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Law and Life: Leviticus 18.5 in the Literary Framework of ... - Clover

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Journal for <strong>the</strong> Study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Old Testament<br />

V0l3 1.3 (2007): 275-293<br />

O 2007 Sage Publications (London, Thous<strong>and</strong> Oaks, CA, <strong>and</strong> New Delhi)<br />

DOI: 10.11 77/0309089207076358<br />

http://JSOT.sagepub.com<br />

<strong>Law</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Life</strong>: <strong>Leviticus</strong> <strong>18.5</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Literary</strong> <strong>Framework</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ezekiel<br />

PRESTON SPRINKLE<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Div<strong>in</strong>ity, University <strong>of</strong> Aberdeen, K<strong>in</strong>gs College, Aberdeen AB24 3UB<br />

Abstract<br />

While it is <strong>of</strong>ten recognized that Ezekiel alludes to Lev. <strong>18.5</strong> throughout Ezekiel<br />

20, this essay seeks to show that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Leviticus</strong> text is referred to <strong>in</strong> various o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

portions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> book. These allusions connect two major motifs <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> book <strong>of</strong><br />

Ezekiel: Israel's disobedience to <strong>the</strong> 'statutes <strong>and</strong> judgments' <strong>of</strong>Yahweh <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

lack <strong>of</strong> life <strong>the</strong>re<strong>in</strong>. These motifs are climactically fulfilled <strong>in</strong> chs. 36-37 where<br />

Yahweh causes Israel to obey his 'statutes <strong>and</strong> judgments' <strong>and</strong> brea<strong>the</strong>s life <strong>in</strong>to<br />

<strong>the</strong> nation. This suggests that <strong>the</strong> text <strong>of</strong> Lev. <strong>18.5</strong> was selected to highlight <strong>the</strong><br />

conditional nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se covenant stipulations, which amplifies div<strong>in</strong>e agency<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> program <strong>of</strong> restoration.<br />

Keywords: <strong>Law</strong>, life, <strong>Leviticus</strong>, statutes, judgments, div<strong>in</strong>e agency, human agency,<br />

conditional bless<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Introduction<br />

Scholars frequently notice that Ezekiel alludes to, or uses <strong>the</strong> same<br />

language as, Lev. <strong>18.5</strong> ('<strong>the</strong> man who does <strong>the</strong>se th<strong>in</strong>gs will live by

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