Ritualizing the Text in Early Judaism: Two Examples of Innovation

This essay draws on Catherine Bell's concept of the ritualization of text in order to assess two cases of ritual innovation in light of the increasing textualization of Israelite religion in early Judaism. The first case is the use of ritual and scripturalized prayer by King Jehoshaphat and a Levite in waging war (2 Chronicles 20). The second case drawn from the Dead Sea Scrolls is the entry ritual in the Community Rule which elevates community priests as those who bless using an interpreted form of the priestly blessing of Numbers 6.