Going Vertical with Love Thy Neighbor: Exegetical Use of Scripture in Leviticus 19.18b

Abstract

When focusing on the scriptures themselves, the horizontal context of a given text refers to the surrounding verses, paragraphs, chapters, and book. Vertical context refers to an exegetical allusion to an earlier scriptural tradition within the text itself. In spite of intense, ongoing study of Lev. 19.18b within its horizontal contexts, the vertical context within this verse has been ignored. The present study defines vertical context and how it functions as a basis to interpret Lev. 19.18b. After investigating how vertical context bears on Lev. 19.18b, the passage is explained in relation to the intersection of its vertical and horizontal contexts.