body as property, The
Book Description
Dr. Sandra Jacobs presents a thought-provoking examination of how ancient legal systems used physical markings to establish ownership and social status within biblical communities. Drawing connections between Mesopotamian record-keeping practices and Hebrew law, this scholarly work explores the intersection of body, identity, and legal authority in ancient societies.
The author investigates how physical modifications served as permanent documentation of legal relationships, much like written contracts function today. Through careful analysis of biblical texts, Jacobs reveals how practices such as circumcision and ear piercing operated within complex systems of property law and social hierarchy. The study extends beyond ritual significance to examine these markings as legal instruments that formalized changes in personal status and dependency relationships.
This research offers readers interested in understanding ancient spiritual and social frameworks a unique perspective on how physical identity intersected with legal standing. Jacobs challenges conventional interpretations by positioning these practices within broader contexts of ownership, protection, and social organization that governed ancient Near Eastern communities.
For those seeking deeper comprehension of biblical law and its cultural foundations, this work provides scholarly insights into how ancient societies structured relationships between individuals, families, and communities. The book invites reflection on how physical markers communicated complex social and legal realities that shaped daily life in biblical times.
Through rigorous textual analysis, Jacobs illuminates often-overlooked dimensions of ancient legal and religious practice.
Who Is This For?
š Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
š Length: 260 pages
What You'll Discover
- ā Explore Ear piercing
- ā Explore Property
- ā Explore Religious aspects
- ā Explore Slavery (Jewish law)
- ā Explore Criticism, interpretation
- ā Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ā Explore Circumcision
- ā Explore Biblical teaching