Injustice Made Legal
Book Description
Harold V. Bennett presents a provocative reexamination of biblical law that challenges conventional wisdom about ancient Israel's treatment of society's most vulnerable members. Rather than viewing scriptural provisions for widows, strangers, and orphans as compassionate protections, Bennett argues these laws served a darker purpose.
Drawing on critical law theory and extensive analysis of ancient world conditions, this scholarly work reveals how Deuteronomic legislation may have actually functioned to benefit powerful elites while systematically oppressing the peasant class. Bennett approaches these familiar biblical texts from the perspective of those who suffered under them, uncovering connections between political power, economic interests, and legal formulation that previous scholarship has overlooked.
This fresh interpretation exposes how religious law can be crafted to maintain social hierarchies rather than protect the defenseless. Bennett demonstrates that what appears as divine concern for justice may mask human manipulation designed to preserve existing power structures. His analysis reveals the complex relationship between spiritual authority and social control in ancient communities.
For readers interested in understanding how religious texts intersect with social justice issues, this work offers valuable insights into the ways sacred law can both reflect and reinforce societal inequalities. Bennett's perspective invites deeper reflection on how we interpret ancient wisdom and apply it to contemporary spiritual and ethical questions.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 224 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Sociale wetgeving
- ✓ Explore Social justice
- ✓ Explore Weeskinderen
- ✓ Explore Justice sociale
- ✓ Explore Witwe
- ✓ Explore Social legislation
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Critique sociale
