A case of tribal defilement in a Kenyan rural village : a narratological and socio-rhetorical function of the motifs of 'hearing and understanding' and 'contrast' in Matthew 15:10-11 vis-à--vis Leviticus 11:1-4
Date
2011-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
This article employed a case study to explore the theme of defilement as experienced in a
Kenyan village. To provide a basis for the theological reflection on this case study, the article
investigated two motifs in Matthew 15:10–11. ‘Hearing and understanding’ and ‘contrast’
[oὐἀλλα, ‘not…but’] was examined in respect of Leviticus 11:1–8 to determine the extent
to which Matthew 15:10–11 depicts Jesus as ‘relativising’ the Mosaic law (Lv 11:1–8). This
approach provided a basis to argue that defilement in Matthew 15:10–11 is not only a matter
of external or ritual perspective, but of moral disposition. A methodology that combines
both socio-rhetorical (Socio-rhetorical criticism is a methodology that derives value and
meaning as an outcome of an active reading process that occurs within specific cultural
contexts. In this case, the examiner produced the meaning of given texts by participating in
a complex of socially constructed practices’ [Growler n.d., http://userwww.Service.emory.
edu/~dgowler/chapter.htm]) and narratological (Narratological criticism is the study of
narratives that involves a kind of ‘structure and practice that illuminates temporality and
human beings as temporal beings’. Using classifications such as plot, narrator and narratee,
narratology becomes a useful instrument for the description, classification and interpretation
of literary narratives [see http://www.hum.aau.dk/~yding/storytelling/narratology%20re-revisited.
pdf]) approaches were engaged as the most appropriate to address the concerns of
this article. These two methodologies greatly helped this article to explain the meaning and
significance of defilement in Leviticus 11 with respect to the theological understanding of the
Leviticus code of purity. This code presents a temporal view of defilement intended to reflect
on the holiness and sovereignty of Yahweh, over and against idols of the surrounding nations.
In addition, this kind of methodology facilitated an interpretation of the motif of ‘contrast’
[oὐἀλλα, ‘not but’] in Matthew 15:11 as the evangelist’s intentional attempt to depict Jesus
intensifying the Leviticus code of ritual purity within an ethical frame work.
The village case study was surveyed, exegesis done on Matthew 15:10–11 with respect
to Leviticus 11:1–8, the perception of defilement for 1st century Jews assessed and a brief
comparative study of the findings from Matthew 15:10–11 engaged with a Kenyan village-case
study for ethical reflections. This case study pointed out that cultural difference prompted a
major tribe (Wataita) to consider a minor tribe (Wasanye) to be defiled, albeit the minor tribe
did not describe the major tribe in the same derogatory term.
Description
CITATION: M'bwangi, F. M. 2011. A case of tribal defilement in a Kenyan rural village : a narratological and socio-rhetorical function of the motifs of 'hearing and understanding' and 'contrast' in Matthew 15:10-11 vis-à--vis Leviticus 11:1-4. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 67(3): 1-8, doi: 10.4102/hts.v67i3.427.
The original publication is available at http://www.hts.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.hts.org.za
Keywords
Bible. Matthew, XV, 10-11-- Criticism, interpretation, etc., Bible. Leviticus, XI, 1-4 -- Criticism, interpretation, etc., Bible -- Socio-rhetorical criticism, Methodology
Citation
M'bwangi, F. M. 2011. A case of tribal defilement in a Kenyan rural village : a narratological and socio-rhetorical function of the motifs of 'hearing and understanding' and 'contrast' in Matthew 15:10-11 vis-à--vis Leviticus 11:1-4. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 67(3): 1-8, doi: 10.4102/hts.v67i3.427