The book of Judith has been designated as anti-Hasmonean counter-propaganda, but the arguments brought forward do not seem to take account of the fact that Judith is a work of fiction. It is argued here that Judith can indeed be read as an anti-Hasmonean text, but that this conclusion can only be reached by relating Judith to the transformation of traditional semantics that served to legitimize Hasmonean rule. Judith employs signifiants that have a key role in Hasmonean propaganda (1 Maccabees), but alters their scriptural foundations so as not to inherit the signifiés. Thus, Judith should be seen as an example of literature subverting legitimizing discourses by creating a fictitious space which allows an alternative usage of politically exploited language. This creation of a `counter-discourse' is not to be confused with `counter-propaganda'.
Baslez, M.-F.2004`Polémologie et histoire dans le livre de Judith' , RB111: 362-76.
2.
Batsch, C.2006`Temps de la guerre et respect du sabbat dans Judith' , in C. Grappe and J.-C. Ingelaere (eds.), Le Temps et les Temps dans les littératures juives et chrétiennes au tournant de notre ère (SJSJ, 112; Leiden : Brill): 125-35.
3.
Berthelot, K.2006`L'idéologie maccabéenne: entre idéologie de la résistance armée et idéologie du martyre', REJ165: 99-122.
4.
2007 `The Biblical Conquest of the Promised Land and the Hasmonaean Wars according to 1 and 2 Maccabees', in G.G. Xeravits and J. Zsengellér (eds.), The Books of the Maccabees: History, Theology, Ideology (SJSJ, 118;Leiden: Brill): 45-60.
5.
Cohen, S.J.D.1999The Beginnings of Jewishness: Boundaries, Varieties, Uncertainties (Hellenistic Culture and Society, 31;Berkeley : University of California Press).
6.
Corley, J.2008`Septuagintalisms, Semitic Interference, and the Original Language of the Book of Judith', in J. Corley and V. Skemp (eds.), Studies in the Greek Bible: Essays in Honor of Francis T. Gignac, S.J. (CBQMS, 44;Washington, DC: Catholic Biblical Association of America): 65-96.
7.
Davies, P.R., and J.M. Halligan (eds.) 2002Second Temple Studies III: Studies in Politics, Class and Material Culture (JSOTSup, 340;Sheffield: Academic Press).
8.
Eckhardt, B.2009`Herodes und die Hasmonäer. Strategien dynastischer (De)Legitimation von Herrschaft in Judäa 168-4 v. Chr.', in L.-M. Günther (ed.), Herodes und Jerusalem ( Stuttgart: Steiner): 23-46.
9.
Foucault, M.2002The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences (London: Routledge).
10.
Gruen, E.S.2006`Novella', in J.W. Rogerson and J.M. Lieu (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies ( Oxford: University Press): 420-31.
11.
Henten, J.W. van1997The Maccabean Martyrs as Saviours of the Jewish People: A Study of 2 and 4 Maccabees (SJSJ, 57; Leiden : Brill).
12.
Horsley, R.A.2002`The Expansion of Hasmonean Rule in Idumea and Galilee: Toward a Historical Sociology', in Davies and Halligan (eds.) 2002: 134-65.
13.
Irwin, W.2004`Against Intertextuality', Philosophy and Literature28: 227-42.
14.
Kampen, J.1988The Hasideans and the Origin of Pharisaism: A Study in 1 and 2 Maccabees (SBLSCSS, 24, Atlanta: Scholars Press).
15.
Kugel, J.1993`Levi's Elevation to the Priesthood in Second Temple Writings' , HTR86: 1-64.
16.
Mendels, D.1987The Land of Israel as a Political Concept in Hasmonean Literature: Recourse to History in Second Century B.C. Claims to the Holy Land (TSAJ, 15;Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck ).
17.
