Biblical Judgments: New Legal Readings in the Hebrew Bible

Biblical Judgments is a book that looks at the Hebrew Bible to understand law and government, social justice, and human rights. It discusses questions such as what modern-day governmental regulation can learn from the exercise of food rationing in Egypt, how social distancing in the time of Covid-19 compares with people sent outside the camp as a precautionary measure against bible-era plagues, and what can promoters of social justice glean from the demands made to Moses that daughters should also inherit from their father. Barak-Erez draws upon famous court decisions from around the world to root her analysis in modern law.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2024
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Biblical Judgments invites readers to explore contemporary dilemmas of law, government, social justice, and human rights through the lens of a text that has profoundly shaped Western society: the Hebrew Bible. By focusing on biblical narratives and literature rather than traditional interpretations of biblical law, Daphne Barak-Erez is able to transcend historical norms and delve into the profound insights that Old Testament stories offer regarding pressing issues. She addresses thought-provoking questions such as: What lessons can modern-day governmental regulation draw from the historical practice of food rationing in Egypt during Pharaoh's dream of a future famine? How does the concept of social distancing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic compare with the practice of sending individuals outside the camp as a precautionary measure against biblical plagues? What insights can promoters of social justice glean from the demands made to Moses regarding inheritance rights for women, when biblical law did not recognize such rights?

Rather than presenting a historical analysis, Barak-Erez grounds her examination in modern law by drawing upon renowned court decisions from across the globe. The book is organized by subject matter, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of how the themes of law and government, judging and judges, human rights and social justice, criminal law, private law, and family and inheritance law are presented through a diverse range of stories. In recounting the captivating narratives of the Hebrew Bible, Biblical Judgments uncovers their inherent legal tensions and provides valuable insights into contemporary legal dilemmas.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472056583