The Lion, the Honey, and the New Timnite Woman: Joseph and Aseneth and the Samson Cycle
This study presents a solution for the symbol of the honeycomb employed in Joseph and Aseneth, an ancient Hellenistic Jewish novel, by recognizing signals throughout the rest of the narrative that point to an allegorical reading of Samson's encounter with the lion in Judg. 14.5–9. The thesis is...
| Published in: | Journal for the study of the pseudepigrapha |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
2016
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the pseudepigrapha
Year: 2016, Volume: 26, Issue: 2, Pages: 144-163 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Joseph and Aseneth
/ Early Judaism
/ Bible. Judge 14,5-9.12-18
/ Samson Biblical character
/ Josef und die Frau des Potifar
/ Allegory
/ Honey
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| RelBib Classification: | HB Old Testament HD Early Judaism |
| Further subjects: | B
Samson cycle
B honeycomb B Judges 13 and 14.5–20 B Timnite woman B honey B Lion B Joseph and Aseneth B Allegory |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | This study presents a solution for the symbol of the honeycomb employed in Joseph and Aseneth, an ancient Hellenistic Jewish novel, by recognizing signals throughout the rest of the narrative that point to an allegorical reading of Samson's encounter with the lion in Judg. 14.5–9. The thesis is that the author of Joseph and Aseneth is providing an allegorical reading of Judg. 14.5–9, where Samson is a type of wayward Israel and the Timnite woman represents foreign domination. The lion and the honey are interpreted as symbols of Samson's subsequent victory over his Philistine foes, and this symbolical movement is applied to Aseneth's transformed identity. Aseneth is a new Timnite woman and Joseph is a new Samson, reconfigured to triumph over her seductive influence. Parallels are drawn between a constructed allegorical reading of the Samson cycle and the encounter of Aseneth with Joseph and later with the heavenly man. The theological themes upon which such a reading relies are discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 1745-5286 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the pseudepigrapha
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0951820716687511 |