Another Look at Israel's War with Benjamin in Judges 20 from the Perspectives of African Biblical Hermeneutics

The Historical BooksJoshua–2 Kings Christopher T. Begg, Richard A. Taylor, Fred W. Guyette, and Brian J. Meldrum 518. [The Deuteronomistic Portrait of Monarchy] Thomas Karimundackal, S.J., "[The] Deuteronomistic Portrait of Monarchy in the Deuteronomistic History," BibBh 47 (1-2, 2021) 33-54. The aim of this paper is to better understand the Deuteronomistic portrayal of monarchy as this is developed over the course of Dtr. Dtr provides a theological interpretation of Israelite monarchy from its very inception until its demise. According to the Deuteronomist, monarchy in Israel was supposed to function in a way that is consistent with the requirements of Yhwh's covenant between himself and Israel established by him at Sinai (see Exodus 19–24) and in the subsequent law of Moses featured in Deuteronomy. Accordingly, the primary purpose of the monarchy in Dtr's view, was to lead and instruct the people in covenantal obedience as a covenantal servant of Yhwh. At the same time, the Dtr presents the Israelite monarchy as a failed form of human leadership vis-à-vis Yhwh's own leadership. Yhwh alone is Israel's true king whom his anointed ones, the kings of Israel, are to adhere to unconditionally. In fact, however, Israel's history turns out to be one in which the man-made evil of monarchy leads to Israel's rejection of Yhwh as its true king. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 519. [Constructing a Landscape Monument in Josh 8:30-35] Lisa J. Cleath, "Divine Enthronement in a Conquered Land: Constructing a Landscape Monument in Josh 8:30-35," HeBAI 10 (3, 2021) 331-48. My study reads Josh 8:30-35 in light of ANE landscape monuments of the LBA and the Iron Ages. Building upon a long scholarly tradition that compares the HB's sēper hattôrâ texts to Mesopotamian âde texts, my comparison to landscape monuments and monumental art at Birleyn, Carchemish, and Zincirli highlights the significance of the geographical location of the inscription, the ritual performance of the inscription in a monumental setting, and the transmission of the Joshua pericope itself as literary monumental art. In the Book of Joshua, the narrative of Josh 8:30-35 serves to emphasize Yhwh's rule over the conquered lands of Canaan, via the creation and activation of a monumental tôrâ of Moses. The narrative conveys the enduring and socially efficacious mechanisms of a monumental inscription in ANE contexts, and in so doing serves the larger socio-political purposes of Dtr. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 520. [The King List in Josh 12:9-24] Josef Tropper and Juan-Pablo Vita, "Die 'Liste der Könige' diesseits des Jordans (Josua 12,9-24)," BN 192 (2022) 47-57. All previous interpretations of Josh 12:9-24 assume that each of the Cisjordanian kings listed is assigned the number "one" with a concluding total "together thirty-one kings." Our article offers a different understanding of the numbers in the list: it is not the [End Page 177] kings cited in the list who are numbered, but rather their dominions (which are to be distributed to the Israelites). [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 521. [Parallel Structures in the Book of Judges] Klaas Spronk, "Parallel Structures in Judges and the Formation of the Book," JSOT 46 (3, 2022) 306-18. In addition to the well-known repetitions in the Book of Judges, my article maps a number of meaningful cases of repetition in the form of parallel structures in chaps. 1, 14–16, and 17–21. This special case of repetition can be regarded as characteristic of the editor who was responsible for the book in its final form. The analysis of this phenomenon serves to provide an understanding of the structure of the book as a whole and to explain the function of its double references to the death of Joshua and to Samson's 20-year tenure as judge. The specific use of parallel structures at the beginning and end of the book is of relevance for theories that attempt to account for the formation of the...

