Homicide in the Biblical World
Homicide in the Biblical World
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Homicide in the Biblical World analyses the treatment of homicide in the Hebrew Bible and demonstrates that it is directly linked to the unique social structure and religion of ancient Israel. Close parallels between biblical law and ancient Near Eastern law are evident in the laws of the ox that gored and the pregnant woman who is assaulted, but, when the total picture of the process by which homicide was adjudicated comes into view, what is most noticeable is how little of it is similar to ancient Near Eastern law. This book reconstructs biblical law from both legal texts and narrative texts and analyses both the law collections and documents from actual legal cases from the ancient Near East.
- This is the only book that focuses on the treatment of homicide in the Bible
- Incorporates extra-biblical material from the Ancient Near East
- Combines legal texts and ancient narratives for a new understanding
Reviews & endorsements
'Pamela Barmash's new book is compulsory reading for biblical scholars in general, scholars of biblical law in particular, and scholars of ancient Near Eastern law and culture. It is not far-reaching to claim that this book is essential for every scholar of ancient cultural and legal systems … Barmash's study of homicide in the biblical world is a shining example of comparative research.' Review of Biblical Literature
' … this is a valuable book, with a rich bibliography …' Themelios
Product details
February 2005Hardback
9780521834681
270 pages
235 × 158 × 23 mm
0.465kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. A first case, the story of Cain and Abel
- 2. Blood feud and state control
- 3. The development of the cities of refuge in the Bible
- 4. Pollution and homicide
- 5. Typologies of homicide
- 6. Lex Talionis
- 7. International law in the Ancient Near East
- 8. Conclusion
- 9. Excursus aeven: cuneiform sources on homicide.
