Jacobson's first five novels all focused on South Africa. His writing focus then shifted to moral and ethical issues involving all of humanity. Although he had no interest in learning the Bible as a child, he developed a strong interest in the Old Testament as an adult. In "The Rape of Tamar", he retells the story of the rape of Tamar by her half-brother Amnon, the brother of Absolom. The book was adapted into a play called "Yonadeb", after the narrative character in the book, and was produced in London in 1985.