In Judges 20, Israel overacts, revenges against injustices of Gibeah’s crime (Judges 19). Doing so, plunges Israel into civil-religious war and conflicts with Benjamin, indicating the tragedy of confederacy without visionary leaders, who fear the Lord. This phenomenon of war is common, outside the bible and world over today, especially in Africa. Past exegetes and commentators of non-African origins have interpreted Judges 19–20 historically, using diverse approaches or interpretative models. This work newly examines Judges 20 contextually for Africa which is plagued today with wars and violence. It adapts a postcolonial biblical interpretative (PCBI) approach within the overall context of the theology and ethics of Deuteronomistic History (Joshua- Kings). It argues for dialogue and against incessant tragic phenomena of civil wars, conflicts, and domestic violence in African faith communities.

Domestic Violence and the Law in Colonial and Postcolonial Africa reveals the ways in which domestic space and domestic relationships take on different meanings in African contexts that extend the boundaries of family obligation, kinship, and dependency. The term domestic violence encompasses kin-based violence, marriage-based violence, gender-based violence, as well as violence between patrons and clients who shared the same domestic space. As a lived experience and as a social and historical unit of analysis, domestic violence in colonial and postcolonial Africa is complex. Using evidence drawn from Subsaharan Africa, the chapters explore the range of domestic violence in Africa’s colonial past and its present, including taxation and the insertion of the household into the broader structure of colonial domination. African histories of domestic violence demand that scholars and activists refine the terms and analyses and pay attention to the historical legacies of contemporary problems. This collection brings into conversation historical, anthropological, legal, and activist perspectives on domestic violence in Africa and fosters a deeper understanding of the problem of domestic violence, the limits of international human rights conventions, and local and regional efforts to address the issue.

Limited data exist on the unique, additive, and interactive effects of exposure to domestic and community violence on children's functioning, particularly in community samples. This study examined relations between children's violence exposure, at home and in the community, and symptoms of externalizing and internalizing problems. Parents reported on domestic violence in the home, and children reported on community violence. Concurrent child functioning was measured through parent and teacher reports on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and child self-reports on the Children's Depression Inventory. A multi-ethnic sample of 117 children, aged 8 to 12 years, and their parents and teachers participated. Community violence was related to all measures of children's adjustment, whereas exposure to domestic violence was related only to CBCL externalizing problems. Teacher reports of child aggression were predicted by child age, community violence, and the interaction of community and domestic violence. Implications for research and clinical intervention are discussed.

Domestic and community violence are two pervasive societal issues. While research indicates significant connections between these forms of violence, detailed exploration of their co-occurrence and specific characteristics within intervention and prevention programs remains lacking. Understanding these complex interactions is crucial, as many programs are not designed to address the diverse manifestations of violence simultaneously. They often focus on one type, potentially overlooking the broader spectrum of violence that individuals might experience or contribute to. This study aims to illuminate the frequency and nature of these violence types within the context of intervention efforts. To bridge this gap, we engaged in a systematic, secondary analysis, delving into 1,943 conflicts documented across 25 CeaseFire program sites in Chicago between 2000 and 2015. Data included information from mediation forms regularly completed by CeaseFire staff post-mediation. Our primary focus encompassed a content analysis of these cases to establish a baseline occurrence of domestic violence within violence mediations. Subsequently, we probed the prevalence and intricate interplay between community and domestic violence, exploring potential bidirectional influences. Of the 1,943 conflicts mediated among program sites in Chicago, 151 conflicts displayed signs of interconnection with community violence, falling into the categories of retaliation or intervention. In summation, the findings underscore the entwined nature of domestic and community violence, often transitioning from one form (primarily domestic) to another (typically community-based) in the form of escalating retaliatory behaviors. Violence prevention and intervention endeavors must consider the plausible escalation patterns stemming from interconnected violence forms, significantly shaping mediation strategies.

