Language:
English
Year of publication:
2023
Titel der Quelle:
Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Period
Angaben zur Quelle:
54,3 (2023) 304-315
Keywords:
Judith (Apocryphal book) Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Ethnicity in post-biblical literature
;
Jews Identity
;
In post-biblical literature
;
Mountains Religious aspects
;
Judaism
Abstract:
This article argues that the book of Judith seeks to define the Jews as a “mountain people.” It suggests that Judith advances this idea through numerous direct statements by prominent characters, particularly Achior during his speech at Jdt 5:5–21, and by redrawing the boundaries of Judea to correspond with the Judean and Samarian hill country. The article further argues, following a consideration of environmental determinism in ancient Greek sources and depictions of mountain peoples in Ancient Near Eastern art, that this definition is used by the author to characterise the Jews as a strong, fierce, and intimidating people as part of its wider discourse on Jewish ethnic identity.
DOI:
10.1163/15700631-bja10062
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
Permalink
