Judith the Heroine? Lies,Seduction,and Murder in Cultural Perspective

Abstract

Many readers have questioned Judith's status as heroine, describing her behavior as morally reprehensible at worst and morally ambiguous at best largely on the basis of her use of deceit to establish herself in the camp of the enemy and to lure Holofernes into a position of weakness. A study of the use of deceit in the Hebrew Scriptures, Pseudepigrapha, and classical Greek literature as an acceptable—even praiseworthy—virtue to be employed when advancing the interests of one's reference group against outsiders shows Judith to be acting very much in line with the path defined as virtuous in Mediterranean cultures. Judith finds herself in the midst of a web of honor challenges and uses culturally appropriate strategies to defend her honor, the honor of her people, and the honor of God.

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