sinai prohibitions and leads to the Israelites' exile in Egypt -- Sex, lies, and invidious dates : Abraham's incestuous relationship with Sarah violates a holiness code prohibition, and mirrors David's incestuous relationship with Abigail -- Covering up : saving reputations or enhancing relations? Abimelech's gift to Sarah alludes to the conjugal right mentioned in the covenant code -- Time out and substitute : Abraham's sacrifice of a ram after the near-sacrifice of Isaac implies that the Judeans cannot lose their holiness -- Ding, dong, dell : the disputes between Abraham, Isaac, and Abimelech reflect the violation of contiguous Sinai laws in Lev. 5:21-24 and 19:1--13 -- Snow White and the eight days of succoth : Laban clear his house as if he had scale disease and Jacob celebrates a festival -- Priestly kingdom : Isaac chooses a son whose destiny is to become the ancestor of a kingdom of priests rather than the ancestor of the Davidic dynasty -- Servant with two masters : Jacob's servitude in Laban's house reflects conflicts between the covenant code and Deuteronomy -- Man on the run : Jacob seeks refuge from Esau in a city of refuge -- Two weddings and an adoption : Jacob's marriage to Rachel reflects the law of the fair captive -- Little Bo Peep : Rachel's premature death is the fulfillment of a priestly law caused by Jacob's oath -- Stealing beauty : Rachel's theft of her father's teraphim and Joseph's use of a divination goblet are implicit polemics against priestly instruments of divination -- Beauty and the beast : the narrative of Dinah's love affair with Shechem is an implicit polemic against intermarriage, circumcision, and the Samaritans -- Only two kids : the expulsion of Joseph, Ishmael, and Esau echoes the priestly law of the scapegoat, while Jacob's expulsion corresponds to the symbolic exile of ostracism -- Not tonight Joseph(ine) : Joseph's ordeal with Potiphar's wife and his emancipation by Pharaoh allude to contiguous laws of the jealous husband and the Nazirite -- Amaziah.com : Jacob's rejection of Reuben's offer to guarantee Benjamin's life with that of his two sons reflects obedience to a deuteronomic law outlawing vicarious punishment -- Kidnapped : Joseph's attempt to detain Simeon and Benjamin reflects the holiness school's revision of the priestly Torah's law of reparation -- Darkness at noon : Joseph's brothers' amazement at noon echoes the blindness and suffering predicted in Deuteronomy 28 -- On the bread line : Egypt's famine echoes the desolation of the land in Leviticus 26 -- The slave trade : Jacob's adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh mirrors God's adoption of Israel -- Pt. 3. Illustrations of the connection between biblical narratives and laws taken from Exodus-Samuel and primeval history -- Strike! Moses' unsuccessful attempt to resolve disputes reflects an attempt to enforce the covenant code -- Surviving the construction industry : Pharaoh's decrees force the Israelites to violate the Sabbath and the covenant code -- The remains of the day : Manna, God's seed, is resurrected by the Sabbath like the resurrection of two boys by Elijah and Elisha -- Overexposed : the Israelites' suspicion that Moses had violated the prohibition of exposing one's nakedness before God leads to the sin of the golden calf -- Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow : 'the morrow of the Sabbath' in Leviticus 23:11-17 commemorates a 'high-handed' exodus -- So goodbye, dear, and amen : the priestly law of the jealous husband transforms the deuteronomic law of divorce -- Divine dermatology : Miriam's scale disease resembles a food forbidden in Leviticus 11 and constitutes a hidden polemic condoning intermarriage -- Holy war : interplay between the deuteronomic law of warfare (Deuteronomy 20:1-4), Exodus 14, and Isaiah 52:7-12 -- Blood suckers : the deuteronomic law of Amalek reflects the concern for underdogs -- Le(vite) divorce : the fate of the concubine at Giveah reflects the deuteronomic law of divorce -- Le mariage : the Benjaminites' marriage echoes the holiness code's marriage sacrament described in the law of the horticultural holiness (Leviticus 19:23-25) -- Hemorrhoid city : the Philistines' plague of hemorrhoids alludes to Pharaoh's fecal heart syndrome and to a deuteronomic law regarding the disposal of excrement -- Sticks and stones : holiness code's law of the blasphemer and Talion law allude to events involving Shimei the Son of Gera and Goliath -- Beyond the fringes : the tassel law cited in Ruth counters anti-davidic polemics associated with Tamar and Lot's daughters -- Pt. 4. Primeval history (Genesis 1:1-11:25) encourages the Judean exiles to return to Judah -- Judeans in space and time : the first creation narrative supports the Judeans' mandate of subduing the Land of Canaan -- Noah's nakedness : the curse of Canaan provides a rationale for delegitimizing the indigenous population of Canaan -- Babel : the destruction of the Tower of Babel encourages the Judean exiles to return to Judah in accordance with Genesis 1:28.
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