Characters and Characterization in the Book of Judges (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies) - Softcover

 
9780567700537: Characters and Characterization in the Book of Judges (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0567700534 ISBN 13: 9780567700537
Publisher: T&T Clark, 2025

Synopsis

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.

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About the Author

Keith Bodner is Professor of Religious Studies at Crandall University in New Brunswick,Canada. He holds PhD degrees in biblical studies (Universityof Aberdeen) and English Literature (University of Manchester). He serves on the editorialboard of the Journal for the Study of theOld Testament, and is a former section chair (Bakhtin and the BiblicalImagination) for the Society of Biblical Literature. His 2008 book 1 Samuel: A Narrative Commentary wasawarded the R. B. Y. Scott Award from the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies,and his most recent book is Jeroboam'sRoyal Drama (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012).

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Publisher
T&T Clark
Publication date
2025
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0567700534
ISBN 13 
9780567700537
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
290
Editor
Bodner Keith