Portrayals of the Unnamed Concubine (Judges 19)

111 Pages·2013·4.01 MB·English

by  Jennifer Sanders

THE UNNAMED CONCUBINE
PORTRAYALS OF THE UNNAMED CONCUBINE (JUDGES 19)INEARLY
JEWISH LITERATURE
By
JenniferP. Sanders, B.A.
A Thesis Submittedtothe School ofGraduate Studies
InPartial FulfillmentoftheRequirements
for theDegree
MasterofArts
McMasterUniversity
o
JenniferP. Sanders, September2004
Master ofArts 2004
Religious Studies
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario
TITLE: Portrayals ofthe Unnamed Concubine (Judges 19) in Early Jewish Literature
AUTHOR: Jennifer P. Sanders
SUPERVISOR: Eileen M. Schuller
ADVISORS: Alan Mendelson, Annette Yoshiko Reed
NUMBER OF PAGES: iv, 105
11
Abstract
Motivated by the fact that many modem readers consider the story in Judg 19 to be a
disturbing one. this thesis answers the question: How was the unnamed concubine
portrayed in antiquity? Translations, retellings, and rabbinic discussions of Judg 19 that
date from the Common Era to the end ofthe Classical Rabbinic Age are considered. This
material includes the Masoretic text, versions of the Septuagint, Pseudo-Philo's Liber
Antiquitatum Biblicarum, Josephus' Jewish Antiquities, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, and
rabbinic literature ofthe Tosefta and Babylonian Talmud. These texts are examined and
compared to one another, paying close attention to the points ofthe Judg 19 story that are
interpreted, as well as the possible reasons for interpretation. The "going out" of the
concubine in Judg 19:2, the ambiguity surrounding her death (19:28), and the negative
portrayal ofthe Levite are common points ofinterpretation. Many interpretations betray a
concern for the portrayal ofthe Levite. Others, in particular the rabbinic literature, seem
focused on the character of the concubine and her place in the story. By noting
"exegetical motifs" that are common amongst the interpretations it is possible to realize
some continuity in the way that Judg 19 was interpreted in early Jewish literature.
III
",L;
IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
1. Literary Criticism ofJudges 19 13
2. Textual Criticism ofJudges 19 27
3. Judges 19 in Pseudo-Philo's LiberAntiquitatum Biblicarum and
Josephus' Jewish Antiquities 41
4. "The Story ofthe Concubine ofGibeah" in Rabbinic Literature 71
Conclusion 91
Bibliography 97
v
JenniferSanders McMasterUniversity, M.A. Thesis, Religious Studies
INTRODUCTION}
According to theMasoretictext ofJudg 19, an unnamed concubine"prostitutes
herself' against her Levitehusband and leaveshim to returnto herfather's house (19:2).
TheLevite follows, and upon reaching his father-in-Iaw's house he stays for many days
ofshared hospitality (vv.3-7). Finallyat his owninsistencethe Levite sets outwiththe
concubine and heads backto his home inEphraim (v.10). As darkness approaches he
decides not toturn into a city offoreigners, butto sojournthe night in Gibeah, a cityof
the tribe ofBenjamin(v. 12). Anold Ephraimitetakes the travellers intohis home, but
theyaresoon accosted bya mobthatdemandstheLevitesothatthey may have sex with
him (v. 22). The oldEphraimitetriesto dissuadethe mob. When met withtheir
persistence, however, he evenofferstogivethemhis ownvirgindaughterandthe
Levite's concubine(v.24). Theconcubine isthrownouttothe mob and raped throughout
the night (v.25). Inthe morning, thewomanis letgo, and shefalls atthedoorstepofthe
house inGibeah(v.26). TheLevite emerges fromthe house, finds the concubineand
commandsherto"Getup'"(v.28). Hearingnoanswer, heloadsherontohisdonkey, takes
herhome, and cutsherbodyintotwelvepieces(v.29). TheLevite sendsthepiecesto all
theterritoriesofIsrael, urginghiskinsmento"considerit,takeadvice, and speak" (v.30).
