the BOOK of the JUDGES

An Integrated Reading

Barry G. Webb

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

Supplement Series 46

For Alison

Copyright © 1987 Sheffield Academic Press

Published by JSOT Press

JSOT Press is an imprint of

Sheffield Academic Press Ltd

The University of Sheffield

343 Fulwood Road

Sheffield S10 3BP

England

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Webb, Barry G.

The book of the Judges: an integrated reading.—(Journal for the study of the Old Testament supplement series, ISSN 0309-0787; 46).

1. Bible. O.T. Judges—Criticism, interpretation, etc.

I. Title II. Series

222′.3206 BS1305.2

ISBN 1-85075-034-3

ISBN 1-85075-035-1 Pbk

Contents

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

A Note on the Translation

PART I

Chapter 1 RATIONALE

Chapter 2 SOUNDING, 10:6–12:7

Conclusions: The Meaning of the Jephthah Story

Guidelines for a similar analysis of the book as a whole

PART II

Chapter 3 OVERTURE, 1:1–3:6

The coherence of 1:1–3:6

Summary remarks on the coherence of 1:1–3:6

1:1–3:6 as an introduction to the book

Prospectus: 1:1–3:6 and the theme of the book

Chapter 4 VARIATIONS, 3:7–16:31

Othniel

Ehud (plus Shamgar)

Barak

Gideon (plus Abimelech, Tola, Jair)

Jephthah (plus Ibzan, Elon, Abdon)

Samson

Summary remarks on 3:7–16:31 as an integrated narrative sequence

Chapter 5 CODA, 17:1–21:25

Cultic chaos: Micah and the Danites

Moral chaos: the outrage at Gibeah and its consequences

Chapters 17–21 as the conclusion of the book

PART III

Chapter 6 CONCLUSIONS

Bibliography

Index of Biblical References

Index of Authors

Acknowledgments

The present work is a revision of a PhD thesis based on work carried out in the Department of Biblical Studies of the University of Sheffield, and submitted in February, 1985.

My thanks are due, first of all, to my supervisors, David Clines and David Gunn, for being so generous with their time, and for the constant stimulation and encouragement they provided during my research, and to Melinda Fowl and others, for being such efficient and uncomplaining typists. A more general word of thanks is due to all the members of the Department of Biblical Studies at Sheffield for the congenial and stimulating atmosphere created by their openness and helpfulness in so many ways.

Substantial financial assistance was provided by the Tyndale Fellowship for Biblical and Theological Research, and this was supplemented by contributions from the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, from the Brisbane and Sydney branches of the Christian Brethren Research Fellowship, from Burwood Brethren Assembly, and from a band of faithful friends and supporters from Moore Theological College.

All these, and a host of others, whether they knew it or not, were ministers of God to me. I am thankful to Him, and to them.