Sign-In
Cart
Judges: Once Upon a Time in Israel
Hardcover
Series: Readings
ISBN13: 9781914490316
Publisher: Sheffield Phoenix Press Ltd
Published: Jun 23 2023
Pages: 164
Weight: 0.90
Height: 0.44 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Judges is the Bible's end-of-the-frontier epic. It depicts the first generations of Israelite life in Canaan and portrays a set of memorable protagonists, the judges, who were wild enough to tame a wilderness, but too wild to persist into the next era of royal courts, central shrines, and political states. The core of Judges consists of a series of narratives about the outlaws, warlords and war-ladies, mercenaries, and jackleg and priests and prophets from ancient Ephraim whose exploits were recounted in a series of redacted documents that, to the chagrin of pious readers over the centuries, ended up in the Bible, of all places.
There is Ehud, the left-handed assassin on a grim solo labyrinthine mission in and out of an enemy fortress. There is Deborah, the alpha female who, in one chapter, commands an army and, in another, is credited with uttering her eponymous song, which deserves to be counted among the world's great war poetry. There is Jael, the man-slaughtering Bedouin woman who is handy with a hammer. There is Gideon, the insecure hero who leads, in one story, an outnumbered elite band of warriors to victory over an enemy force of uncountable proportions and, in another story, a clannish vendetta filled with torture, arson, and revenge killings. There is the tale of Abimelech which traces the rise and fall of a gangster. There is Jephthah, the outcast summoned to rescue his tribe when they need his desperado skill set, but whose rash vow has fatal consequences for his daughter. Finally, there is Samson, one of folk literature's most memorable characterizations, a walking, talking incarnation of unshaved, unbalanced hyper-masculinity.
This reading of the tales of Judges as a set of adventure stories from the early centuries of alphabetic literacy requires that we dig through mounds of didactic, theological, moralistic, messianic, and nationalistic landfill in order to reclaim the full glory-and horror-of their dark violence and eroticism, as well as to marvel at the coarse folk poetry in the tales' narration and dialogue.
Also in
Bible Studies
The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations
Metzger, Bruce M.
Hardcover
The Apostle and the Empire: Paul's Implicit and Explicit Criticism of Rome
Heilig, Christoph
Hardcover
The Kabbalistic Mirror of Genesis: Commentary on the First Three Chapters
Smith, David Chaim
Paperback
Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds
Fugelsang, John
Hardcover
The King Is Coming Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video: It's Time to Prepare for the Return of Christ
Bevere, John
Paperback
The Jesus Discoveries: 10 Historic Finds That Bring Us Face-To-Face with Jesus
Johnston, Jeremiah J.
Paperback
Revelation: An Insightful Chapter-by-Chapter Journey Through the Book of Revelation
Dewaard, Erica
Paperback
The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion: With Selected Prayers from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
Michalenko, Seraphim
Paperback
Every Thought Captive Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video: How Renewing Your Mind Can Change Your Life
Idleman, Kyle
Paperback
The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus
Strobel, Lee
Paperback
The Promise of Heaven Bible Study Guide: Why You Can Get Excited about Your Eternal Home
Jeremiah, David
Paperback
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Large Print Edition: Discovering God's Love for You (Large Print Edition)
Keller, W. Phillip
Paperback
The Beginner's Bible Study Guide: An Introduction to All 66 Books of the Bible
Trimble, Cameron
Paperback
Revelation: An Insightful Chapter-by-Chapter Journey Through the Book of Revelation
Dewaard, Erica
Hardcover
Nothing Is Impossible with God: Eleven Heroes. One God. Endless Lessons in Overcoming.
Bream, Shannon
Hardcover
Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks, Expanded Edition: A Year-Long Bible Study
Spangler, Ann
Paperback
The Meaning of Marriage Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video, Updated Edition: A Vision for Married and Single People
Keller, Kathy
Keller, Timothy
Paperback
Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World
Armas, Kat
Paperback
Making Your Case for Christ Bible Study Guide: An Action Plan for Sharing What You Believe and Why
Strobel, Lee
Mittelberg, Mark
Paperback
Evidence That Demands a Verdict Bible Study Guide: Jesus and the Gospels
McDowell, Sean
McDowell, Josh
Paperback
Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You
MacArthur, John F.
Paperback
Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter: Expanded Second Edition
Freeman, Lindsay Hardin
Paperback
Brain Games - Large Print Bible Word Search: The Words of Jesus
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
Parables: The Mysteries of God's Kingdom Revealed Through the Stories Jesus Told
MacArthur, John F.
