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Averting curses in the law of war (Deuteronomy 20)

Abstract:
This essay explores the military exemption of Deut 20:5–7 in light of the futility curse in Deut 28:30. By uncovering the social and ritual contexts of the futility curse, I argue that Deut 20:5–7 can be productively understood as a warfare ritual against the curse. I explore the ritual dimensions of Deut 20:5–7 in light of rituals for avoiding curses and maledictions from the ancient Near East, arguing that the original Sitz im Leben of these verses can be found in a pre-war ritual responding to the hegemonic aims of enemies as this crystallized in the inscriptional and ritual contexts of ancient warfare.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1515/zaw-2020-2001

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Department:
Theology and Religion
Oxford college:
Worcester College
Role:
Author


Publisher:
De Gruyter
Journal:
Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft More from this journal
Volume:
132
Issue:
2
Pages:
209–223
Publication date:
2020-06-05
Acceptance date:
2020-01-17
DOI:
EISSN:
1613-0103
ISSN:
0044-2526


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:1083169
UUID:
uuid:d9ecf975-4e99-4cc0-bd4e-35fa4507a876
Local pid:
pubs:1083169
Source identifiers:
1083169
Deposit date:
2020-01-18

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