Mittmann-Richert, U.2002`Theologie als Schlüssel zur Historie. Neue Wege zur Datierung frühjüdischer Schriften', in H. Lichtenberger and G.S. Oegema (eds.), Jüdische Schriften in ihrem antik-jüdischen und urchristlichen Kontext (JSHRZ Studien, 1; Gütersloh: Mohn): 75-101.
Nihan, C.2004`Judith', in T. Römer , J.-D. Macchi and C. Nihan (eds.), Introduction à l'Ancien Testament (Le monde de la Bible, 49; Geneva: Labor et Fides): 622-36.
20.
Pasto, J.2002`The Origin, Expansion and Impact of the Hasmoneans in Light of Comparative Ethnographic Studies (and Outside of its Nineteenth-Century Context)', in Davies and Halligan (eds.) 2002: 166-201.
21.
Perkins, L.2007` "The Lord is a Warrior"-"The Lord who Shatters Wars": Exod 15:3 and Jdt 9:7, 16:2', BIOSCS40: 121-38.
22.
Philonenko, M.1996`L'origine essénienne du livre de Judith', Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Inscriptions et des Belles-Lettres: 1139-53 (with a response by A. Caquot 1153-56).
23.
Pietersma, A., and B.G. Wright (eds.) 2007 A New English Translation of the Septuagint and the Other Greek Translations Traditionally Included under that Title (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).
24.
Pummer, R.1982`Genesis 34 in Jewish Writings of the Hellenistic and Roman Periods', HTR75: 177-88.
25.
Rajak, T.2002`The Hasmoneans and the Uses of Hellenism', in T. Rajak, The Jewish Dialogue between Greece and Rome: Studies in Cultural and Social Interaction (Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums, 48; Leiden: Brill): 61-80. (First published in P.R. Davies and R.T. White [eds.], A Tribute to Geza Vermes: Essays on Jewish and Christian History and Literature [JSOTSup, 100; Sheffield : JSOT Press, 1990]: 261-80.)
26.
Ramos, J.A.M.2005`Percepções de identidade no judaísmo helenístico, segundo o livro de Judite', Didaskalia35: 49-64.
27.
Rocca, S.2005`The Book of Judith, Queen Sholomzion and King Tigranes of Armenia: A Sadducee Appraisal', Materia Giudaica10: 85-98.
28.
Roitman, A.D.1992`Achior in the Book of Judith: His Role and Significance' , in J.C. Vander-Kam (ed.), `No One Spoke Ill of Her': Essays on Judith (SBLEJL, 2;Atlanta: Scholars Press): 31-45.
29.
Schaller, B.2002`Zur Methodologie der Datierung und Lokalisierung pseud- und anonymer Schriften dargestellt an Beispielen vornehmlich aus dem Bereich der JSHRZ', in H. Lichtenberger and G.S. Oegema (eds.), Jüdische Schriften in ihrem antik-jüdischen und urchristlichen Kontext (JSHRZ Studien, 1; Gütersloh : Mohn): 59-74.
30.
Schwartz, D.R.1998`The Other in 1 and 2 Maccabees', in G.N. Stanton and Guy G. Stroumsa (eds.), Tolerance and Intolerance in Early Judaism and Christianity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press): 30-37.
31.
Schwartz, S.2007`Conversion to Judaism in the Second Temple Period: A Functionalist Approach', in S.J.D. Cohen and. Schwartz (eds.), Studies in Josephus and the Varieties of Ancient Judaism: Louis H. Feldman Jubilee Volume (AJEC, 67; Leiden: Brill): 223-36.
32.
Sievers, J.1990The Hasmoneans and Their Supporters. From Mattathias to the Death of John Hyrcanus I (South Florida Studies in the History of Judaism, 6;Atlanta: Scholars Press).
33.
Tassin, C.2008`Un grand prêtre ideal? Traditions juives anciennes sur Pinhas', REJ167: 1-22.
34.
Weitzman, S.1999`Forced Circumcision and the Shifting Role of Gentiles in Hasmonean Ideology', HTR92: 37-59.