The South Asian community in the United States is composed of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent (primarily, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) and immigrants from the lands of the South Asian diaspora, including the Caribbean nations and South American countries. In themselves, these countries represent complex and diverse histories. Individuals coming from these countries are therefore influenced by a variety of sociopolitical, socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and historical factors that guide their behaviors toward themselves and others. Thus, when we try to address the issue of domestic violence in this community, it is difficult to isolate a single factor or set of factors to explain the phenomenon. Indeed, the South Asian peoples from these countries carry with them their national heritage and their religious heritages of Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Christianity. Hence, grasping the social dimensions associated with family violence requires a deep knowledge of these varied cultural and religious structures and histories. The obstacles to understanding domestic violence in this community are enormous, including the high level of secretiveness and fear operating among its members, which demarcate the very nature of the problem. These factors create a great challenge to the professional community and to the survivors, advocates, and community-based organizations interested in addressing this problem. For now we can only rely on preliminary, informal, and limited statistics about the problem until a more open forum to address the issue is found. It is essential to facilitate dialogue wherein discussion can take place. This was, indeed, the goal of the conference organized at St. John’s University on April 4, 1998, entitled “Furthering the Dialogue: Domestic Violence in the South Asian Immigrant Community.” It is dangerous to neglect this problem in a community that is increasing in number, making it likely that the number of domestic abuse cases may increase from an already threatening level. There are serious physical health, mental health, educational, occupational, and legal issues related to this problem that should be of concern to the professional and academic community.

Children Witnessing Domestic and Family Violence: A Widespread Occurrence during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Rethinking Prophecy

Hebrew Studies 41 (2000) 286 Reviews A monograph is read once; rarely more. But a commentary is designed to be turned to over and over again. My judgment of a commentary is finally based on a simple question: Does it suit my needs, or does it offer the frustration of regularly failing to discuss the point I am interested in? Amit's approach suits me well. She does not always have an answer, but I have yet to ask a question that her commentary does not address, whether about a word (nl'WiEl), a phrase (o'ncm on,), a sentence ("the stars in their courses fought against Sisera"), or a pericope (the 300 drinkers in 7:1-8, the names Gideon and Jerubbaal). Despite her expressed frustration at being forced by the editors to produce a commentary "that one who runs may read," her overall view of the book is also extremely well-served here. If the other volumes of MUcra LeYisra'el match this standard, they will be a welcome addition to the scholar's bookshelf. Michael Carasik Philadelphia, PA 19147 mcarasik@sas.upenn.edu THE BOOK OF JUDGES: THE ART OF EDITING. By Yaira Amit. Biblical Interpretation Series 38. pp. xvi + 427. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1999. Cloth, $143.50. The entertaining tales which make up the book of Judges have long been a rich topic of scholarly study. Because of the book's cyclical structure and its conspicuously layered composition, they are a uniquely valuable focus for those who want to use critical methods to unravel the construction of an individual biblical work. Moreover, the fact that they are set at a key moment in Israelite history has made them a valuable resource for information about the nation's emergence. However, the author of this book, which originated as a doctoral dissertation at Tel Aviv University and was published in Hebrew several years ago (Jerusalem: Mosad Bialik, 1992), is not primarily interested in the history of either ancient Israel or the book of Judges. Instead, her goal is to understand the overall coherence of this biblical masterpiece in its present form. She understands that form to be theological and didactic. Its overarching theme is that Israel's history was a sign of God's concern; by putting past events into a systematic historiographic framework, its lessons could be transmitted to future generations. Because she is not, therefore, trying to determine how the book achieved Hebrew Studies 41 (2000) 287 Reviews its present fonn, the layers and sources which underlie the existing text are less relevant to her than the book's overall editorial orientation. That orientation revolves around the twin themes of signs and leadership, which emerge time and again throughout the book. In order to accomplish this, Amit has read widely and is well versed in previous scholarship from all periods of biblical interpretation. Her insights are woven into a coherent, if long, piece of work that is a thorough, competent, and valuable for what it contributes to our thinking about the book of Judges. The method is largely inductive, as we are taken through the book scene-by-scene, in the tedious manner of doctoral dissertations, in order to discern each episode's thematic focus. From that, Amit seeks to identify the larger theme which is shared by all the book's components. Her conclusion-that the monarchy was the overriding concern of the book of Judges-is unlikely to surprise those who have studied Judges; indeed, it is remarkably close to the view of Robert O'Connell's The Rhetoric of the Book ofJudges (SVT 63; Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1996), which sees the struggle between David and Saul as the book's central theme. Given this ahistorical approach, it is ironic that Amit concludes by trying to date the book's final redaction. She infers that this took place during the last century and a half of Judah's history, after the Northern Kingdom had fallen and before Deuteronomy was composed, when its emphasis on the importance of God and kingship would have been a dominating concern . Even odder is her argument that chapters 19-21 must have been a late addition inasmuch...

