Through this lesson the student will learn how to interpret the stories of the Judges within their social and literary context. This lesson will be continued in Lesson 18.

Bible: Judges 1-5

Bellis, Helpmates, Harlots, and Heroes, pp. 115-23
Coogan, Oxford History of the Biblical World, pp. 132-64

Lecture: Judges I

Handouts: Model of Hospitality

Interpret the story of Deborah and Jael in Judges 4.

Most of the stories in the book of Judges follow the same plot pattern. This is the work of the Deuteronomistic historian who has incorporated these stories into his work. Each individual story, however, presents a unique presentation of a judge and adaptation of the plot pattern. Your essay should emphasize the unique meaning of the particular story in Judges 4. In this regard, your interpretation should address the specific literary and social role of the characters in the story.

Most of the stories of the Judges follow the same cyclical pattern of apostasy - punishment - mercy - redemption. What meaning is communicated by repeating this pattern through several stories? What message might the original audience (perhaps exiles in Babylon preparing to return to Palestine) have heard? What are the stories communicating about God and the Israelites?

Other questions for discussion are raised in the lecture.

Most of the literature on this period focuses on the Israelite settlement (see the bibliography of the previous lesson). Listed below are books that address other issues of this period.

T. R. Hobbs. A Time for War: A Study of Warfare in the Old Testament. Wilmington: Michael Glazier, 1989.

S. Bendor. The Social Structure of Ancient Israel. Jerusalem Biblical Studies 7. Jerusalem: Simor, 1996.

David C. Hopkins. The Highlands of Canaan: Agricultural Life in the Early Iron Age. Social World of Biblical Antiquity Series 3. Sheffield: Almond, 1985.