RT Article
T1 The Case for Judith’s Imitation of “Nobody” (among Others)
JF Journal for the study of Judaism
VO 54
IS 3
SP 316
OP 349
A1 Kochenash, Michael 1985-
LA English
PB Brill
YR 2023
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1853829307
AB In this article, I argue that Judith can be read as imitating book 9 of Homer’s Odyssey, the story of Odysseus and Polyphemus the Cyclops, in a way that compliments its use of other literary models (e.g., Genesis 34; Judges 4–5; 1 Kingdoms 17; and Homer, Iliad 14). Such an imitation can be read as reinforcing the narrative’s explicit themes, especially that of violent opposition to foreign invaders, and as contributing to its characterizations of Judith (who compares favorably to Odysseus) and Holofernes (who is stigmatized by association with Polyphemus). In the process, I situate Judith among other imitations of Odyssey 9 in antiquity and observe how especially Jewish writings in the Hellenistic and Roman eras appear to use it as a resource for opposing foreign subjugation, including to Greek empires. Accordingly, Judith further attests to the participation of Jews in the contestation over the Greek canonical past.
K1 Odyssey 9
K1 Odysseus
K1 literary models
K1 killing of Holofernes
K1 Homeric reception
K1 Book of Judith
K1 blinding of Polyphemus
DO 10.1163/15700631-bja10067