Studies in the Semiotics of Biblical Law
This book explains and illustrates a variety of semiotic issues in the study of biblical law. Commencing with a review of relevant literature in linguistics, philosophy, semiotics and psychology, it examines biblical law in terms of its users, its medium and its message. It criticizes our use of the notion of 'literal meaning', at the level of both words and sentences, preferring to see meaning constructed by the narrative images that the language evokes. These images may come from either social experience or cultural narratives. Speech performance is important, both in the negotiation of the
eBook, English, 2000
Bloomsbury Publishing, London, 2000
1 online resource (337 pages).
9780567578693, 0567578690
1049907326
Abbreviations
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 SOME SEMIOTIC THEORIES
1.1 Synchronic Models
1.2 Diachronic Models
Chapter 2 SPEECH ACTS AND SPEECH BEHAVIOUR
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Speech Acts in Biblical Law
2.3 Speech Acts and Form-Criticism in Biblical Law
2.3.1 Apodictic Forms
2.3.2 The Casuistic Form
2.4 Visual Dimensions of Speech Behaviour
Chapter 3 'WISDOM-LAWS'
3.1 Introduction
3.2 'Literal Meaning': Narrative versus Semantic Models
3.3 Self-Executing Laws
3.4 Early Adjudication
Chapter 4 THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL DRAFTING. 4.1 Introduction
4.2 Terminology: Concrete to Abstract
4.3 Consistency
4.4 Increasing Combination of Variables
4.5 Increasing Combination of Clauses
4.6 Rule Elaboration and Systematization
4.7 Reasons for Rules
Chapter 5 THE WRITTEN MEDIA OF LAW
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The Use of Inscriptions
5.3 The Uses of the Sefer
5.3.1 Archival Uses
5.3.2 Didactic Uses
5.3.3 Ritual Uses
5.4 The Ezra Tradition and the Endurance of Law
Chapter 6 THE TEMPORALITY OF THE LAW
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The Legislative Authority of the King. 6.3 The Construction of Continuity: Chok Olam
Chapter 7 'POSTULATES' AND VALUES
7.1 'Postulates' Again
7.2 The Oppositional Expression of Values
7.2.1 The Injurious Ox
7.2.2 Eved and Amah in Exod. 21.2-11
7.2.3 The Structure of the Decalogue
7.3 Towards a Model of Values in Biblical Law
Chapter 8 LAW'S INTERNAL RECOGNITION
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Chiasmus and Thematic Repetition: From Orality to Literacy
8.3 Law and Narrative
Chapter 9 'COVENANT RENEWAL' AND NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
9.1 Introduction
9.2 The Patriarchal Covenants
9.3 Covenant Renewal in Exodus. 9.4 Covenant Renewal in Deuteronomy and Joshua
Chapter 10 TALION
10.1 Introduction
10.2 The Oral Formulae
10.3 A 'Wisdom-Law'?
10.4 Semantic and Narrative Readings
10.5 Developmental Aspects
10.6 Literary Reiteration
10.7 Talion as a 'Principle'
Bibliography
Index of References
Index of Authors
A
B
C
D
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y