Paperback
No More Boring Bible Study: Why Taking Scripture Seriously Is Easier and More Exciting Than You Think
Womack, Faith
Paperback
The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Philippians: Even When Things Go Wrong, You Can Have Joy
Wiersbe, Warren W.
Paperback
The Westminster Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition with the Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books
John Knox Press, Westminster
Hardcover
Catholic Book of Prayers: Popular Catholic Prayers Arranged for Everyday Use (Large Print Edition)
Fitzgerald, Maurus
Paperback
The Daily 5-Minute Bible Study for Women: 365 Focused, Encouraging Readings
Compiled by Barbour Staff
Paperback
The Last Book: What You Need to Know About Revelation, the Rapture, and the End Times
Kaddis, James
Hardcover
The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible
Cobble, Tara-Leigh
Hardcover
Exploring Ezekiel: The Next Big War, Earth's Final Days, and Your Eternal Destination
Tsarfati, Amir
Paperback
God, AI and the End of History: Understanding the Book of Revelation in an Age of Intelligent Machines
Lennox, John C.
Hardcover
Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today
Sobel, Rabbi Jason
Paperback
The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) about Scripture's Most Controversial Issues
McClellan, Dan
Hardcover
30 Life Principles Bible Study: An Action Plan for Living the Principles Each Day
Stanley, Charles F.
Paperback
Believing Jesus: Are You Willing to Risk Everything? a Journey Through the Book of Acts
Harper, Lisa
Paperback
The Complete Ethiopian Bible in English: The 88 Books Canon Including The Book of Enoch, Jubilees, Meqabyan, Ancient Biblical Apocrypha and More Ortho
Various Ancient Authors
Hardcover
Grace Bible Study Participant's Guide: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine
Lucado, Max
Paperback
Brain Games - Bible Crossword Puzzles: Prayers, Parables & Prophets - Large Print
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
Paperback
My Utmost for His Highest: Updated Language Paperback (a Daily Devotional with 366 Bible-Based Readings)
Chambers, Oswald
Paperback
The Circle Maker Bible Study Participant's Guide: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears
Batterson, Mark
Paperback
El Poder de la Kabbalah: 13 principios para superar los desafíos y alcanzar la realización
Berg, Rav
Paperback
Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs: How the People of the Bible Really Lived
Vos, Howard
Paperback
The Complete Orthodox Ethiopian Bible in English: A Comprehensive Collection of Scriptures and Apocrypha Including the Book of Enoch, Ezras, Jubilees,
Press, Covenant Sacred
Hardcover
Considering Sparrows: What Birds Teach Us about Who We Are, Where We're Going, and the Joy of Following Jesus
Burrell, Kevin
Hardcover
When God Doesn't Fix It Bible Study Guide: Learning to Walk in God's Plans Instead of Our Own
Story, Laura
Paperback
30 Life Principles Bible Study Updated Edition: A 90-Day Action Plan for Living These Principles
Stanley, Charles F.
Paperback
Viviendo Su Voluntad: Cómo El Espíritu Santo Nos Guía a Cumplir Nuestro Propósito Eterno
Franz, Sebastian
Paperback
Resilient Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times
Eldredge, John
Paperback
The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible, Deluxe Edition--Sage Floral Imitation Leather
Cobble, Tara-Leigh
Hardcover
All the Names in the Bible: Comprehensive Index of Every Person and Place in Scripture
Thomas Nelson
Paperback
When God's People Pray Bible Study Participant's Guide: Six Sessions on the Transforming Power of Prayer
Cymbala, Jim
Paperback
Better Ways to Read the Bible: Transforming a Weapon of Harm Into a Tool of Healing
Lambert, Zach W.
Paperback
The Jesus You Can't Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ
MacArthur, John F.
Paperback
La Visión: Una Aterradora Profecía de Los Días Finales del Mundo, Que Ha Comenzado a Manifestarse YA En La Actualidad
Wilkerson, David
Paperback
Reversing Hermon: Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ
Heiser, Michael S.
Paperback
NIV, the Woman's Study Bible, Hardcover, Full-Color: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Thomas Nelson
Hardcover
The Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Tribulation: An End-Times Countdown and What Happens Next
Renner, Rick
Paperback
The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood: How God's Word Consistently Affirms Gender Equality
Payne, Philip Barton
Paperback
Everything You Need Bible Study Guide: Essential Steps to a Life of Confidence in the Promises of God
Jeremiah, David
Paperback
Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters 9
Swindoll, Charles R.
Paperback
Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible, and What He Wants to Do with You
MacArthur, John F.
Paperback