Ritual and morality
Subtitle: the ritual purity system and its place in Judaism
By: Hyam Maccoby.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 231
Subjects: Bible. O.T. Leviticus -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Purity, Ritual -- Judaism -- History of doctrines.; Purity, Ritual -- Biblical teaching.; Rabbinical literature -- History and criticism.
Description: "This book describes in detail the ritual purity system of the Hebrew Bible, and its development into the system of the rabbis. It is argued that the impurities concerned all derive from the human cycle of generation, birth and death, from which the Sanctuary is to be guarded; not because it needs protection from demonic powers (as in other ancient purity systems), but because of the reverence due to the divine presence."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 216-220) and index.