The negative impacts of community or domestic violence on individuals self-rated health are known, but there is little evidence of the combined effect of these two types of interpersonal violence.To...

In the 21st century, one of the major roles of the English language in building a corporate youth image for sustainable development, peace, and security in Nigeria is in the area of creative writing. Many scholars are concerned about domestic violence in African society, particularly in Nigeria, especially in Igbo society, where domestic violence is a serious subject matter. Women are subjected to lots of maltreatment, suppression, and relegation to the background as a result of man's chauvinism. The aim of this study is to examine forms of domestic violence in African society by using the work of Chimamanda Adichie's "Purple Hibiscus." The study adopts a brand of snail sense feminism propounded by Akaihi Adimura Ezeigbo as its theoretical framework, while thematic analysis is employed to analyze Adichie's "Purple Hibiscus," which captures many issues of domestic violence and provides insight into the world of domestic violence in African society. Another perspective advocates that African women can overcome domestic violence through education, maturity, and dialogue.

This article describes an evaluation of several programs designed to help children and caregivers who have been exposed to domestic or community violence. The goal of the evaluation was to improve our understanding of community-based services and outcomes for children who have been exposed to violence. Evaluators and service providers from nine sites in Illinois developed a survey for providers to describe (1) services provided to children and their caregivers and (2) the outcomes of those services. Results suggest that direct services benefit both caregivers and children. Regression analyses demonstrated that caregiver services focusing on the impact of violence on children, sexual abuse, building support systems, and grief and loss provided the best outcomes for caregivers, while caregiver services that focused on appropriate discipline were associated with positive outcomes for children. Children improved most when they received services focusing on identifying and expressing feelings, differentiating between good and bad touches, domestic violence, and community violence.

