| Title: | Das Gesetz über den großen Versöhnungstag. Lev. XVI |
| Subtitle: | Eine pentateuchkritische Studie |
| Series: | Analecta Gorgiana 9 |
| Availability: | Forthcoming |
| Publisher: | Gorgias Press |
| |
| By Benzinger |
| ISBN: | 978-1-61143-799-7 |
| Availability: | Forthcoming |
| From the 1889 edition |
| Language: | German |
| Format: | Paperback, Black, 6 x 9 in |
| Pages: | 25 |
In Leviticus 16, containing the laws for the Day of Atonement, Benzinger finds disorder and inconsistencies that point to a composite origin. It begins with a warning to Aaron against freely entering the Holy of Holies but continues with the establishment of a yearly observance. Despite an effort at harmonization, these appear to be two different matters involving two different sets of laws. Benziger analyzes the text to find the verses belonging to each of these complexes, as well as some glosses added later. The first, concerning entry into the Holy of Holies, Benzinger attributes to the Priestly Codex (which he apparently considers later than the Holiness Code). The second he holds to be itself composite, combining the ritual for the day (through 17:28) with prescriptions for fasting and abstinence from work (from 17:29) from two different sources. He argues that the second set of laws comes from the Priestly Codex, but the first must be later—that is, the Day of Atonement with its special sacrificial rituals was introduced well after the end of the exile.