Sandals do more work in the Bible than almost any other everyday object. They seal contracts, mark holy ground, signal freedom, and settle disputes over inheritance. Once we know what the shoe meant, several familiar passages change shape. Take off your sandals The most famous instruction comes at the burning bush: “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5) Joshua gets the same order outside…

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