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- From: Lloyd Barre <barre AT c-zone.net>
- To: "B-Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
- Cc:
- Subject: The Political Structure of Shechem (Judges 9)
- Date: 12 Feb 99 13:14:35 -0800
Dear History Thread,
Lately I have been interested in the political structures that we find portrayed in tradition in the period that covers the establishment of Israel until Saul's kingship. The first tradition I am considering is the narrative that describes Abimelech's kingship over Shechem (Judges 9). It is my best guess that this event took place around 1200 B.C.E, a mere thirty years after the appearance of the Meneptah Stele (c. 1229) where Israel first appears in non-biblical sources. Be that as it may, the political structure of&n! bsp;Shechem is discovered to be complex and its description to be realistic. If so, it is likely that similar political structures were in place in the other major cities of Palestine. In any case, the major political players in story of Judges 9, in order of importance are: 1 The Owners or Lords of Shechem (ba`ale sekem). 2) Abimelech (melek). 3) Gaal son of Ebed and his significant forces. 4) Zebul, the Governor of Shechem (si ha`air). 5) The murdered princes of Jerubbaal. I am asking this: Taking Judges 9 as the source, what historical information can be obtained regarding the Israelite political structures that existed prior to Saul's monarchy. Thank you. Lloyd Barre Lloyd M. Barre, Ph.D. barre AT c-zone.net http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/AncientIsrael "Do I dare Disturb the universe?" T.S. Eliot from, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." (1917) |
- The Political Structure of Shechem (Judges 9), Lloyd Barre, 02/12/1999
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