In the Book of Judges, why, if we view Samson as a heroic Übermensch, do we read his story one way, yet if we read him as a buffoonish and violent oaf, we read the story another way? How does our assessment of the characters of a story, our empathy with them or suspicion of them, shape the way we read it?
This book addresses these questions by analyzing the complex characterization in the Book of Judges, paying attention to an often neglected but important area of study in the Hebrew Bible. Its international group of contributors explore the implications of characterization on storytelling, situating their contributions within the context of literary studies of the Hebrew Bible, and offering multiple perspectives on the many and various characters one encounters in the Book of Judges.
Chapters examine a range of topics, including the relationship between humor, characterization and theology in Judges; the intersection of characterization and ethics through the story of the story of Jephthah’s daughter; why the ‘trickster hero’ Ehud disturbs interpreters; and the ways in which Abimelech’s characterization affects the key narrative themes of succession and kingship in his story.
Contributors Abbreviations Time Would Fail Me to Tell: An Introduction Character Study in the Book of Judges Benjamin J.M. Johnson, LeTourneau University, USA 1. Humor, characterization, and the theology of Judges Joel Kaminsky, Smith College, USA 2. Ehud and Eglon: Cunning Behavior in the Bible Greger Andersson, Örebro University, Sweden 3. Deborah – If Not a Deliverer, What Kind of Leader was She? Yairah Amit, Tel-Aviv University, Israel 4. Blessed Destroyer: The Characterization of Jael as a Warrior in Command and an Instrument of Yahweh Elizabeth P. Backfish, William Jessup University, USA 5. Gideon: Epic Hero, Biblical Judge, and Political Subversive Susan Niditch, Amherst College, USA 6. The Man Who Would Be King Benjamin J.M. Johnson, LeTourneau University, USA 7. A Gileadite Responder: Verbing the Character of Jephthah Tammi J. Schnieder, Claremont Graduate University, USA 8. Jephthah’s Daughters, Ethical and Unethical: Characterization and Ethics David Janzen, Durham University, UK 9. Domesticating Samson Robert Kawashimi, University of Florida, USA 10. Delilah’s Mysterious Role in Samson’s Destiny: The Dynamics of Power, Knowledge, and Mystery Athena Gorospe, Asian Theological Seminary, The Philippines 11. Samson as Everyman in Israel Gregory T.K. Wong, Evangel Seminary, Hong Kong 12. Mother’s Little Helper: Micah and His Big Idea Robin Baker, University of Winchester, UK 13. A Mother, a Son, a Levite and a Tribe (Judg 17–18) Susanne Gillmayr-Bucher, Catholic Theological Private University of Linz, Austria 14. “Of all the characters in scripture, she is the least”: the Levite’s concubine and the discourse of silence Francis Landy, University of Alberta, Canada 15. Six Characters in Search of a Deity: Talking about God in the Book of Judges Keith Bodner, Crandall University, USA Afterword J. Cheryl Exum, University of Sheffield, UK Bibliography Index
Keith Bodner is Professor of Religious Studies and Stuart E. Murray Chair of Christian Studies at Crandall University, Canada. Benjamin J.M. Johnson is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at LeTourneau University, USA.
