Animals, power, and intersectionality in the books of Samuel Suzanna Millar

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Millar, Suzanna R., author.

Series:

Bible and the humanities

The Bible and the humanities

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Samuel--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Animals in the Bible.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford Oxford University Press [2026]

Summary:

Animals pervade the books of Samuel. Though their presence often goes unnoticed, they are integral players in the society narrated. 'Animals, Power, and Intersectionality in the Books of Samuel' draws on scholarship in animal studies, power, and intersectionality, to highlight the role of animals in the intersectional power dynamics of Samuel

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Series

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction

I.1 Introduction

I.2 Why this book?

I.3 The text(s) of Samuel

I.4 Overview of chapters

1 Understanding Animals, Power, and Intersectionality

1.1 Animals

1.1.1 The "animal turn" in scholarship

1.1.2 Problems with the term "animal"

1.1.3 Animals as players in society

1.1.4 Conclusion

1.2 Power

1.2.1 Foucault for ancient animals?

1.2.2 Power as relational, multi-leveled, dynamic, and tied to knowledge

1.2.3 Conclusion

1.3 Intersectionality

1.3.1 Intersectionality within socio-cultural research

1.3.2 Animals in intersectional research

1.3.3 An analytic framework: Five modes of intersection

1.4 Conclusion

2 The Power of Killing: Animal and Human Sacrifice in the Stories of Eli, Samuel, and Saul

2.1 The power of killing

2.2 Eli's precarious power

2.2.1 Hannah's sacrifice (1 Samuel 1): A boy and a bull

2.2.2 The Elides' sacrifices (1 Samuel 2): Taking the fat

2.2.3 Conclusion

2.3 Samuel's precarious power

2.3.1 Samuel's sacrifice at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7): A spotted suckling lamb

2.3.2 Samuel's sacrifice at a high place (1 Samuel 9): The thigh and "that which is upon it"

2.3.3 Saul's slaughter of oxen (1 Samuel 11): Fragmented bodies

2.3.4 Conclusion

2.4 Saul's precarious power

2.4.1 Saul's preemptive sacrifice (1 Samuel 13): Seven days you will wait

2.4.2 Further slaughters in the Philistine war (1 Samuel 14): The consumption of blood and near-sacrifice of Jonathan

2.4.3 The Amalekite slaughters (1 Samuel 15): The best of flocks and men

2.4.4 The slaughter at Endor (1 Samuel 28): A necromancer between life and death

2.4.5 Conclusion

2.5 Conclusion

3 The Power of Taking: The Acquisition of Animals and Humans in Samuel's Stories of Kingship

3.1 Introduction: Taking animals and humans in the books of Samuel

3.2 A king develops his power: The plunder of animals and humans in 1 Samuel 23-30

3.2.1 Animal plunder in David's rise

3.2.1.1 David at Keilah (1 Sam 23:1-13)

3.2.1.2 David at Carmel (1 Sam 25:2-42)

3.2.1.3 David at Ziklag (1 Sam 27:1-12)

3.2.2 Human and animal plunder: David and the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30)

3.2.3 Conclusion

3.3 A king consolidates his power: Conscription and taxation of animals and humans in 1 Samuel 8

3.3.1 Charioteers and horses (1 Sam 8:11)

3.3.2 Slaves and livestock (1 Sam 8:16-17)

3.3.3 Conclusion

3.4 A king abuses his power: The theft of animals and humans in 2 Samuel 11-12

3.4.1 Taking and consuming the lamb (2 Sam 12:1-4 on a literal level)

3.4.1.1 Animals as economic assets (2 Sam 12:1-3)

3.4.1.2 Animals as sentient property (2 Sam 12:3)

3.4.1.3 Animals as gifts in hospitality codes (2 Sam 12:4)

3.4.1.4 Animals as violable flesh (2 Sam 12:4)

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (viewed on December 8, 2025)

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9780198974017

0198974019

9780198974024

0198974027

OCLC:

1559686135

Publisher Number:

CIPO000326427

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license