Triumph of Irony in the Book of Judges
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The Triumph of

Irony in the

Book of Judges

Lillian R. Klein

The Almond Press • 1989

Bible and Literature Series, 14

General Editor: David M. Gunn

(Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia)

Assistant General Editor: Danna Nolan Fewell

(Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, Texas)

Consultant Editors: Elizabeth Struthers Malbon

(Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Virginia)

James G. Williams

(Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York)

First published by Almond Press 1988

Paperback edition 1989

Copyright © 1988, 1989 Sheffield Academic Press

Published by Almond Press

Editorial direction: David M. Gunn

Columbia Theological Seminary

P.O. Box 520, Decatur

GA 30031, U.S.A.

Almond 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

Klein, Lillian R.

The triumph of irony in the Book of Judges.

1. Bible. O.T. Judges—Critical studies

I. Title II. Series

III. Series

222′.3206

ISSN 0309-0787

ISSN 0260-4493

ISBN 1-85075-100-5

ISBN 1-85075-099-8 Pbk

Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Chapter 1

Introduction

Chapter 2

Exposition

The Major Judge Paradigm

Chapter 3

The First Judges

Ehud

Shamgar

Deborah

Chapter 4

Complications

Gideon

Chapter 5

Anti-Climax

Abimelech

Chapter 6

The Minor Judges

The Minor Judge Paradigm

Jephthah

More Minor Judges

Chapter 7

The Last Judge

Samson

Chapter 8

Resolution I

Micah and the Danites

Chapter 9

Resolution II

The Levite and his Concubine

Chapter 10

Resolution III

Judgment

Tribal War of Eradication

Unity without Integrity

Appendix I

Appendix II

Bibliography

Index of Biblical References

Index of Authors

Index of Subjects

Preface

This book has developed out of conversations with Paul Ricœur, and though it has taken an emphasis far removed from that initially projected, I am indebted to Professor Ricœur for the impetus of that discussion. The responsibility for the outcome is entirely my own.

Rather than proposing an interpretation of Judges, I have attempted to set forth the ironic and literary structure of the book and to show how they function in the text. A close analysis of the kinds and modes of irony used and to what effect awaits further studies.

I feel a word about the translations is in order. In attempting to convey implicit meanings, I have rendered the text in a manner counter to contemporary translation theory, which advocates phrase translation. I have translated word for word, including redundant pronouns where pronoun number is important. For readability, words which seem redundant in English translation have been placed within parentheses, and words which have been added for clarity in brackets. I acknowledge that my translations do not reflect the aesthetic quality of the Hebrew text and hope that the discussion based on these translations will somewhat compensate and perhaps encourage reading in the original.

For those students of Hebrew who can profit by following the translations ...

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About Triumph of Irony in the Book of Judges

The Triumph of Irony in the Book of Judges focuses on the literary quality of the book of Judges. Klein extrapolates the theme of irony in the book of Judges, seeking to prove that it is the main structural element. She points out how this literary device adds to the overall meaning and tone of the book, and what it reveals about the culture of the time. Chronologically divided into sections, Klein explores the narrative and commentates on the literary properties throughout, such as plot, character development, and resolution, as well as the main theme of irony. This volume includes notes, bibliography, and indexes to guide research and study.

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