Making Men: The Male Coming-of-Age Theme in the Hebrew Bible

Making Men: The Male Coming-of-Age Theme in the Hebrew Bible
ISBN-10
0190493356
ISBN-13
9780190493356
Series
Making Men
Category
Religion
Pages
272
Language
English
Published
2015-12-01
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Author
Stephen Wilson

Description

Making Men identifies and elaborates on a theme in the Hebrew Bible that has largely gone unnoticed by scholars-the transition of a male adolescent from boyhood to manhood. Wilson locates five examples of the male coming-of-age theme in the Hebrew Bible. The protagonists of these stories include the well-known biblical heroes Moses, Samuel, David, and Solomon. He also reveals the existence of a narrative theme of failing to mature to manhood, exemplified in the tales of Samson and Gideon's son Jether. Beyond identifying the coming-of-age theme, Wilson describes how the theme is employed by biblical narrators and redactors to highlight broader messages and transitions in the historical narratives of the Hebrew Bible. He additionally considers how these stories provide unique insight into the varying representations of biblical masculinity and how the ideals associated with manhood can change dramatically over time.

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