The Loss of the Ancestral Inheritance.... Land Loss During the Monarchical Era in Israel, and its Relevance for South Africa

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to investigate and analyse the issue of land loss. This study will focus on the monarchical era in particular as described in the Old Testament as well as its relevance for South Africa. At first the study highlights the significance of land and its ownership from an Old Testament perspective. Contrary to that ideal of land ownership, the aspect of land dispossession by those in power is a major concern in this work especially during the monarchical era. This is coupled with some detrimental effects it has on people's social lives both during the Monarchical era and the contemporary South African contexts. The term "land ownership" as used in both contexts is perceived as the basic human right to property while "land loss" on the other hand, is understood as the violation of that basic human right.