Ritual Violence in the Hebrew Bible: New Perspectives

Although the relationship of the Hebrew Bible and violence has been of interest to scholars in recent years, ritual violence in its various manifestations has been underexplored, as have been the theoretical dimensions of ritual violence. This volume is intended to bring into relief the full
range of violent rites represented in the Hebrew Bible, many rarely, if ever, considered before.

The book seeks to explore what acts of ritual violence might have accomplished socio-politically in their particular settings and the ways in which engagement with theory from a variety of disciplines can contribute to our understanding of ritual violence as a phenomenon. It consists of an
introduction and eight essays. Topics include cognitive perspectives on iconoclasm, the instrumental dimensions of ritual violence against corpses, the ritual of killing cities (urbicide), royal rites of military loyalty, the ends accomplished by the violence against Rechab and Baanah in 2 Samuel
4, material dimensions of the herem and Rwanda genocide compared, the exchange of women among men and its violent dimensions, and Josiah's ritual assault on Bethel. Authors include Debra Scoggins Ballentine, T. M. Lemos, Mark Leuchter, Nathaniel B. Levtow, Susan Niditch, Saul M. Olyan, Rüdiger
Schmitt, and Jacob L. Wright.


Author: Saul M. Olyan
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 12/01/2015
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.10w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780190249588

About the Author

Saul M. Olyan is the Samuel Ungerleider Jr. Professor of Judaic Studies and Professor of Religious Studies at Brown University. The primary focus of his current research is a book entitled "Friendship in the Hebrew Bible," to be published by Yale University Press. His next book will focus on
representations of ritual violence in biblical texts.