Homicide in the Biblical World

Pamela Barmash is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible and Biblical Hebrew at Washington University in St. Louis. She received her PhD from Harvard University and her Rabbinic Ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary. She has published in various journals including Vetus Testamentum, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Jewish Quarterly Review, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Hebrew Studies.

• Introduction; 1. A first case, the story of Cain and Abel; 2. Blood feud and state control; 3. The development of the cities of refuge in the Bible; 4. Pollution and homicide; 5. Typologies of homicide; 6. Lex Talionis; 7. International law in the Ancient Near East; 8. Conclusion; 9. Excursus aeven: cuneiform sources on homicide.

'Pamela Barmash's new book is compulsory reading for biblical scholars in general, scholars of biblical law in particular, and scholars of ancient Near Eastern law and culture. It is not far-reaching to claim that this book is essential for every scholar of ancient cultural and legal systems … Barmash's study of homicide in the biblical world is a shining example of comparative research.' Review of Biblical Literature