the rites of passage - rooted in torah are the 'rites of passage'? they are a process that...

The Rites

of Passage

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

http://www.liminality.org/about/whatisliminality

http://www2.fiu.edu/~ereserve/010010095-1.pdf

http://faculty.dwc.edu/wellman/Turner.htm

What are the 'Rites of Passage'?

They are a process that occurs during times ofsignificant change, because there is such a bigdifference between the two states or areas, there is aneed for rites to be performed in order to ensureproper transition.

When were the Rites of Passage performed?

Death

Transitionto a NewCountry

Rites of Passage

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition

Rites of Incorporation

Preparation for incorporation

• Isolation from normal society• Training period• Trials and test• “set apart”• Typically 7 days (but not always)• State of ambiguity

Separation from the old

• Death & rebirth (symbolic)• Purification from old self• Leaving the old ways

Integration into the new

• Sacrifice often involved• Consecration into new renewal• New name given

“In buildings, only the maindoor was the site ofentrance/exit rites, perhapsbecause it was consecratedby a special rite or becauseit faces a favorabledirection”

Rites of Passage

ANEMarriage

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition



• Learning to live as a wife• Mourning for parents (Deut 21)• Preparation for wedding day


• Betrothal – Anointing head with oil

• Shaving bride’s head• Living with groom’s family• Veil on wedding day


• Wedding ceremony & feast• Carrying over the threshold• Consummation of marriage

with sign of blood

Boot Camp

Rites of Passage

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition



• Walking to Cana’an• Trial’s and tribulations in the land

• Egypt• Lot• Hagar

• Binding of Isaac


• Leaving Mesopotamia• Leaving idolatry• Covenant of the pieces

(purification)• Falling into a deep slumber


• Circumcision• Renaming ‘Abraham’• Redemption of Isaac (new life)

Passover

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition



• Passage to Mt Sinai• Trials/testing en route• Preparation for meeting YHVH


• Lamb’s blood on doorpost• Restriction & removal of leaven• Trial by Ordeal/Purification in

the Red Sea


• Circumcision• 10 Commandments –

Suzerainty treaty• Boundaries on the mountain• Covenant meal with leadership• Sprinkling of blood in Exod 24

The Exodus

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition



• Learning Torah• Trials and Tribulation for 40 years• Minimal historical accounts• Ambiguity – not yet received

inheritance


• Passover• Crossing through the Red Sea• Receiving Torah/Shunning

idolatry


• Covenant renewal at Mt Gerazim and Mt Ebal

• Crossing the Jordan• (re) circumcision

Priesthood(Exod 29, Lev 8-9)

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition



• 7 day training period• Priests, but not yet able to

officiate


• Wash with water• Anoint with oil• Removal of old clothing


• Altar purification• Purification of priests with blood• Consecration of the altar• Index to altar• Official garments signifying

office

PurificationLev 14

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition



• Live inside the camp, but outside the tent

• Preparation for integration into normal Israelite society


• Cleansed of disease (corpse defilement)

• “Scape-bird” ritual of cleansing• Shave, bath, wash clothes

(repeat on day 7)


• Purification with blood and oil upon right side appendages• Re-index with altar

• Anointed with oil

The Tabernacle

Clean Physical World

Courtyard

Spiritual World

Holy of Holies

Liminal Zone

Altar

Holy Place

UncleanWorld

Cf. Mt. SinaiImportance of boundary maintenance

Rites of Passage – The Zebach ShelamimThe Legal Means to Approach YHVH

Slaughter of the animal Animal fully eaten

Common Common

Elevated HolinessCommunion with God

pg 22, Sacrifice: its nature and functions

Rites of Passage – The Calendar

Rites of Separation Rites of Integration

Old Season/Month New Season/MonthLiminal Period

Elevated Holiness

Rites of Passage – Mourning for the Dead

Corpse DefilementEnter a state of mourning

Cleansed by waters of chatta’at(Red Heifer)

Common Common

State of Ritual Defilement

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 Separation

Rites of Transition



• Led by Spirit (i.e. the Tutor) into the wilderness for 40 days

• Trials/testing by hasatan• Yeshua overcame the test

that Adam failed.


• Mikveh in the Jordan river• Legal Adoption by YHVH

through adoption language from heaven


• John the Baptist dies before Yeshua starts his ministry

• Anointed with oil (Mark 14)

Legal Conversion

Rites of Separation

Rites of Transition


• Weekly Torah study – Acts 15:21• John 16:7, 13, Heb 5:12, Gal 3:21-

28• Trials of life, learning Holiness,

preparation to be the Bride• Yeshua is the Door (liminal)

• Legal adoption – Mikveh and confession of faith in Yeshua

• Separation from idolatry – Acts 15:3, 19-21• Rom 6, Eph 4:21, Col 3

• Separation from society – John 15:19

• Physical circumcision – partake in Passover

• Position/role in community• At Yeshua’s return:

• Renewed covenant, marriage supper

• Circumcision of heart• New names, new garments

the rites of passage - rooted in torah are the 'rites of passage'? they are a process that...

Documents