Domenico Lo Sardo's study of Exod 25-31 and Lev 8-9 builds on his previous research in Exod 35-40, analyzing the Priestly Writing's literary development. He suggests that the Tabernacle's construction was part of a project focused on space, time, and divine presence, aiming to restore worship and Jewish identity after exile.
In this study, Domenico Lo Sardo examines the textual and literary development of Exodus 25-31 and Leviticus 8-9, expanding on prior research on the Tabernacle's second account (Exodus 35-40). He argues that Exodus 25-31 was later composed to legitimize the Temple's construction and was shaped alongside Leviticus 8. Challenging the idea of an early, fully developed Priestly Writing (Pg), his analysis of the texts studied in terms of textual and literary criticism presents it as an evolving tradition with a multistage production history. He further demonstrates that Priestly Writing (P) concludes at Leviticus 8 and does not extend beyond this point. Highlighting themes of divine presence, worship, and sacred space, the author ultimately situates the Temple-cult project within the broader theological framework of creation and covenant fulfillment.
Table of contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction1.1 Preamble
1.2 Divine Orders Plane in Exod 25–31
1.3 Textual and Literary Problem in Exod 25–31
1.4 Working Hypothesis of the Monograph
1.5 Interaction Working Methods
Chapter 2: The Altar of Incense Texts: P, and post–P Editing2.1 Literary Perspective on the Altar of Incense in the Book of Exodus
2.2 MT Exod 26:35 and the Altar out of Place in Exod 30:1–10
2.3 Textual Criticism on Exod 30:1–10 (Exod 37:25–28)
2.4 Different Vorlage?
2.5 A Further Observations
2.6 Textual Criticism on Exod 37:25–28 (Exod 30:1–10)
2.7 Literary Criticism on the Incense Altar
2.8 The Altar of Incense in the Holy of Holies
2.9 Toward a Conclusion
Chapter 3: The Priestly Vestments: P, and post–P Editing3.1 Literary and Textual Outlook of Priestly Vestments in the Book of Exodus
3.2 Description of the Readings on MT Exod 28 // 39
3.3 Textual and Literary Criticism on MT Exod 28:1–5 // 39:1 (LXX 36)
3.4 Textual Criticism on LXX Exod 28:23–28 (MT Exod 28:24–25)
3.5 Literary Criticism on Exod 28:4, 29–30 and Lev 8:7, 8–9
3.6 Toward a Conclusion
Chapter 4: The Project of P, through Cult Inauguration4.1 Preamble
4.2 Exod 29 and Lev 8: Textual and Literary Study
4.3 Exod 39–40 and Lev 8–9: is there a heptadic structure?
4.4 Post–P Interpolation in Lev 8:10aβ–11, “so that the altar may become most holy” (Exod 40:10)
4.5 Exod 29:1–4 and Lev 8:1–6: Two different ‘ouvertures’
4.6 Tabernacle Accounts’ and Book of Exodus’ Endings
4.7 Exod 40:34–38 in Between Exod 24 and Lev 9
4.8 Lev 8 or Lev 9 as the Resolution of Exodus’s Ending?
4.9 Toward a Conclusion
Chapter 5: The Project of P, connected to the Origins5.1 Literary Framework of Chapters 31 and 35 of the Book of Exodus
5.2 Textual and Literary Critical Study of Exod 31 and Exod 35
5.3 Textual and Literary Critical Study of Exod 25:8–10; 29:42–46; 40:34–35; Lev 9:23–24
5.4 Literary and Redactional Study of Gen 1 and Exod 31, 35
5.5 Toward a Conclusion
Chapter 6: Pg Ending or P Conclusion?6.1 Preamble
6.2 What is P According to the Recent Debate
6.3 What is ‘P’ According to the P ‘Scribes’?
6.4 The P Writing in the Sinai Pericope
Chapter 7: Conclusions and Perspectives
Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix A: Synoptic Comparison of the Priestly Garments in Exod 28 and Exod 36 in the LXXB Tradition
Appendix B: A Synoptic Comparison Between the Content of LXX Exod 28 and what is absent in LXX Exod 36, and vice versa
Appendix C: Synoptic Comparison of the Priestly Garments in Exod 28 and Exod 36 in the Massoretic Text (MT)
Appendix D: Synoptic Comparison of the Priestly Garments in LXX Exod 36 and MT Exod 39
