Paperback Release: Bloomsbury Press

The Body as Property Physical Disfigurement in Biblical Law

Sandra Jacobs "This book succeeds in shedding light on a fascinating topic. The author engages very well with Mesopotamian evidence of different kinds and displays an impressive knowledge of later rabbinic materials. This book is well researched . . . and will prove a good resource for scholars" T. M. Lemos, University of Western Ontario, Canada, Journal of Theological Studies, vol. 65

20% off with this flyer! Paperback | 288 pp | August 2015 | 9780567665133 | £28.99 £23.19 The Body As Property indicates that physical disfigurement functioned in biblical law to verify legal property acquisition, when changes in the status of dependents were formalized. It is based on the reality the cuneiform script, in particular, was developed in Sumer and Mesopotamia for the purpose of record keeping: to provide legal proof of ownership where the inscription of a tablet evidenced the sale, or transfer, of property. Legitimate property acquisition was as important in biblical law, where physical disfigurements marked dependents, in a similar way that the veil or the head covering identified a wife or concubine in ancient Assyrian and Judean societies. This is primarily substantiated in the accounts of prescriptive disfigurements: namely circumcision and the piercing of a slave's ear, both of which were required only when a son, or slave, was acquired permanently. It is further argued that legal entitlement was relevant also to the punitive disfigurements recorded in Exodus 21:22-24, and Deuteronomy 25:11-12, where the physical violation of women was of concern solely as an infringement of male property rights. Sandra Jacobs is lecturer in the department of Theology and Religious Studies at King's College London, UK.

Order Form To order this book, please fill out the following form and return to the address below. ISBN 9780567665133

Title The Body as Property

Discount Code*

Price

GLR GB5

£23.19

Please remember to add Postage and Packaging: UK: £3.50. Postage is free for orders of £25 and over. Europe: £4.50 per order + £1 per item. Rest of World: £7.50 per order + £1 per item

Quantity

Total

P&P Grand Total

*

This offer is available to individuals only. It is not available in the Americas, Australia or New Zealand. Web code only valid for books showing as available on website.

Payment Details I enclose a cheque made payable to Macmillan Distribution (MDL) Please debit VISA / MASTERCARD / MAESTRO / AMERICAN EXPRESS / JCB (delete as necessary) Card Number: Issue No. (Maestro Only): Start Date (Maestro Only): Expiry Date: Security Code: All credit card payments are processed by our distributor, Macmillan Distribution (MDL)

Contact and Delivery Details Name Address

Post Code Country Telephone Email

From time to time we would like to send you details of relevant Bloomsbury Group products and special offers by post. If you WOULD NOT like to receive this information please tick here. If you WOULD like to receive book information and special offers by email, please tick here and make sure you provide your email address above.

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

For full details of our Privacy & Cookie Policy, visit www.bloomsbury.com/privacy-policy

Registered in England No 01984336

How to Order Web: Enter the discount code above at the checkout on www.bloomsbury.com Post: Return this form to Macmillan Distribution Ltd, Brunel Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke RG21 6XT, UK Telephone: Call +44(0)1256 302699 quoting the discount code above