This book investigates the complex and often contradictory role the Bible has played in both the colonization of Indigenous peoples and the subsequent movements for their rights and land justice. Mark G. Brett, a scholar of Hebrew Bible and postcolonial theory, examines the historical intersection of biblical interpretation and colonial policy. He utilizes a range of historical case studies, specifically focusing on the Australian context of Mabo and the broader global implications of biblical rhetoric in settler-colonial societies. The text argues that the Bible functions as a contested site of meaning, capable of reinforcing dispossession while simultaneously providing a framework for liberation and legal recognition.

Experts in the field of postcolonial biblical studies recognize this work as a significant contribution to the intersection of theology and human rights. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's meticulous attention to the nuances of legal and religious history.