This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Endris, V. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Yahweh versus Baal: A Narrative-Critical Reading of the Gideon/Abimelech Narrative *

3205 Arbor Ct., Rowlett, TX 75089, USA

The story of Gideon and his son Abimelech lies at the center of the book of Judges. This article offers a reading of this narrative that lends a clearer understanding of the book as a whole. Gideon and Abimelech are seen as human representatives of Yahweh and Baal. In this way, the narrative is seen as a fight between the two gods for Israel's fidelity. Yahweh defeats Baal, yet the Israelites still reject Yahweh and turn to the defeated god. After this, Yahweh's activity with the Israelites is less frequent and more ambiguous. The text suggests that Israel's problems with fidelity will be solved once a human representative of Yahweh sits on the throne of Israel.

Key Words: Gideon • Abimelech • Judges • narrative criticism • Judges 6—9.

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Vol. 33, No. 2, 173-195 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0309089208099255


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?