Centralizing the Cult: The Holiness Legislation in Leviticus 17-26 (Forschungen Zum Alten Testament)

In this work, Julia Rhyder provides new insights into the relationship between the Holiness legislation in Leviticus 17-26 and processes of cultic centralization in the Persian period. The author departs from the classical theory that Leviticus 17-26 merely presume, with minor modifications, a concept of centralization articulated in Deuteronomy. She shows how Leviticus 17-26 use ritual legislation to make a new, and distinctive case as to why the Israelites must defer to a central sanctuary, standardized ritual processes, and a hegemonic priesthood. This discourse of centralization reflects the historical challenges that faced priests in Jerusalem during the Persian era: in particular, the need to compensate for the loss of a royal sponsor, to pool communal resources in order to meet socio-economic pressures, and to find new means of negotiating with the sanctuary at Mount Gerizim and with a growing diaspora. Cover Titel Preface Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures List of Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction: The Holiness Legislation and Cultic Centralization 1.1 Methodology 1.2 Key Concepts 1.2.1 Centralization 1.2.2 Center and Periphery 1.2.3 Discourse 1.2.4 Social Memory 1.3 Outline of the Study Chapter 2: The Holiness Legislation in Context 2.1 Recent Trends and Debated Issues 2.2 Structure, Scope, and Dating of the Holiness Legislation 2.2.1 Leviticus 17–26(27) as a Structural Unit 2.2.2 H as a Late Priestly Stratum 2.2.3 H as a Persian Period Composition 2.3 Conclusion Chapter 3: The History of Cultic Centralization and the Priestly Traditions 3.1 Centralization in the Persian Period 3.1.1 Questioning the Classical Account of Cultic Centralization 3.1.2 Central Sanctuaries at Gerizim and Jerusalem Excursus: Imperial Funding of the Jerusalem Temple? 3.1.3 Evidence of Cultic Diversity 3.1.4 Toward a New Appraisal of Centralization and Persian Period Biblical Traditions 3.2 Centralization and the Priestly Traditions 3.2.1 Classical Approaches to the Priestly Traditions and Centralization 3.2.2 Challenges to the Classical Approaches 3.3 H and Centralization in the History of Research 3.3.1 The Laws of Slaughter and Sacrifice in Lev 17 3.3.2 The Festal Calendar of Lev 23 3.3.3 Other Legislative Themes 3.4 Conclusion Chapter 4: Centralizing Discourse in P: Sanctuary, Ritual, and Priesthood 4.1 Unifying Sanctuary Space 4.1.1 Central Shrine and Communal Unity 4.1.2 Hierarchies in the Construction of the Central Sanctuary 4.1.3 A Nonmonarchic Space 4.2 Standardized Ritual Practice 4.2.1 Setting a Ritual Standard in Lev 1–16 4.2.2 Guarding and Maintaining the Centralized Cult: Reconfiguring Royal Roles 4.3 Centralized Priestly Competence 4.3.1 The Priestly Garments and the Centralized Priesthood 4.3.1.1 Monopolizing the Sanctuary 4.3.1.2 Manifesting the Deity to the Community 4.3.1.3 Representing a Unified Israel 4.3.1.4 Establishing an Aaronide Priesthood 4.3.2 Aaron and the Tribe of Judah in Late Priestly Materials 4.4 The Priestly Discourse of Centralization in Historical Context 4.4.1 The Central Sanctuary: Place and Cultic Compromise 4.4.1.1 Accommodating Cultic Diversity in Early Texts? 