Question

young man leaves his home and comes into contact with someone who suffers from leprosy, a serious disease that leads to those suffering it being ostracized from normal society. After that contact, the young man refuses to enter the temple of a deity until he has engaged in ceremonial washing to make himself clean again. Which Ancient Near Eastern trait does this best represent?
community
honor-shame
ritual purity
patriarchy

Answer 1

The scenario you described best represents the trait of **ritual purity**. In many ancient cultures, including those of the Ancient Near East, maintaining ritual purity was crucial for participation in religious activities, such as entering a temple. The young man's refusal to enter the temple until he has engaged in ceremonial washing emphasizes the importance placed on being ritually clean, particularly after coming into contact with someone who had a disease that rendered them unclean according to societal and religious standards.