Thisnarrativestrikesmany modem readersasunsettling.2 This is notonly
because it contains suchviolence, but also, I suspect, becausemany do notexpectto find
1TheabbreviationsemployedthroughoutthisthesisarethoseofPatrickR AlexanderetaI.,eds.,SBL
HandbookofStyle:ForAncientNearEtmern,Biblical,andChristianStudies(Peabody:Hendrickson,
1999).
2Ithasbeenlabelledvariouslyas"amostdisturbingstmy,""shocking"(ChristopherBegg,"TheRetellings
ofJudges19ByPseudo-PhiloandJosephus: AComparison,"EstBib 58[2000]:33),"ahorrificstoty"
(DavidR Blumenthal,reviewofTodLinafelt,StrangeFire,ReadingtheBibleAftertheHolocaust.
I
Jennifer Sanders McMaster University, M.A. Thesis, Religious Studies
such a story intheBible. Ifthis story is perceived to be disturbingtoday, how was it
perceived in antiquity? Morespecifically, howwastheunnamedconcubine interpreted in
antiquity? Thisthesis will investigatethese questions by surveyingthe early Jewish
historyofthe interpretation ofJudg 19.
Judges 19 hasgarnered muchattention in biblical scholarship. Forthe most part,
the existing scholarship onthe chapterfocuses on three main topics. First, many studies
considerthe narrativeand literarytechniques inJudg 19. Forinstance, SusanNiditch, and
StuartLasineexplorehowJudg 19usesa narrative "type-scene"also found inGen 19, to
emphasizethetheme ofhospitality.3 DonMichael Hudson offers a literary studythat
showshowtheauthorofJudg 19has used theanonymityofcharactersto exemplifythe
chaosofthestory.4Otherstudiesaddress theuseofirony, sarcasm, and humour in Judg
n
ConservativeJudaism54[200I]: 111-112),"atextofterrorfurqueerpeople (MichaelCarden,
"HomophobiaandRapeinSodamandGibeah:AResponsetoKenStone.n JSOT82 (1999):83),"ahorrific
narrativen (OuislianadeGrootVanHooten,"TheRapeoftheConcubine,"PerspectivesOct[(997): 13);
"gruesomeandappaIIing."(CarrieNutt,"Judges19:TheGibeahOutmge." UniversityofWashington
Newspaper22October, 1999);"incomprehensibletomodemreaders,"(Jolm1..McKenzie,The Worldof
theJudges(EnglewoodCliffs:.Prentice-Hall, 1966], 165);"quitepossiblythemostdisturbingtale...inthe
Bible."(JohnL Thompson,WritingtheWrongs: WomenoftheOldTestamentamongBiblical
CommentatorsfromPhilothroughtheReformation(Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,200IJ,217)and
PhyllisTn"bIedescribes,"TohearIbisstoryisCDinhabita worldofumeleotingtenorthatrefusestoletus
passbyoneitherside."(TertsofTerror[Philadelphia:FortressPress. 1984J.65. SeealsoStuartI..asine,
"GuestandHostinJudges 19:Lot'sHospitalityinanInvertedWorld,"JSOT29(1984):37-38.
3SusanNiditch,"TheSodomiteThemeinJudges 19-21:Family,Community,andSocialDisintegration,"
CBQ44(1982):365-378;Lasine,"GuestandHost,"37-59.SeealsoDanid1 Block,"EchoNamdive
wm
TechniqueinHebrewLiterature: AStudyinJudges 19,n 52(1990):325-341;VietorH.Matthews,
"HospitalityandHostili(yinGenesis 19andJuc:lges 19,nBTB22(1992):3-11.
4DonMichaelHudson,"LivinginaLandofEpithets:AnonymityinJudges 19-21,nJSOT62(1994):49
66. SeealsoJ.CherylExwn,"TheCentreCannotHold:ThematicandTextuallnstabilitiesinJudges,"CBQ
52 (1990):410-431;AdeleReinbartz, WhyAMcMyName? (NewYork:OxfordPress, 1998), 122-126.
5RobertBoling,Judges(1beAnchorBible;NewYork: Doubleday. 1969).37-38;LillianR Klein, The
TriumphofIronyintheBookofJudges(Sheffield: SheffieldAcademicPress, 1988), 161-174;Lasine,
"GuestandHost,"43-44.
