An Ethical View of Human-Animal Relations in the Ancient Near East

An Ethical View of Human-Animal Relations in the Ancient Near East Features:

• Provides the first comprehensive study of these texts from an ethical perspective.
• Examines proverbs, popular aphorisms, myths, epic literature, wisdom literature, historiography, prophecy, and law codes.
• Applies methodology from current contemporary biblical and ancient Near Eastern scholarship and human-animal ethics, thereby raising new questions that lead to fresh insights.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Fauna in Ancient Sumerian Proverbs: The Role Animals Played in Shaping Southern
3. Sumerian Faunal Fables: Talking Animals and Educational Lessons
4. Human Relations with the Animal Kingdom in Mesopotamian Literary Genres
5. Animals in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Law Codes
6. Human-Animal Relations in Biblical Narrative and Historiography
7. Human-Animal Relations in Classical Prophecy
8. The Place and Role of Animals in the Psalms and Biblical Wisdom Literature
9. Conclusion