I<\/span>n answer to the question, Who may sojourn in Yahweh\u2019s tent, or dwell on His holy mountain? Psalm 15 answers: A man without defect. The word translated in the NASB as \u201cwith integrity\u201d is the Levitical term tamim<\/em>, \u201cwithout defect,\u201d and usually describes sacrificial animals (e.g., Leviticus 1:3, 10). The man without defect goes into God\u2019s presence like an animal without physical blemish.\n<\/p>\n As the Psalm continues, it fills out the portrait of a man without defect. His walk, works, and speech are truthful and just (v. 2). He doesn\u2019t slander, doesn\u2019t reproach a friend, distributes honor and dishonor rightly. His whole body \u2013 heart (v. 2), tongue (v. 3), and eyes (v. 4) \u2013 forms a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. He gives and takes money well (v. 5).\n<\/p>\n That the Psalm uses a \u201cceremonial\u201d term to describe this portrait of a just man indicates that the ceremonies have moral import. This is certainly true for the Psalmist.\n<\/p>\n And, according to Mary Douglas, it\u2019s equally true for Leviticus: \u201cEverything in the universe shows forth the righteousness of the Lord. Animals and humans, people and priests, animals for food, animals for the altar, their bodies are figures of righteousness and unrighteousness. The forbidden animal species exemplify the predators, on the one hand, that is those who eat blood, and on the other, the sufferers from injustice\u201d (\u201cForbidden Animals of Leviticus,\u201d JSOT 59 [1993] 21-22). Whether or not she\u2019s right on the details of structure and interpretation, her interpretation of dietary laws and physical defects coheres with the Psalmist\u2019s outlook.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In answer to the question, Who may sojourn in Yahweh\u2019s tent, or dwell on His holy mountain? Psalm 15 answers: A man without defect. The word translated in the NASB as \u201cwith integrity\u201d is the Levitical term tamim, \u201cwithout defect,\u201d and usually describes sacrificial animals (e.g., Leviticus 1:3, 10). The man without defect goes into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-ot-leviticus","category-bible-ot-psalms"],"yoast_head":"\n