Књижевни портрети Аода, Деворе, Варака и Самсона у Књизи о судијама
Literary Portraits of Ehud, Deborah, Barak, and Samson in the Book of Judges

Summary/Abstract: This paper shows portraits of selected Judges from the Old Testament Book of Judges. The aim is to interpret the characters of Ehud, Deborah, as well as Barak, and Samson in accordance with typical characteristics of epic heroes, which exist in all cultures. Besides, these heroes show the characteristics of synecdochic heroes that, in this case, represent features belonging to entire Israel as the God’s chosen people. Firstly, the author introduces the readers to the Book of Judges, and then, using narrative approach to text, describes the characters and gives the conclusion regarding theological and political implications of these portraits and the Book of Judges in its entirety. The narrative of Deborah and Barak contains surprising and unexpected choice of person who was supposed to fulfill the will of God. That is one important piece of puzzle that should connect the images of protagonists and express theological idea present in the Book of Judges. The story of Samson ends with his regain of strength, demolition of Dagon’s temple, and his death. An important question that permeates the entire narrative of Samson is whether he is aware of the fact that he brings salvation to Israel in God’s name. His deeds cannot be compared to any of other judges. All of them act in the name of certain tribe (or a group of tribes), while Samson acts individually, without even a slightest sign of support from either his tribe or family. Portraits of analyzed judges show that the writer of these narratives managed to show complex and dynamic characters. These characters do not only have positive features; some were mostly depicted in negative tones, but it does not prevent them from fulfilling their missions and saving Israel from danger. Through their deeds, hesitations and failures, the writer managed to present Book’s primary idea – struggle for preservation of Moses’ alliance with God and striving for a leader, i.e. king who will actually, and not merely symbolically, unite Israel as God’s people.

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