Leviticus 15.18 Reconsidered: Chiasm, Spatial Structure and the Body
Lev. 15 addresses the impurity of reproductive physiology. The chapter is structured chiastically (A B C B' A') with verse 18 the chapter's ful crum. The organizing principle behind this structure is a homologous relationship between the reproductive system and the tabernacle. The tab...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
1991
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 1991, Volume: 16, Issue: 49, Pages: 31-45 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Lev. 15 addresses the impurity of reproductive physiology. The chapter is structured chiastically (A B C B' A') with verse 18 the chapter's ful crum. The organizing principle behind this structure is a homologous relationship between the reproductive system and the tabernacle. The tabernacle is conceptualized as a pure center, over against the impure, peripheral wilderness. The 'center' of reproductive physiology is sex ual intercourse (v. 18), with non-generative/waste discharges (A/A') comprising the reproductive system's 'periphery'. If sexual inter course is the reproductive 'center', why is impurity associated with it? The penis is the instrument of both urination and copula tion/ejaculation. This functional ambiguity brings an aspect of the 'periphery' (waste) to the reproductive 'center'. This may explain the impurity of sexual intercourse (Lev. 15.18). |
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| ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/030908929101604902 |