Jewish Monotheism and Slavery

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.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. No other masters: the incompatibility of being Jewish and a slave; 3. The humanity of slaves: master-slave relationships; 4. Humans as slaves of god: slavery as metaphor and reality; Conclusions.

Product details

• Authors: Catherine Hezser, Catherine (School of Oriental and African Hezser, Catherine (School of Oriental and African Studies Hezser, Hezser Catherine
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 14.03.2024
• EAN: 9781009500333
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0950033-3
• No. of pages: 72
• Series: Elements in Religion and Monotheism
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / General, Theology, Christianity, Christian theology, Judaism, Nature & existence of God, Slavery & abolition of slavery, Slavery and abolition of slavery, Judaism: theology, Nature and existence of God and of the Divine