List of Boxes ix List of Tables xi List of Figures xii Abbreviations xv Preface xvii Acknowledgements xxii 1 Ritualized Text: The Pentateuch as a Scripture 1 Torah and Pentateuch 2 Scripture and Ritual 3 The Three Dimensions of Written Texts 6 Ritualizing Scriptures in Three Dimensions 8 The Pentateuch in Three Dimensions 10 Scripturalizing Torah in the Time of Ezra 13 Reading the Pentateuch as a Scripture 17 2 Textual Rhetoric: The Persuasive Shaping of the Pentateuch 19 The Pentateuch as Literature 20 The Pentateuch as Rhetoric 23 Logos: The StoryListSanction Rhetorical Strategy 25 Ethos and Pathos in Pentateuchal Rhetoric 59 3 Scroll, Tablet, and Codex: Ritualizing the Pentateuch''s Iconic Dimension 68 The Iconic Dimension of Scriptures 69 The Pentateuch''s Iconic Dimension After Ezra 70 Ezra''s Scroll 70 Torah Scrolls in the Late Second Temple Period 71 Textual Amulets 74 Torah Arks 77 Synagogue Scrolls 80 Desecrated Torah Scrolls 84 Relic Torah Scrolls 85 Torah Myths 89 Scroll and Codex 92 Ritualizing Gospels and Bible instead of Torah 95 Publishing Torahs and Bibles 99 Decalogue Tablets 105 Summary 107 The Pentateuch''s Iconic Dimension Before Ezra 107 The Tablets of the Commandments 108 The Ark of the Covenant as Torah Shrine 110 The Priestly Blessing Amulets 113 The Torah as Monumental Inscription 115 Josiah''s Torah Scroll 116 The Pentateuch as Replacement for Tablets and Ark 120 4 Reading, Performance, and Art: Ritualizing the Pentateuch''s Performative Dimension 123 The Performative Dimension of Scriptures 124 The Pentateuch''s Performative Dimension After Ezra 126 Ezra''s Torah Reading 126 Reading Torah in Later Second Temple Judaism 128 Reading Torah in Synagogues 131 Reading the Pentateuch in Churches 133 The Languages of Jewish Public Readings 135 The Languages of Christian Oral Readings 138 Recitation, Cantillation, and Song 141 Art, Illustrations, and Maps 144 Theater and Film 152 Biblical Art, Film, and Music beyond Scripture 154 The Pentateuch''s Performative Dimension Before Ezra 155 Performing Texts in Ancient Cultures 156 The Pentateuch''s Instructions for Ritual Readings 158 Biblical Stories of Torah Readings 159 Composing Torah for a Listening Audience 163 Composing Torah for Scribal Readers 170 Evolving Torah through Oral Performance 173 5 Textual Interpretation: Ritualizing the Pentateuch''s Semantic Dimension 175 The Semantic Dimension of Scriptures 176 The Pentateuch''s Semantic Dimension After Ezra 177 The Rhetoric of Scholarly Expertise After Ezra 177 The Rhetoric of Communal Identity and Priesthood After Ezra 189 The Rhetoric of Promise and Threat After Ezra 198 The Rhetoric of Law After Ezra 200 The Rhetoric of Origins After Ezra 209 The Pentateuch''s Semantic Dimension Before Ezra 224 Scribal Expertise in the Ancient Middle East and in the Pentateuch 224 The Rhetoric of Communal Identity and Priesthood Before Ezra 229 The Rhetoric of Promise and Threat Before Ezra 235 The Rhetoric of Law Before Ezra 239 The Rhetoric of Origins Before Ezra 243 6 Scriptures: From Torah to Bible 251 Scripturalization and Canonization 251 In the Time of Judah Maccabee 253 Understanding the Tanak as a Scripture 255 In the Time of Judah HaNasi 260 In the Time of Irenaeus 262 Understanding the Bible as a Scripture 265 Cited Works and Further Reading 268 Index of Quotations and Citations of Biblical and Rabbinic Texts 286 Index of Subjects and Authors 291.