Resources The Rites of Passage by Arnold Van Gennep Ancient Israel - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

T he R ites of P assage

Resources • The Rites of Passage by Arnold Van Gennep • Ancient Israel by Roland De Vaux • The Threshold Covenant by Henry Clay Trumbull • The Bible by God • What is Liminality? http://www.liminality.org/about/whatisliminality • Betwixt and Between: The Liminal Period by Victor Turner (http://www2.fiu.edu/~ereserve/010010095-1.pdf) • The Ritual Process by Victor Turner (Excerpts: http://faculty.dwc.edu/wellman/Turner.htm) • Enthronement of Yahweh by Jeremy J. Stewart • What Do Shaving Rites Accomplish and What Do They Signal in Biblical Ritual Contexts? by Saul Olyan • The Leper in Leviticus by Jeff Schulman • Circumcision as a Rite of Covenant by Erich Isaac • Graded Holiness by Phillip Peter Jenson

What are the 'R 'Rites of f Passage'? Th They ey are are a proc process ess tha that oc occur curs dur during ing times times of of sig significant nificant cha chang nge, e, because ecause there there is is such such a bi big dif differenc ference betwee between th the two two states states or or area areas, s, there there is is a need need for for ri rites tes to to be be performed performed in in or order der to to ensure ensure pr proper per tr tran ansition sition.

When were the Rit ites of Passage performed? Transition to a New Country Death

Rites of Passage Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Preparation for incorporation Separation from the old Integration into the new • Isolation from normal society • Death & rebirth (symbolic) • Training period • Sacrifice often involved • Purification from old self • Trials and test • Consecration into new renewal • Leaving the old ways • “ set apart ” • New name given • Typically 7 days (but not always) • State of ambiguity

“ In In buildings buildings, only only the the main main do door or was was the the site site of of en entr trance ance/exi /exit ri rites, tes, pe perhap rhaps because ecause it it was was cons consecr ecrated ated by by a special special rite rite or or bec because ause it it faces faces a favora favorable ble di direction ection ”

Rites of Passage ANE Marriage Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Separation from the old Preparation for incorporation Integration into the new • • Learning to live as a wife Betrothal – Anointing head • Wedding ceremony & feast • Mourning for parents (Deut 21) with oil • Carrying over the threshold • • Preparation for wedding day Shaving bride ’ s head • Consummation of marriage • Living with groom ’ s family with sign of blood • Veil on wedding day

Boot Camp

Rites of Passage Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Preparation for incorporation Separation from the old Integration into the new • Walking to Cana ’ an • • Trial ’ s and tribulations in the land Leaving Mesopotamia • Circumcision • • Egypt Leaving idolatry • Renaming ‘ Abraham ’ • • Lot Covenant of the pieces • Redemption of Isaac (new life) • Hagar (purification) • • Binding of Isaac Falling into a deep slumber

Passover Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Integration into the new Separation from the old Preparation for incorporation • Circumcision • Passage to Mt Sinai • • Lamb ’ s blood on doorpost 10 Commandments – • Trials/testing en route • Restriction & removal of leaven Suzerainty treaty • Preparation for meeting YHVH • • Trial by Ordeal/Purification in Boundaries on the mountain • the Red Sea Covenant meal with leadership • Sprinkling of blood in Exod 24

The Exodus Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Separation from the old Preparation for incorporation Integration into the new • Learning Torah • Passover • Covenant renewal at Mt • Trials and Tribulation for 40 years • Crossing through the Red Sea Gerazim and Mt Ebal • Minimal historical accounts • Receiving Torah/Shunning • Crossing the Jordan • Ambiguity – not yet received idolatry • (re) circumcision inheritance

Priesthood (Exod 29, Lev 8-9) Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Integration into the new Separation from the old Preparation for incorporation • Altar purification • • • Wash with water 7 day training period Purification of priests with blood • • • Anoint with oil Priests, but not yet able to Consecration of the altar • • Removal of old clothing officiate Index to altar • Official garments signifying office

Purification Lev 14 Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Separation from the old Preparation for incorporation Integration into the new • Live inside the camp, but outside • Cleansed of disease (corpse • Purification with blood and oil the tent defilement) upon right side appendages • Preparation for integration into • “ Scape-bird ” ritual of cleansing • Re-index with altar normal Israelite society • Shave, bath, wash clothes • Anointed with oil (repeat on day 7)

The Tabernacle Unclean World Clean Spiritual Physical Altar World World Holy Place Holy of Holies Courtyard Cf. Mt. Sinai Liminal Zone Importance of boundary maintenance

Rites of Passage – The Zebach Shelamim The Legal Means to Approach YHVH Elevated Holiness Communion with God Common Common Animal fully eaten Slaughter of the animal pg 22, Sacrifice: its nature and functions

Rites of Passage – The Calendar Liminal Period Old Season/Month New Season/Month Elevated Holiness Rites of Integration Rites of Separation

Rites of Passage – Mourning for the Dead State of Ritual Defilement Common Common Corpse Defilement Cleansed by waters of chatta ’ at Enter a state of mourning (Red Heifer)

Other Examples • Numbers 31:12-24 -> Purification after battle • The Nazarite vow • Bondservant: Exodus 21:2-6 • The "abbuttu lock," the marker of the slave in some Mesopotamian contexts, is imposed by means of shaving when the slave is separated for slavery; cutting the abbuttu lock frees the slave (Laws of Hammurabi, Eshnunna) • Parturient • Pesach for a ger who wants to become native born • Deuteronomy 22 -> War bride • Coronation of kings • David ’ s ascent to the throne • 2 Sam 12 -> David weeping for his son for 7 days. => Don ’ t mar your beard

Importance of Rites of Passage

Legal Passage of Yeshua Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition Separation from the old Preparation for incorporation Integration into the new • Led by Spirit (i.e. the Tutor) into • Mikveh in the Jordan river • John the Baptist dies before the wilderness for 40 days • Legal Adoption by YHVH Yeshua starts his ministry • Trials/testing by hasatan through adoption language • Anointed with oil (Mark 14) • Yeshua overcame the test from heaven that Adam failed.

Legal Conversion Rites of Rites of Rites of Separation Incorporation Transition • Physical circumcision – partake • Legal adoption – Mikveh and • Weekly Torah study – Acts 15:21 in Passover confession of faith in Yeshua • John 16:7, 13, Heb 5:12, Gal 3:21- • Position/role in community • Separation from idolatry – Acts 28 • At Yeshua ’ s return: 15:3, 19-21 • Trials of life, learning Holiness, • Renewed covenant, • Rom 6, Eph 4:21, Col 3 preparation to be the Bride marriage supper • Separation from society – John • Yeshua is the Door (liminal) • Circumcision of heart 15:19 • New names, new garments

More fr from Paul Ephesians 4:30

What is is the Purpose of the Mill illennial Kin ingdom?

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