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Hezser, Catherine (2024) Jewish Monotheism and Slavery. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press. (Elements in Religion and Monotheism)

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Abstract

Biblical monotheism imagines God as a slave master who owns and has total control over humans as his slaves, who are expected to show obedience to him. The theological use of slavery metaphors has a limited value, however, and is deeply problematic from the perspective of real-life slave practices. Ancient authors already supplemented the metaphor of God as a slave master with other images and emphasized God's difference from human slave owners. Ancient and modern experiences of and attitudes toward slavery determined the understanding and applicability of the slavery metaphors. This Element examines the use of slavery metaphors in ancient Judaism and Christianity in the context of the social reality of slavery, modern abolitionism, and historical-critical approaches to the ancient texts.

Item Type: Authored Books
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of History, Religions & Philosophies > Department of Religions & Philosophies
ISBN: 9781009260497
Copyright Statement: This Element is free online from 23rd February 2024 - 8th March 2024.
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009260497
Date Deposited: 29 Feb 2024 08:14
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/41502

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