Abstract
The book of Judges depicts the general erosion of Israelite society in the pre-monarchic period. This erosion is multi-faceted and occurs at a variety of levels within the text, becoming more pronounced as one approaches the end of the book. The gradual and increasing degeneration of kinship structures within the book of Judges at the family, clan, and tribal levels typifies this degeneration. This study examines the portrayal of various kinds of kinship relationships within the book of Judges in order to show how the theme of degenerating kinship structures contributes to the theme of kingship in the book of Judges. This disintegration is then examined within the rhetorical context of the book of Judges to suggest a possible social context in which the themes of kinship and kingship could have served the interests of a Hebrew writer.
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