T&T Clark Psalms Book 2: An Earth Bible Commentary: 'As a Doe Groans'

Arthur Walker-Jones presents an earth-focused reading of the second book of Psalms by focusing upon the many non-human animals that appear repeatedly in the Psalms. Walker-Jones looks at foxes, sheep, goats, cattle, doves, snakes, lions, snails, dogs and deer, which all appear in Psalm 42-72, taking into account that many of these animals co-evolved with humans and created the particular ecological niche of the highlands east of the Mediterranean. Walker-Jones moves beyond the standard treatment of animals as mere metaphors for human concerns or background to humans stories that can characterise study of animals in biblical texts and draws on the interdisciplinary field of animal studies, incorporating this into ecocritical analysis. Walker-Jones shows how these two approaches have much in common, including recognizing that the oppression and liberation of humans is interrelated with the oppression and liberation of Earth and all its creatures.