Overview

The origin of law in the Hebrew Bible has long been the subject of scholarly debate. Until recently, the historico-critical methodologies of the academy have yielded unsatisfactory conclusions concerning the source of these laws which are woven through biblical narratives. In this original and provocative study, Calum Carmichael-a leading scholar of biblical law and rhetoric-suggests that Hebrew law was inspired by the study of the narratives in Genesis through 2 Kings. Discussing particular laws found in the book of Leviticus-addressing issues such as the Day of Atonement, consumption of meat that still has blood, the Jubilee year, sexual and bodily contamination, and the treatment of slaves-Carmichael links each to a narrative. He contends that biblical laws did not emerge from social imperatives in ancient Israel, but instead from the careful, retrospective study of the nation's history and identity.

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9780801885006

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Reviews

<p>I find many of the links between law and narrative suggested in this book attractive, meticulously argued, and persuasive... Carmichael has offered us a genuine alternative to competing theories about the origin of biblical laws.--Craig Ho Shofar (01/01/2008)

Valuable in challenging us to take seriously the intimate connections between Scriptural narrative and Scriptural law. -- Jane Kanarek, Henoch

<p>Valuable in challenging us to take seriously the intimate connections between Scriptural narrative and Scriptural law.--Jane Kanarek Henoch (01/01/2008)

Author Information

Calum Carmichael is a professor of comparative literature and an adjunct professor of law at Cornell University.

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