Animals as Social Construction in the Hebrew Bible

Although often under-emphasized, animals were one of the central elements around which ancient societies revolved, including the society that composed and drafted the biblical texts. Through three central moments-creation, law, and sacrifice-this volume investigates how biblical texts concur to construct a social image of animals.

Through the hermeneutical lens of human-animal studies, this volume explores how biblical texts help construct a precise image of animals and assign them a precise role within society. In this regard, three central moments are considered:
(a) Creation narratives: Examining the two creation narratives shows how these are functional in creating a hierarchy within the animal kingdom, elevating domestic animals over other animals and positioning humans as God's privileged interlocutors.
(b) Biblical Legislation: The second part explores how legal codes frame animals as 'objects' in a human-centered relationship, reinforcing a definite hierarchical social order. However, it also reveals instances where animals assume the role of 'legal subjects' with associated responsibilities.
(c) Institution of sacrifices: The third section explores how sacrifices in the Hebrew Bible shape the perception of animals and determine their social role. A comparative approach between ritual texts in Leviticus and references to sacrifices in prophetic texts opens up different perspectives on the suffering of animals during sacrifices.

Autorentext
Davide D'Amico received his Master's degree in History of Religions from the University of Rome Sapienza with a thesis on the historical traditions and literary motifs of the stories about Ishmael (Genesis 16; 21). Subsequently, he received his PhD in Biblical Studies from the University of Aachen in May 2023, with a thesis on the social construction of animals in the Hebrew Bible. During his studies, he held research stays at the Pontifical Biblical Institute (Rome) and at the Polis Institute and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. is the author of several articles in international journals.