Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics
The Book of Judges is a continuation of Israel’s history in the promised land, beginning from the death of Joshua to the time or before the birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel (1 Sam 7:15). In Judges, we find a cycle of disobedience, infidelity, punishment, repentance and deliverance (3:7-16:3...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2024
|
| In: |
Old Testament essays
Year: 2024, Volume: 37, Issue: 2, Pages: 1-19 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bibel. Juez 20
/ Hermenéutica
/ Guerra civil
/ Postcolonialismo
|
| IxTheo Classification: | FD Contextual theology HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Fidelity
B African Biblical Hermeneutics B injustices B Benjamín B Civil War B Domestic Violence B YHWH Alone B Deuteronomistic History B Crimes |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | The Book of Judges is a continuation of Israel’s history in the promised land, beginning from the death of Joshua to the time or before the birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel (1 Sam 7:15). In Judges, we find a cycle of disobedience, infidelity, punishment, repentance and deliverance (3:7-16:31). Chapters 17-21 shed light on the social and religious history of Israel. They describe the cultic, moral anarchy of the era "when there was no king in Israel" (Judg 17:6; 19:1) and a time "when people did whatever was right in their own eyes" (21:25). In Judg 20, Israel overacts and revenges against injustices of Gibeah’s crime (Judg 19). By doing these, she plunges into civil war against Benjamin. This affirms, in a way, the tragedy of confederacy without visionary leaders who fear the Lord, a phenomenon common in today’s African societies. In the past, European and North American exegetes have interpreted Judg 19-20 historically, using various "western interpretative models." Conscious also of issues of wars and violence in Africa, this study analyses Judg 20 from the perspective of African Biblical Hermeneutics and as a post-colonial approach within the overall context of the theology of Deuteronomistic History (Joshua-Kings). It argues against incessant tragic phenomena of civil wars and domestic violence in African faith communities. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2312-3621 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Old Testament essays
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.17159/2312-3621/2024/v37n2a5 |