Conceiving a Nation: The Development of Political Discourse in the Hebrew Bible (review)

Abstract

Conceiving a Nation: Development of Political Discourse in Hebrew Bible, by Mira Morgenstern. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2009. 230 pp. $65.00. As title and subtitle of present book indicate, this is a study about nature of Israelite nationhood and on the centraliry of political discourse in creation of national identity, as authot puts it in Conclusion (p. 201). While this is broad framework of this volume, its substance is made up of elaborate studies of various biblical heroes and heroines, including Joseph, Moses, Ruth, Jotham, Samson, Esther, each study done with careful consideration fot relevant detail, each story analyzed ingeniously with countless references to commentaries and Midrashic literature, as well as modern interpretations of psychologists, anthropologists, and linguists. numetous references are reflected in Bibliography (pp. 203-222), counting about 450 items. This work of Professor Mira Morgenstern may be read and evaluated from two distinct perspectives, even if these are linked in intention and design of author. One is detailed analysis in each chaptet which deals with one or more biblical figures. (For above list is not complete: Miriam, Gideon, Naomi, Boaz, Mordecai, and othets are also included.) Another perspective connects diverse stories and aims at supporting, not to say proving, a general conclusion which claims its place in discussion. It is possible to agree with much in detailed studies without accepting general statements, and vice versa. Moreover, one can accept Morgensterns analysis of one figure and disagree with her presentation of another. It is important in context of a review to give justice to author's ingenious, though complicated, analysis of various narratives and their protagonists, or, for that matter, to present and justify disagreement of reviewer in some cases. review will address these issues without necessarily dividing them in aforesaid manner. The Bible structures its analysis of political discourse by focusing on a nation whose political development is atypical (p. 5). It is also strangeness of political protagonists that characterizes Israelite foundation of national-political awareness, in contrast with accepted notions of nature of national identity. Thus, story of Ruth questions ethnic essence of nationality, tale of Samson defies cultural character of nationhood, and book of Esther presents Jews as people without a territorial base (p. 4). present reviewer has doubts about such crucial place of strangeness in political discourse at large, as well as in specific case of Israelites or Jews and examples adduced here. Let us deal with latter. survival of Jewish nationhood on foreign territory is, of course, an unusual phenomenon, and has been elevated or downgraded to a proverbial status. Yet, phenomenon of a nationhood without a territorial base is not at root of Jewish national awareness, an awareness which solidified before Jewish dispersal and was strong enough to survive ordeal of exile. Jewish nationalism does not owe anything to Esther - book or heroine. It is Esther who owes her national identity to Jewishness and to enmity of her host country. This, of course, is largely - though not necessarily - case of Jewish condition in history. That this peculiarity may not be a guarantee of survival of Jewish nationhood on any soil has been amply shown by assimilation of Jews in diaspora, as Persian names of Esther and Mordecai not so discreetly indicate. Indeed, cultural identity of Jews has not always been secure on their territory either, as Hellenistic manifestations of Hasmonean kingdom show, or, for that matter, linguistic and cultural fragility of contemporary Israel demonstrates As to difference of Samson, it has to be borne in mind that, being one of Judges in eponymous book, he could hardly be a'Vegular guy. …