| Abstract
|
:
|
In this study I argue that many of the numerous locutions common to Ezekiel and Lev 17-26 are due to Ezekiel's purposeful and creative use of an earlier text. After establishing the direction of dependence, I demonstrate that the frequency and distribution of these locutions, Ezekiel's awareness of the source context, the availability of choice, and the various transformations to which Ezekiel has subjected the locutions indicate that he has deliberately taken them from the Holiness Code for use in his own work. In the process of interpreting, reacting to, and contextualizing the borrowed locutions, Ezekiel modified them in various ways. Ezekiel's techniques of modification include inversion of word order, creation of word pairs, split-up and recombination of locutions, creation of word clusters, combination and conflation of different locutions, wordplay, and reversals. Ezekiel's use of the Holiness Code was rhetorical: he appealed to its authority and used its arguments to create his own arguments. The subject matter of these arguments consists of accusation, judgment, instruction, hope of restoration, and God's concern for his reputation. Ezekiel's recontextualization of H's locutions in his own arguments necessitated the transformation of their literary form, addressees, scope, temporal frame, and modality. Ezekiel used H to explain the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its inhabitants, and to create hope for the exilic community of which he was a part. By transforming H's legal material and covenant punishments into accusations and descriptions of imminent or recent punishment, Ezekiel could rationalize the tragedy by creating a causal connection between the people's behavior and the disaster they experienced. By selectively and paradigmatically using imagery from H's description of covenant blessings, Ezekiel portrayed a future characterized by physical restoration (in which Israel would return to live securely in their own land) and spiritual restoration (in which God would transform the people's hearts, ensuring perfect obedience to his laws).
|