LEADER 03661nam 2200733 a 450 001 9910461720303321 005 20200520144314.0 010 $a0-8147-0811-0 010 $a0-8147-2378-0 024 7 $a10.18574/9780814723784 035 $a(CKB)2670000000155471 035 $a(EBL)865416 035 $a(OCoLC)779828065 035 $a(SSID)ssj0000658665 035 $a(PQKBManifestationID)11456218 035 $a(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000658665 035 $a(PQKBWorkID)10690703 035 $a(PQKB)10199799 035 $a(StDuBDS)EDZ0001325918 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC865416 035 $a(OCoLC)787848539 035 $a(MdBmJHUP)muse19863 035 $a(DE-B1597)547722 035 $a(DE-B1597)9780814723784 035 $a(Au-PeEL)EBL865416 035 $a(CaPaEBR)ebr10541090 035 $a(EXLCZ)992670000000155471 100 $a20111017d2012 uy 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aur|||||||nn|n 181 $ctxt 182 $cc 183 $acr 200 14$aThe signifying creator$b[electronic resource] $enontextual sources of meaning in ancient Judaism /$fMichael D. Swartz 210 $aNew York $cNew York University Press$d2012 215 $a1 online resource (133 p.) 300 $aDescription based upon print version of record. 311 $a1-4798-5557-X 311 $a0-8147-4093-6 320 $aIncludes bibliographical references and index. 327 $tFrontmatter -- $tContents -- $tPreface -- $tAcknowledgments -- $t1. Introduction -- $t2. Myths of Creation -- $t3. The Semiotics of the Priestly Vestments -- $t4. Divination and Its Discontents -- $t5. Bubbling Blood and Rolling Bones -- $t6. Conclusions -- $tNotes -- $tIndex -- $tAbout the Author 330 $aFor centuries, Jews have been known as the "people of the book." It is commonly thought that Judaism in the first several centuries CE found meaning exclusively in textual sources. But there is another approach to meaning to be found in ancient Judaism, one that sees it in the natural world and derives it from visual clues rather than textual ones. According to this conception, God embedded hidden signs in the world that could be read by human beings and interpreted according to complex systems.In exploring the diverse functions of signs outside of the realm of the written word, Swartz introduces unfamiliar sources and motifs from the formative age of Judaism, including magical and divination texts and new interpretations of legends and midrashim from classical rabbinic literature. He shows us how ancient Jews perceived these signs and read them, elaborating on their use of divination, symbolic interpretation of physical features and dress, and interpretations of historical events. As we learn how these ancient people read the world, we begin to see how ancient people found meaning in unexpected ways. 606 $aJewish mythology 606 $aJewish legends 606 $aSymbolism in rabbinical literature 606 $aJewish art and symbolism 606 $aSemiotics$xReligious aspects$xJudaism 606 $aJudaism$xHistory$yPost-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D 608 $aElectronic books. 615 0$aJewish mythology. 615 0$aJewish legends. 615 0$aSymbolism in rabbinical literature. 615 0$aJewish art and symbolism. 615 0$aSemiotics$xReligious aspects$xJudaism. 615 0$aJudaism$xHistory 676 $a296.3 700 $aSwartz$b Michael D$0672731 801 0$bMiAaPQ 801 1$bMiAaPQ 801 2$bMiAaPQ 906 $aBOOK 912 $a9910461720303321 996 $aThe signifying creator$92458243 997 $aUNINA