Bortom stereotyper. En feministisk läsning av Jeftaberättelsen

Abstract

Summary The object of this artide is to explore the construction of identity in the narrative of judge Jephthah, who sacrifices his daughter to honour a vow. My reading includes three texts: The Book of judges (chapters 10-12) and two Nordic plays by Ernst Didring (1912) and Johannes Linnankoski (1919). Rather than stereotypes, the biblical Jephthah and his daughter feature sites of conflict and paradox with regard to gender, ethnicity and social status. The two dramas exhibitvastlydifferenttreatments of the characters. Whereas Didring enhances contradictions and ambiguities, Linnankoski reduces and explains them. This article is motivated by the conviction that analysis is to be preferred to censure with regard to ethically provocative texts. I therefore present a short, but general introduction to feminist biblical studies in general. In conclusion finally, I raise the broader issue of the possibilities and difficulties