Male Circumcision and Female Bodies in Jewish and Christian Communities of Ancient Egypt: Females and...

— —

Dr Rebecca Harrocks

Male Circumcision and Female Bodies in Jewish and Christian Communities of Ancient Egypt

Females and Foreskins

Dr Rebecca Harrocks

$180

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

T.& T.Clark Ltd
13 November 2025

Christianity; Sacred texts

Series: The Library of Second Temple Studies

Rebecca Harrocks presents some of the earliest evidence of male circumcision from ancient Egypt, exploring the connotations and implications for the Jewish and Christian communities of Alexandria and Egypt. The relevance of male circumcision for Jewish females is evident in Hebrew scripture, especially in relation to marriage, procreation, and parenthood, but little attention has been paid to women in scholarship. Harrocks addresses this oversight by considering not only what male circumcision meant for men, but also what it meant for women and the female body.

Drawing on a range of ancient literature, inscriptions, art, and human remains, the role of male circumcision in ancient Egypt is considered as a backdrop to its practice by the Israelites, who some in antiquity claimed adopted it from the Egyptians. Harrocks concludes with an exploration of the changes and consequences for Jewish customs suggested in early Christian texts – especially the Pauline writings – regarding the female body and a woman’s interaction with her community, and highlights nuances to New Perspective thought given this broader gender awareness.

By: Dr Rebecca Harrocks
Imprint: T.& T.Clark Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 236mm, Width: 154mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 540g
ISBN: 9780567722690
ISBN 10: 0567722694
Series: The Library of Second Temple Studies
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 13 November 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Rebecca Harrocks completed her doctorate in Theology at Kings College London, UK. Her research interests include motherhood, community, and religious identity.