Historical Books William J. Urbrock, Christopher T. Begg, Phillip E. McMillion, Katherine M. Hayes, and CSJ Lorenzo A. Tosco 646. [Joshua; Judges] Marion Ann Taylor and Christiana de Groot (eds.), Women of War, Women of Woe: Joshua and Judges through the Eyes of Nineteenth-Century Female Biblical Interpreters (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2016). Pp. x + 278. Paper $35. ISBN 978-0-8028-7302-6. The volume's Introduction discusses some nineteenth-century assumptions and debates about gender, and the genres that nineteenth-century women used to interpret Scripture, the Books of Joshua and Judges in particular. The eight major sections of the book deal in turn with Rahab; Achsah, Caleb's daughter; Deborah; Jael; Jephthah's Daughter; Manoah's Wife; Delilah; and the Levite's Concubine. The thirty-five British and American interpreters whose works are excerpted here are: Sarah Ewing Hall, Susanna Haswell Rowson, Sarah Hale, Cecil Frances (Fanny) Alexander, Charlotte Maria Tucker, Etty Woosnam, Leigh Norval, Josephine Elizabeth Butler, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lydia (pen-name of a contributor to The Christian Lady's Magazine), Grace Aguilar, Marianne Farningham, Clara Balfour, Barbara Kellison, Julia McNair Wright, Harriet Beecher Stowe, [End Page 178] Elizabeth Baxter, Clara B. Neyman, Eliza R. Stansbury Steele, Mary Cornwallis, Eliza Smith, Emily Owen, the sisters Constance de Rothschild and Annie de Rothschild, Elizabeth Jane Whately, Anne Mercier, M. G. (an English writer), Caroline Howard Gilman, Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck, Adelia C. Graves, Rose Terry Cooke, Louisa Southworth, Mary Elizabeth Beck, Edith M. Dewhurst, and Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Their interpretations range in genre from biblical commentary and sermons to poetry, catechesis, drama, historical fiction, devotional essays, published notes, and female biography. A brief biographical sketch introduces each of the above interpreters. A bibliography and indexes of names, subjects, and Scripture conclude the volume.—W.J.U. 647. [Judges] Ernst Axel Knauf, Richter (Zürcher Bibelkommentare AT 7; Zurich: TVZ, 2016). Pp. 175. Paper €43. ISBN 978-3-290-14756-3. K.'s commentary on the Book of Judges opens with a five-part introduction organized under the following heads: (1) The Book; (2) Origin (K. views the extant book as originating via a series of redactional amplifications, extending down to into the Hasmonean period, of a 8th/7th cent. collection of "deliverer stories"); (3) The Book of Judges and the Period of the Judges (according to K., historically there was no "Judges period"); (4) Text, Language, and Principles of Exegesis; and (5) Reception History (here, K. points out that in the NT Hebrews is the only writing that seems to know the Book of Judges). For his commentary, K. divides Judges up into 17 segments. For each of these, he provides his own translation, exegetical notes and (in certain cases) also remarks on the passage's historical context and reception-history. Interspersed throughout one finds a variety of charts, maps, and iconographic illustrations. The volume concludes with a brief bibliography and illustration credits.—C.T.B. 648. [Judges 1–12] Jack M. Sasson, Judges 1–12: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (AYB 6D; New Haven/London: Yale University Press, 2014). Pp. xx + 593. $100. ISBN 978-0-300-19033-5. Judges has been the focus of much scholarly attention since the original Anchor Bible volume on the book by Robert G. Boling in 1975. This new commentary by S. contains a brief introduction that touches on previous studies of sources, redaction, cultural and social setting, archaeology, epic style, and later reception of Judges. A 60-page bibliography provides ample material for further study. In S.'s translation of the book, he strives for "easy comprehension without disregarding the original Hebrew." In the commentary notes, S. uses an informal style. He incorporates his wide knowledge of ANE texts and cultures to clarify and illustrate principles and structures found in Judges. S. works through the Hebrew text of Judges phrase by phrase, and then offers comments dealing with, and often questioning, recent interpretations.—P.E.M. 649. [Judges 19–21] Cynthia Edenburg, Dismembering the Whole: Composition and Purpose of Judges 19–21 (SBL Ancient Israel and Its Literature 24; Atlanta: SBL, 2016). Pp. xiv + 424...

What explains differential rates of ethnic violence in postcolonial Africa? I argue that ethnic groups organized as a precolonial state (PCS) exacerbated interethnic tensions in their postcolonial country. Insecure leaders in these countries traded off between inclusive coalitions that risked insider coups and excluding other ethnic groups at the possible expense of outsider rebellions. My main hypotheses posit that PCS groups should associate with coups because their historically rooted advantages often enabled accessing power at the center, whereas other ethnic groups in their countries—given strategic incentives for ethnopolitical exclusion—should fight civil wars more frequently than ethnic groups in countries without a PCS group. Analyzing originally compiled data on precolonial African states provides statistical evidence for these implications about civil wars and coups between independence and 2013 across various model specifications. Strikingly, through 1989, thirty of thirty-two ethnic group-level major civil war onsets occurred in countries with a PCS group.

The purpose of this article is to raise some problems concerning date of beginning of period of Israel's history described in book of Judges 1). It will be shown that criteria normally used for dating this period are not as conclusive as would at first appear, and that they pose problems from which it is difficult to escape. In this article term the period of judges will refer only to period of Israel's history described in book of Judges. The term will not include events described in books of Samuel.