Psalms Book 2: An Earth Bible Commentary - by Arthur Walker-Jones

Book Synopsis

Arthur Walker-Jones presents an Earth-focused reading of the second book of Psalms, focusing upon the many nonhuman animals that appear repeatedly within the text. In the first commentary to explore the implications of the natural and cultural history of animals for the interpretation of Psalms, Walker-Jones moves beyond the standard treatment of animals as mere metaphors for human concerns, or background to human stories.

Instead, Walker-Jones draws upon the interdisciplinary field of animal studies, incorporating this into ecocritical analysis and arguing for the similarity between the two approaches, including recognizing that the oppression and liberation of humans is interrelated with the oppression and liberation of Earth and all its creatures. Walker-Jones looks at foxes, sheep, goats, cattle, doves, snakes, lions, snails, dogs, and deer, which all appear in Psalms 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. Perceiving Earth in various ways-as refuge, as enemy, as Rock, and as fertile and joyous-this volume brings an entirely new ecological perspective to the Psalms.

Review Quotes

Drawing from zooarchaeology, paleoanthropology, and animal studies, as well as employing the best of Psalms scholarship, Arthur Walker-Jones offers a rich interdisciplinary study of Psalms 42-72. It is one of the most sophisticated yet engagingly written commentaries in the Earth Bible Commentary series to date. After reading Walker-Jones's commentary, you will not read the Psalms the same way ever again.
William P. Brown, Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary, USA

The subtitle of Psalms Book Two: An Earth Bible Commentary-As A Doe Groans-points to the unique emphasis that Arthur Walker Jones gives to this ecological commentary on Psalms 42-72. He characterizes animals as co-evolved and hence his interdisciplinary and intersectional studies bring the same interpretive lens to humans and animals in his eco-critical reading of the Book of Psalms 42-72. A unique approach in the series to date.
Elaine Wainwright, Professor Emeritus, University of Auckland, New Zealand

About the Author

Arthur Walker-Jones is United Church of Canada Research Chair in Contemporary Theology and Professor of Biblical Literature at the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.