4.4.1.2 Later Strata within the Priestly Traditions: The Issue of Judean Bias 4.4.1.3 Reimagining Central Sanctuary Space for a Postmonarchic Context 4.4.2 Ritual Standardization: Discourse and Practice 4.4.3 The Priesthood and Cultic Legitimacy 4.5 Conclusion Chapter 5: The Centralization of Slaughter and Sacrifice in Lev 17 5.1 The Structure of Lev 17 and the Importance of Blood Disposal 5.2 The Centralizing Discourse of Lev 17 5.2.1 Leviticus 17:3–7 and the Prohibition of Local Slaughter 5.2.1.1 Interpreting the Scope of the Law in vv. 3–4 5.2.1.2 Wild Goats and the Rationale in vv. 5–7 5.2.2 Leviticus 17:8–9 and the Centralization of Blood Sacrifice 5.2.3 The Blood Prohibition and Sanctuary Monopolies 5.3 Situating Lev 17 among the Pentateuchal Traditions 5.3.1 Leviticus 17 and Deut 12 5.3.2 Leviticus 17 and P 5.4 Discourse and Practice 5.4.1 The Issue of Practicability 5.4.2 Leviticus 17 and Its Possible Context 5.5 Conclusion Chapter 6: Temporal Symmetry: Centralized Time in the Festal Calendar and Laws for Regular Offerings (Lev 23:1–24:9) 6.1 Centralized Time in the Festal Calendar of Lev 23 6.1.1 Structure and Theme 6.1.2 Questions of Coherence in the Festal Calendar 6.1.3 Leviticus 23 and the Standardization of Festal Programs 6.1.4 Standardization and Centralization in Lev 23 6.2 A Shared Calendar in “All Your Settlements” 6.2.1 References to the Settlements in Lev 23 6.2.2 The Settlements in H-Like Texts outside Lev 23 6.3 Shared Time and the Central Sanctuary in Lev 24:1–9 6.3.1 Sanctuary Time and Ritual Centralization 6.3.2 New Insights from 4QReworked Pentateuch C 23 6.4 Strategies of Centralization in the Persian Period: Fixed Festal Dates and the Evidence from Elephantine 6.5 Conclusion Chapter 7: Holiness as Hegemony: The Centralizing Logic of Communal Sanctification 7.1 The Distinctive Concept of Holiness in H 7.1.1 Comparing Holiness in P and H 7.1.2 Holiness, Obedience, and Centralization 7.2 Holiness and Soliciting Consent 7.2.1 Hierarchies of Holiness 7.2.2 The Parenetic Framework of Lev 18–22 7.2.2.1 Othering and Standardization 7.2.2.2 Collective Loyalty 7.2.2.3 Protecting the Central Shrine 7.2.3 Sabbath and Sanctification Excursus: Exodus 31:12–17 and 35:1–3 7.3 Holiness and Land 7.3.1 Slaves on the God’s Temple Estate 7.3.2 Economics and Centralization in the Persian Period: Generating Consent 7.4 Conclusion Chapter 8: Conclusion: Reframing Cultic Centralization 8.1 Summary 8.2 Key Findings and Implications 8.2.1 Centralization and the Pentateuchal Traditions 8.2.2 Strategies of Centralization in the Persian Period 8.2.3 Conceptualizing Centralization Bibliography Index of Ancient Sources Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects Preface -- List of Tables and Figures -- List of Abbreviations -- Introduction : the Holiness Legislation and Cultic Centralization Methodology -- Key Concepts -- Centralization -- Center and Periphery -- Discourse -- Social Memory -- Outline of the Study -- The Holiness Legislation in Context -- Recent Trends and Debated Issues -- Structure, Scope, and Dating of the Holiness Legislation -- Leviticus 17-26(27) as a Structural Unit -- H as a Late Priestly Stratum -- H as a Persian Period Composition -- -- Conclusion The History of Cultic Centralization and the Priestly Traditions -- Centralization in the Persian Period -- Questioning the Classical Account of Cultic Centralization -- Central Sanctuaries at Gerizim and Jerusalem -- Excursus : Imperial Funding of the Jerusalem Temple? -- Evidence of Cultic Diversity -- Toward a New Appraisal of Centralization and Persian Period Biblical Traditions -- Centralization and the Priestly Traditions -- Classical Approaches to the Priestly Traditions and Centralization -- Challenges to the Classical Approaches -- H and Centralization in the History of Research -- The Laws of Slaughter and Sacrifice in Lev 17 -- The Festal Calendar of Lev 23 -- Other Legislative Themes -- -- Conclusion Centralizing Discourse in P : Sanctuary, Ritual, and Priesthood -- Unifying Sanctuary Space -- Central Shrine and Communal Unity -- Hierarchies in the Construction of the Central Sanctuary -- A Nonmonarchic Space -- Standardized Ritual Practice -- Setting a Ritual Standard in Lev 1-16 -- Guarding and Maintaining the Centralized Cult : Reconfiguring Royal Roles -- Centralized Priestly Competence -- The Priestly Garments and the Centralized Priesthood -- Monopolizing the Sanctuary -- Manifesting the Deity to the Community -- Representing a Unified Israel -- Establishing an Aaronide Priesthood -- Aaron and the Tribe of Judah in Late Priestly Materials -- The Priestly Discourse of Centralization in Historical Context -- The Central Sanctuary : Place and Cultic Compromise -- Accommodating Cultic Diversity in Early Texts? -- Later Strata within the Priestly Traditions : the Issue of Judean Bias -- Reimagining Central Sanctuary Space for a Postmonarchic Context -- Ritual Standardization : Discourse and Practice -- The Priesthood and Cultic Legitimacy -- -- Conclusion The Centralization of Slaughter and Sacrifice in Lev 17 -- The Structure of Lev 17 and the Importance of Blood Disposal -- The Centralizing Discourse of Lev 17 -- Leviticus 17:3-7 and the Prohibition of Local Slaughter -- Interpreting the Scope of the Law in vv. 3-4 -- Wild Goats and the Rationale in vv. 5-7 -- Leviticus 17:8-9 and the Centralization of Blood Sacrifice -- The Blood Prohibition and Sanctuary Monopolies -- Situating Lev 17 among the Pentateuchal Traditions -- Leviticus 17 and Deut 12 -- Leviticus 17 and P -- Discourse and Practice -- The Issue of Practicability -- Leviticus 17 and Its Possible Context -- -- Conclusion Temporal Symmetry : Centralized Time in the Festal Calendar and Laws for Regular Offerings (Lev 23:1-24:9) -- Centralized Time in the Festal Calendar of Lev 23 -- Structure and Theme -- Questions of Coherence in the Festal Calendar -- Leviticus 23 and the Standardization of Festal Programs -- Standardization and Centralization in Lev 23 -- A Shared Calendar in "All Your Settlements" -- References to the Settlements in Lev 23 -- The Settlements in H-Like Texts outside Lev 23 -- Shared Time and the Central Sanctuary in Lev 24:1-9 -- Sanctuary Time and Ritual Centralization -- New Insights from 4Q Reworked Pentateuch C 23 -- Strategies of Centralization in the Persian Period : Fixed Festal Dates and the Evidence from Elephantine -- -- Conclusion Holiness as Hegemony : the Centralizing Logic of Communal Sanctification -- The Distinctive Concept of Holiness in H -- Comparing Holiness in P and H -- Holiness, Obedience, and Centralization -- Holiness and Soliciting Consent -- Hierarchies of Holiness -- The Parenetic Framework of Lev 18-22 -- Othering and Standardization -- Collective Loyalty -- Protecting the Central Shrine -- Sabbath and Sanctification -- Excursus : Exodus 31:12-17 and 35:1-3 -- Holiness and Land -- Slaves on the God's Temple Estate -- Economics and Centralization in the Persian Period : Generating Consent -- -- Conclusion Conclusion : Reframing Cultic Centralization -- -- Summary Key Findings and Implications -- Centralization and the Pentateuchal Traditions -- Strategies of Centralization in the Persian Period -- Conceptualizing Centralization ---- Bibliography-- Index of Ancient Sources-- Index of Modem Authors-- Index of Subjects. Julia Rhyder untersucht in dieser Arbeit das Heiligkeitsgesetz (Lev 17-26) und die Frage nach der Kultzentralisation in der Perserzeit. Sie zeigt, dass Lev 17-26 die Vorstellung der Kultzentralisation nicht als etablierte Norm voraussetzt, sondern ein eigenständiges Verständnis von einem Zentralheiligtum, standardisierten Ritualen und einem hegemonialen Priestertum entwickelt Back cover: In this work, Julia Rhyder examines the Holiness legislation in Leviticus 17-26 and cultic centralization in the Persian period. Rather than presuming centralization as an established norm, Leviticus 17-26 forge a distinctive understanding of centralization around a central sanctuary, standardized ritual processes, and a hegemonic priesthood.