why dead bodies are ritually impure, since a corpse is the ultimate expression of death. But while this approach is possible in some instances, it is very difficult to prove that it is the probable explanation, since the text itself makes no comment on it one way or the other. What is more, it may not work as well in other situations. Childbirth and sexual intercourse, for example, both result in ritual impurity (Lev. 12:1–8; 15:18), although they are both intimately related to—and in fact the ultimate