This idea may be rooted in the Ancient Near Eastern political sphere in which sovereigns would single out vassals for the status of special property; and in fact the word used is a word we do find in Exodus.

这个观点也许根植在古代近东的政治氛围中,统治者会将纳贡者独立出来放在特有财产的地位上,并且实际上用在这里的词是我们在,出埃及记中的看到的词语。

耶鲁公开课 - 旧约导论课程节选

In what else could they be rooted?

还能接受什么思想？

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选