The Rhetorical Function of the Book of Ezekiel
Thomas Renz
Brill Academic Publishers
In this study, Thomas Renz argues that the book of Ezekiel functions as a rhetorical unit, that it addresses a specific rhetorical situation, and that it aims at shaping the self-understanding of the second-generation of Judaean exiles and defining the "true Israel". After examining the historical context of the exile, the author addresses the overall literary arrangement and the individual rhetorical techniques in the book. A final chapter explores the book's rhetorical effectiveness in presenting a suitable response to the issues the exilic community faced. Renz offers both an analysis of the book of Ezekiel as well as a model for the fruitful integration of traditional critical methods with more recent literary, rhetorical and sociological approaches.