| The Body as Property: Physical Disfigurement in Biblical Law Contributor(s): Jacobs, Sandra (Author), Mein, Andrew (Editor), Camp, Claudia V. (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0567253937 ISBN-13: 9780567253934 Publisher: T&T Clark OUR PRICE: $198.00 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: February 2014 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Biblical Studies - History & Culture - Religion | Judaism - Sacred Writings - Religion | Biblical Criticism & Interpretation - Old Testament |
| Dewey: 296.188 |
| Series: Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies |
| Physical Information: 0.8" H x 6.4" W x 9.4" (1.50 lbs) 280 pages |
| Themes: - Religious Orientation - Jewish |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The Body As Property indicates that physical disfigurement functioned in biblical law to verify legal property acquisition, when changes in the status of dependents were formalized. It is based on the reality the cuneiform script, in particular, was developed in Sumer and Mesopotamia for the purpose of record keeping: to provide legal proof of ownership where the inscription of a tablet evidenced the sale, or transfer, of property. Legitimate property acquisition was as important in biblical law, where physical disfigurements marked dependents, in a similar way that the veil or the head covering identified a wife or concubine in ancient Assyrian and Judean societies. This is primarily substantiated in the accounts of prescriptive disfigurements: namely circumcision and the piercing of a slave's ear, both of which were required only when a son, or slave, was acquired permanently. It is further argued that legal entitlement was relevant also to the punitive disfigurements recorded in Exodus 21:22-24, and Deuteronomy 25:11-12, where the physical violation of women was of concern solely as an infringement of male property rights. |
Contributor Bio(s): Jacobs, Sandra: - Sandra Jacobs received her doctorate in biblical law from the University of Manchester in April 2010 and is an Honorary Research Associate at the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College, London.Mein, Andrew: - Andrew Mein is Tutor in Old Testament, Westcott House, Cambridge. Camp, Claudia V.: - Claudia V. Camp is Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University, USA and was on the steering committee of the Seminar. She is currently co-general editor of the LHBOTS series, as well as the author or editor of 4 books and numerous articles. |