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Jennifer Sanders McMaster University, M.A. Thesis, Religious Studies
Secondly, scholarstryto detenninethe placeand function ofJudg 19within the
bookofJudges. RobertBolingsuggeststhatthenarrative functions as a "Postview" that
serves to putthe bookofJudges in a "tragic-comicframework.,..6 Alberto Soggin treats
thefinal chaptersofJudges asan"appendix" to theentirebook.7 MarkZvi Brettler
assertsthat Judg 19-21 is intendedas a polemic againstthe kingship ofSaul.8
Thirdly, many feminist-critical studies focus onthe abused woman in Judg 19and
analysethedynamicofgenderand powerastheyrelateto herplace inthe text. Inher
welJ-known work TextsofTerrorPhyllisTribleoffersa literary-feminist reading that sets
outto engagethe"sad stories" ofwomenintheBible.9 Shedivides Judg 19intotwo main
scenes, findingthat incontentbotharestudies inoriental hospitality shared between
men.10In both scenestheJawsofhospitalityapplyomytomales, forthe women are
readily sacrificedto remedy any offencebetweenthe men. InJudg 19male "power,
II
brutality, andtriumphalism" iscontrastedtofemale"helplessness, abuse, and
annihilation."Inconclusion, TribJe..eftames thenaIRtiveasa call toactionagainst
similarviolence inourowntime. Womentodayare still abused, raped, anddismembered.
Tribleurgesthat"totaketoheartthisancientstory,then, istooonfess itspresentreality.
6Boling,Judges, 30-38.
7AlbertoSoggin,Judges:A Commentary(Philadelphia:TheWestminsterPress, 1981),263.
8MarkZviBrettler,TheBook0/Judges(London:Routledge,2(02),92-116. Seealso,A E. Cundall,
"Judges- AnApologyfortheMonarchy?"ErpTim81 (1969-1970):178-181;W.J.Dumbrell, "InThose
DaysThereWasNoKingInIsrael,EveryManDidWhatWasRightInHisOwnEyes: thePurposeofthe
BookofJudgesReconsidered.."JSOT25 (1983):23-33.
9Trible, Textso/Terror, 1.
10Tnble, Textso/Terror, 65,68.
11 Tnble, Textso/Terror, 75.
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Jennifer Sanders McMaster University, M.A. Thesis, Religious Studies
The story is aliveand all is not well. Beyond confession we must take counsel to say,
"Never again.,,12
MiekeBal proposes an alternalive reading ofJudg 19 in which she explainsthe
storyasa powerstrugglebetween exi~tingpatrilocal marriageand the Levite's desire to
overturn it. By livingwith theLevitetheconcubinebreaches patrilocal marriage and
offends herfather, butwhen sheretunlSto herfather's house she offends herLevite
husband. TheLevitetries toalterthe social structureofpatrilocal marriage but failing, he
throwstheconcubineoutofthe house inGibeahand back intotheexisting world.13 Bal
finds it crucialto give identityto the concubineand does so bynaming her"Beth," which
n":J ro
plays ontheword "house," "daughter"aswell asthe nameofher hometown,
Bethlehem. BalviewsBethas a sacriflceto social expectations and norms. ForBal,
''there is an intrinsicbond betweenthe:: ideaofvirginity, the competitionbetween fathers
and next-generation men, and theextr1eme violencethattakestheform ofritual
sacrifice."14
J. CherylExum addressestheeoncubineinherworkFragmentedWomen:
Feminist (Sub)versionsofBiblicalNa'TDtives. LikeBaI, shealsofinds itnecessaryto
nametheconcubine, butchooses"BethSheber" "daughterofbreaking"asa reminderof
what happens tothe concubineat Gibt~theway she is dismembered and of"therole
thatfeminist criticismplaysin breakingopenthetext~sphallocentricideo)ogy."ISExum
12Trible, TextsofTerror, 87.
13MiekeBaI,DeathandDissymmetry: ThePoliticsofCoherenceintheBookofJudges(Chicago:The
UniversityofChicagoPress, 1988),93.
14Bat,DeathandDissymmetry, 32-39.
15J.CherylExum,FragmentedWomen: Femmist(Sub)versionsofBiblicalNarrativesJSOT63 (Sheffield:
SheffieldAcademicPress, 1993), 176.
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