Reading the Hebrew Bible with Animal Studies

Ken Stone is Professor of Bible, Culture, and Hermeneutics at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

"Most people who read the Hebrew Bible don't see or hear the animals. But they are everywhere, and they are complicated. This book looks at all of them—the good, the bad, and the ugly animals. Well worth reading if you are interested in literary studies, Biblical studies, or animals."—Laura Hobgood, Southwestern University "This was a book begging to be written, and I can think of no one better qualified to write it than Ken Stone. He has descended more deeply into the field of animal studies than any other scholar of the Hebrew Bible. His ecological sensibilities, theoretical acumen, and incisive exegetical arguments open up fresh perspectives on overread biblical texts and tired scholarly debates."—Stephen D. Moore, The Theological School, Drew University "Reading the Hebrew Bible with Animal Studies is an excellent book that offers a much-needed interface between biblical and animal studies....[Stone] gives biblical texts—and animals—the opportunity to contribute to both a complete reimagining of the Hebrew Bible and contemporary debates in animal studies. This monograph is poised to become a key work in the field."—Anne Létourneau, Reading Religion "Stone's monograph succeeds on several fronts. It serves as an excellent introduction to the field of animal studies for scholars who may not be familiar with this discipline. His applications of these ideas to biblical passages are always interesting, and often illuminate the text in new ways. What's more, the monograph offers a roadmap for scholars working with contemporary theories of all kinds as to how these theories can be introduced into biblical studies while building on the foundation of historical-critical scholarship."—Brandon R. Grafius, Horizons in Biblical Theology "This superb book fills a void in scholarship and deserves to be widely read....I strongly recommend it for scholars, pastors, graduate students, and other interested readers who care about animals and the future of our planet."––Barry R. Huff, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology "Ken Stone's groundbreaking work...invites readers to enter into the animal world to discover the contributions that animals have made not only to life in ancient Israel but also to the understanding of the Bible's poems and stories....[This] wonderfully crafted, insightful, and accessible book is a 'must read' for all humans on Planet Earth."—Carol J. Dempsey, OP, Horizons "In the context of a growing interest in the multiple relationships between human and other animals, this is an important contribution to the literature, which should enjoy a broad readership."—Philip J. Sampson, Journal of Animal Ethics

• Introduction: Reading the Hebrew Bible with Animal Studies1. Israel's Companion Species and the Creation of Bibles2. Tracking the Dogs of Exodus3. The Chimera of Biblical Sacrifice4. From Animal Hermeneutics to Animal Ethics5. Israel's Wild Neighbors in the Zoological Gaze6. The Psalmist, the Primatologist, and the Place of Animals in Biblical Religion7. Reading the Hebrew Bible in an Age of Extinction