Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics
The Book of Judges is a continuation of Israel’s history in the promised land, beginning from the death of Joshua to the time or before the birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel (1 Sam 7:15). In Judges, we find a cycle of disobedience, infidelity, punishment, repentance and deliverance (3:7-16:...
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Old Testament Society of South Africa
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Old Testament Essays |
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| Online Access: | https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/636 |
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| author | Michael Ufok Udoekpo |
| author_facet | Michael Ufok Udoekpo |
| author_sort | Michael Ufok Udoekpo |
| collection | DOAJ |
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The Book of Judges is a continuation of Israel’s history in the promised land, beginning from the death of Joshua to the time or before the birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel (1 Sam 7:15). In Judges, we find a cycle of disobedience, infidelity, punishment, repentance and deliverance (3:7-16:31). Chapters 17-21 shed light on the social and religious history of Israel. They describe the cultic, moral anarchy of the era “when there was no king in Israel” (Judg 17:6; 19:1) and a time “when people did whatever was right in their own eyes” (21:25). In Judg 20, Israel overacts and revenges against injustices of Gibeah’s crime (Judg 19). By doing these, she plunges into civil war against Benjamin. This affirms, in a way, the tragedy of confederacy without visionary leaders who fear the Lord, a phenomenon common in today’s African societies. In the past, European and North American exegetes have interpreted Judg 19-20 historically, using various “western interpretative models.” Conscious also of issues of wars and violence in Africa, this study analyses Judg 20 from the perspective of African Biblical Hermeneutics and as a post-colonial approach within the overall context of the theology of Deuteronomistic History (Joshua–Kings). It argues against incessant tragic phenomena of civil wars and domestic violence in African faith communities.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-149f3934166b4b3e80829364e413c4fa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1010-9919 2312-3621 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Old Testament Society of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Old Testament Essays |
| spelling | doaj-art-149f3934166b4b3e80829364e413c4fa2025-01-11T15:27:58ZafrOld Testament Society of South AfricaOld Testament Essays1010-99192312-36212025-01-0137210.17159/2312-3621/2024/v37n2a5Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical HermeneuticsMichael Ufok Udoekpo0veritas University, Abuja The Book of Judges is a continuation of Israel’s history in the promised land, beginning from the death of Joshua to the time or before the birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel (1 Sam 7:15). In Judges, we find a cycle of disobedience, infidelity, punishment, repentance and deliverance (3:7-16:31). Chapters 17-21 shed light on the social and religious history of Israel. They describe the cultic, moral anarchy of the era “when there was no king in Israel” (Judg 17:6; 19:1) and a time “when people did whatever was right in their own eyes” (21:25). In Judg 20, Israel overacts and revenges against injustices of Gibeah’s crime (Judg 19). By doing these, she plunges into civil war against Benjamin. This affirms, in a way, the tragedy of confederacy without visionary leaders who fear the Lord, a phenomenon common in today’s African societies. In the past, European and North American exegetes have interpreted Judg 19-20 historically, using various “western interpretative models.” Conscious also of issues of wars and violence in Africa, this study analyses Judg 20 from the perspective of African Biblical Hermeneutics and as a post-colonial approach within the overall context of the theology of Deuteronomistic History (Joshua–Kings). It argues against incessant tragic phenomena of civil wars and domestic violence in African faith communities. https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/636Civil WarBenjaminAfrican Biblical Hermeneutics injusticescrimesDeuteronomistic History |
| spellingShingle | Michael Ufok Udoekpo Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics Old Testament Essays Civil War Benjamin African Biblical Hermeneutics injustices crimes Deuteronomistic History |
| title | Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics |
| title_full | Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics |
| title_fullStr | Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics |
| title_short | Another Look at Israel’s War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics |
| title_sort | another look at israel s war with benjamin in judges 20 from the perspectives of african biblical hermeneutics |
| topic | Civil War Benjamin African Biblical Hermeneutics injustices crimes Deuteronomistic History |
| url | https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/636 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelufokudoekpo anotherlookatisraelswarwithbenjamininjudges20fromtheperspectivesofafricanbiblicalhermeneutics |