Achronology in the Priestly Tabernacle Narratives of the Pentateuch

Garrett Haddock argues that the problems of narrative chronology relating to the establishment of the Tabernacle in the Priestly writings found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers stem from a scribal arrangement according to theme, recasting the Priestly scribes not as careless compilers but as deliberate literary designers.

Scholarship has long treated the jumbled chronology of the Priestly Tabernacle account as a sign of careless or compulsive scribal work. Garrett Haddock argues the opposite: it reflects a deliberate tendency to arrange the material by theme. He examines the narratives that pertain to the setting up of the Tabernacle and the beginning of cultic service there (Exodus 40, Leviticus 8-10, and Numbers 7). On close reading, these passages and the surrounding Priestly material exhibit clear instances of narrative disorder, what the author calls achronology. He revisits these key passages and presents firm evidence of textual development of the Priestly materials, often connected to achronology. Yet, the achronology often relates to a governing theme connected to the Tabernacle. Thus, the material in Exodus concerns the construction and assemblage of YHWH’s abode, the passages in Leviticus present the Tabernacle as the site of sacrifice, and the relevant section of Numbers places the cultic tent in the context of the whole Israelite camp. The author further argues that achronology results not only from diachronic growth but also from the Priestly scribal tendency to group the material related to the Tabernacle according to theme. In doing so, he challenges scholarly trends that attribute scribal arrangement to carelessness or compulsion. His case study demonstrates not a disregard for time, but a subordination of the narrative use of time to other literary impulses, such as thematic arrangement.

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
1.2 History of Research
1.2.1 The Disorder Related to the Tabernacle
1.3 Methodology
1.3.1 Early Interpretation
1.3.2 Historical-critical method
1.3.3 Redaction Criticism and Textual Criticism
1.3.4 The Thematic Arrangement of the Priestly Portions of the Sinai Pericope
1.4 Defining Terms
1.5 Contribution
1.6 Structure of the Argument
Chapter 2: ACHRONOLOGY AND EXODUS 40
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Expansion in Exodus 40
2.2.1 Relationship to PG
2.2.2 Layers in Exodus 40
2.3 Achronology and Exodus 40
2.3.1 Exodus 40:9-15
2.3.2 Exodus 40:16 and 17
2.3.3 Exodus 40:18-33b
2.3.4 Exodus 40:34-35 (and Leviticus 9:23-24)
2.4 Exodus 40 and Leviticus 9 in Early Jewish Interpretation
2.4.1 SP
2.4.2 Tabernacle and Temple
2.4.3 2 Maccabees 2:7-10
2.4.4 Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities
2.4.5 The Dominant Rabbinic Chronology
2.4.6 Ezra 6:15//1 Esdras 7:5
2.5 Potential Causes of Achronology
2.5.1 Sacred Time
2.5.2 Narrative Purpose of the Priestly Source
2.5.3 Arrangement According to Theme.
2.6 Conclusion
Chapter 3: ACHRONOLOGY AND LEVITICUS 1-7
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The Framing of Leviticus 1-7
3.2.1 Leviticus 1:1
3.2.2 The מלואים and Leviticus 1-7
3.2.3 Leviticus 7:38, The Torah, and Mount Sinai in P
3.3 מלואים and תמיד in Exodus 29 and their connection to Sinai
3.3.1 Command of Ordination
3.3.2 The Tamid
3.4 The חטאת and the Inner Altar
3.4.1 Where is the Incense Altar?
3.4.2 The חטאת in Diachronic Perspective
3.5 Literary and Ritual Problems
3.5.1 Consecration
3.5.2 Inaugural Ceremony and Disaster
3.6 Conclusion
Chapter 4: ACHRONOLOGY AND THE DAY OF ERECTION/DEDICATION OF THE TABERNACLE IN NUMBERS
4.1 Introduction
4.1.1 Numbers 7 as a Late Addition
4.1.2 Numbers 7 and Achronological Arrangement
4.2 Numbers 7:1-9 and the "Day."
4.2.1 נשיא
4.2.2 The Levites and Their Carts
4.3 Numbers 7:10-88 and the Day
4.3.1 חנכת המזבח, Numbers 7:10-88
4.4 Numbers 7:89-8:5
4.5 Texts Connected to the "Day"
4.5.1 Priestly Blessing
4.5.2 Numbers 8:5-8:26
4.5.3 Numbers 9:1-14
4.5.4 Numbers 9:15-23: Achronology and Transition
4.5.5 Numbers 10:1-10: Transition
4.6 Conclusion: Disordered Material and the Place of Numbers 7 in Numbers 1-10.
Chapter 5: CONCLUSION

• By (author) Garrett Haddock