The story of Ehud and Eglon in Judges 3:12-30: a literary pearl as a theological stumbling block

Making use of numerous stylistic devices and playing with words, the author of Judg 3:12-30 has succeeded in creating a masterpiece of literature that challenges its reader. Moreover and simultaneously, this story, that narrates the brutal murder of king Eglon by the Israelite Ehud, is very problema...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ausloos, Hans 1969- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Dep. [2017]
In: Old Testament essays
Year: 2017, Volume: N.S.30, Issue: 2, Pages: 225-239
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Judge 3,12-30 / Ehud, Biblical person / Eglon, Moab, König / Pre- and early history / Israel (Antiquity)
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Bible. Judge 3,12-30
B Ehud Eglon Judges Violence Judges 3
B Judge
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
Volltext (doi)
Parallel Edition:Electronic
Description
Summary:Making use of numerous stylistic devices and playing with words, the author of Judg 3:12-30 has succeeded in creating a masterpiece of literature that challenges its reader. Moreover and simultaneously, this story, that narrates the brutal murder of king Eglon by the Israelite Ehud, is very problematic from a theological perspective. The present article offers firstly an analysis of Judg 3:12-20 and subsequently demonstrates how a specific and often-overlooked aspect of the violent nature of the text - after all, king Eglon has been utilized by Yhwh to restore obedience among the Israelites - holds a key to unlocking the theological intention of this text.
ISSN:1010-9919
Contains:Enthalten in: Old Testament essays
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.17159/2312-3621/2017/v30n2a3