Judges as a Narrative about Family: Metaphor and Reality of Israel's Family

Judges as a Narrative about Family: Metaphor and Reality of Israel's Family

Sam TSANG

This study views the story of Judges through the metaphor of family which intertwines with the real family stories of Israel's leaders before the monarchy. The story suggests that success comes only if members of the national family as well as individual members of each leader's family would fulfill their duties. The primary duty is religious with a view towards ethics. All such successes would give Israel her proper identity among the nations. Such a lesson was important for those in exile, whose identity was threatened by idolatry and whose ambition to return to their homeland was slowly faded by circumstances.