In a study that began as his doctoral dissertation at Princeton University, Bibb argues that interpreters must integrate literary and ritual methods in order to identify the narrative and theological dynamics that shape the text of the Old Testament book. His first part is methodological, explaining why and how the two approaches should be combined, and why questions of history and source criticism should be bypassed. A crucial element is the concept of ritualization, in which ordinary activities--in this case reading and writing--take on qualities of ritual. The second part applies the methods in an exegesis of Leviticus, finding that it functions prescriptively while describing a particular moment in Israel's mythical past: the establishment and inauguration of the tabernacle cult. T&T Clark is an imprint of Continuum. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)