Bibliography
| Title: Josephus' Portrait of Jephtah Secondary Title: Hay-Yehûdîm ba-'ôlam ha-helenîstî we-ha-rômî (The Jews in the Hellenistic-Roman World). Studies in Memory of Menahem Stern Pages: 67-84 Type: Book Section Year: 1996 Abstract: Begg, Christopher T. in: OTA 20.1 (1997), 134: "The biblical Jephtah is an ambiguous figure, a successful general but also perpetrator of an (apparent) act of child sacrifice. Josephus' portrayal of Jephtah in his Antiquities accentuates his leadership, courage, justice, and temperance, while also highlighting his lack of due wisdom and piety. In contrast to the Bible Josephus makes explicit that Jephtah did sacrifice his daughter and condemns him for this. His rewriting strips the story of the sacrifice of features reminiscent of pagan religion (e.g., the institution of Vestal Virgins). In contrast to Pseudo-Philo and in line with his general misogynistic tendency, Josephus minimizes any active role for the daughter vis-à-vis her own fate". Keywords: Antiquities |