Biblical Law Codes in Creative Tension (A Postcolonial Womanist Reading)

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About the Book The present book is about the Israelite law codes found in the Hebrew Bible. In Hebrew Bible there are casuistic laws and apodictic laws. Casuistic laws unlike apodictic are not in favor of all the weaker sections of the society especially Women. It focuses not only to identify the roots and further growth of the Biblical law system but also serves as a guiding tool in knowing the influence of AWA (Ancient West Asia) legal system on it.

The author has attempted to re- examine the position of the women in the Pentateuchal law codes especially Covenant code, to explore how the re- reading of the laws by employing postcolonial womanist approach can lead for a better and harmonious society and to seek a space where members of our differing worlds can be involved and be partakers in creating a world of freedom, world of balanced coexistence, and a world free from exploitation or suppression.

The projection of the book is to initially bring out the position of women in the Deuteronomic and Holiness codes and then to investigate how the position of women in the Book of the Covenant Code differs from that of the other two codes. Additionally, it provides a platform to re-read the legal text that affirms the right to independence & freedom and to explicate how the postcolonial womanist readings of the laws can contribute & promote a society for its betterment. This scholarly work is a must have for Lawmakers, Sociologists, Religious leaders, Christian Laity, Church Clergies, Institutions, Students and Researchers.

About the Author The author is an ordained minister of Christian Evangelistic Assemblies. His theological journey started in the year 1992. He did Bachelor of Divinity from Faith Theological Seminary, MTh (Old Testament) from Union Biblical Seminary, and Doctorate in Theology from United Theological College; all these Colleges and Seminaries being affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University). The author served with Gospel for Asia in different capacities (1996- 1999) and presently serving at New Theological College as Assistant Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs. Some of his articles are: Ruth, a Moabite Gentile Woman blessing the nation Israel: A Subaltern Reading: Qumran Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible and its significance in Christian writings. Few more of his works are in the pipeline and will be published in the near future like Deuteronomy and Women rights: A Subaltern reading: Kingship in Israel: Traditions in Conflict?

Introduction The Biblical law codes like election and covenant is one of the fundamental and central realities in the life of the Hebrew people. They are apodictic and casuistic in style. The Casuistic laws are pre-dominant both in AWA (Middle Assyrian laws, Code of Hammurabi's etc) and Biblical laws. The laws instituted in the book of the Covenant Code (Exodus 20-23) especially casuistic laws are quite different from that of the Deuteronomic Code (Deuteronomy 12-26) and Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26). Within the legal Codes of the Pentateuch, unlike male, the position of women varies. The position of women in the Covenant Code differs from the Deuteronomic Code'. The Covenant Code unlike the Deuteronomic Code enforces the degradation of women and inscribes male power. The legal terminology used when dealing with women and her sexuality is concerned far more with property than with gender. The Laws in the Deuteronomic Code had a progressive and positive attitude to the legal status of women, which is not found in the Covenant Code.

**Contents and Sample Pages**