Self-interest or communal interest : an ideology of leadership in the Gideon, Abimelech, and Jephthah narratives (Judg. 6-12) / by Elie Assis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Assis, Eliyahu.

Series:

Supplements to Vetus Testamentum ; v. 106.

Supplements to Vetus Testamentum, 0083-5889 ; 106

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Leadership--Biblical teaching.

Leadership.

Bible. O.T. Judges VI-XII--Commentaries.

Bible.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (280 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book provides an extensive literary analysis of the Gideon, Abimelech and Jephthah narratives in Judges 6-12, and discloses the main intention of these stories. The book consists of three chapters, each of which analyses the respective biblical narratives. These narratives show the two parameters by which the Israelite leaders are examined, namely their loyalty to God and their altruistic character: A leader who prefers his own interest is doomed to his own demise and brings devastation upon his people. Judges does not establish a preferred governmental model, instead it considers the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of regimes. In the epilogue it is suggested that these narratives are conveniently placed in the pre-monarchic period when the question of the regime becomes part of the political debate. The book of Judges offers criteria for the choice of the right leader.

Contents:

Preliminary material

Introduction

The Gideon Account (6–8)

The Abimelech Account (9)

The Jephthah Account (10:6–12:7)

Ideology in the Historical Context

Bibliography

Index of Biblical References.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-280-86801-5

9786610868018

1-4294-5298-6

90-474-0737-7

1-4337-0420-X

OCLC:

171561547

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789047407379 DOI