“This is an excellent introduction to law through biblical stories. At the same time, it is also a wonderful introduction to the Hebrew Bible through legal thinking.”
— Vered Karti Shemtov, Stanford University
“In 127 crystal-clear readings, at once accessible and erudite, Daphne Barak-Erez has given us more than a contemporary guide to reading the Bible, or even a non-fundamentalist handbook for applying the Bible to 21st-century law: this is a textbook in how to think historically, humanely, and honestly.”
— Rabbi Jason Rubenstein, Howard M. Holtzmann Jewish Chaplain at Yale
“. . . takes well known biblical stories and trains the attention onto their legal significance, thereby offering a fresh and fascinating way of understanding them. Barak-Erez’ deep and deft analysis challenges us to think about the legal issues as if they happened today, understand their intricacy, and reflect upon the outcome.”
— Pnina Lahav, Boston University
"The Bible, much like the law itself, has always needed learned interpreters to help us navigate our way through the mazes of its myriad meanings. Barak-Erez is one such guide and her book is full of wisdom—and wisdom, as we are told, is worth more than gold (Proverbs 16:16)."— Law & Liberty
“Daphne Barak-Erez illuminates our thinking about a myriad of contemporary problems by offering us concise analysis of parallels from the Hebrew Bible. Her clarity, even-handedness, and pragmatic narratives enable readers to appreciate the longevity of the challenges of judging, governance, and fairness and the reasons to know but not be locked into ancient responses.”
— Judith Resnik, Arthur Liman Professor of Law, Yale Law School