The Prophet's Anthem
The Song of Deborah and Barak in the Narrative of Judges
- 207 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Within the chaotic world narrated in the book of Judges, the prophet Deborah spoke under the authority of Israel's God, interpreting an important battle and calling fellow Israelites to faithfulness. The Song of Deborah is a remarkable and challenging text, given its rare vocabulary, unique poetic structure, and opaque compositional history. Even more noteworthy is its placement within the narrative of the book of Judges. In light of studies that demonstrate the interpretive significance of songs embedded in narratives, the inclusion of Deborah's song within Judges suggests it serves a strategic function within that larger literary complex.
In The Prophet's Anthem, Michelle Knight explores the effect of Deborah's song being included at this juncture of one of the most fascinating and troubling narratives in the canon. While many previous analyses of Deborah's song focus primarily on its immediate context--Judges 4--Knight uses a literary approach that attends to the song's effect on the entire narrative. The song's prophetic association underscores the importance of knowledge and revelation in the book of Judges, especially for a generation who "knew neither YHWH nor the deeds he had done for Israel" (2:10).
Drawing on over a century's worth of concentrated critical research on the song, The Prophet's Anthem combines poetic analysis and narrative criticism to yield fresh thematic and structural insights for reading the entire Judges narrative. With their attention keenly trained on Deborah's words, readers will be better equipped to hear the book of Judges in a new register.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Endorsements Page, Title Page, Copyright Page
- Contents
- List of Figures and Tables
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1. Judges 5 in Form and Content
- 2. Judges 5 in Its Narrative Cycle
- 3. Characterization in the Song and the Savior Stories
- 4. Plot and Themes in the Song and the Savior Stories
- 5. The Narrative Function of the Song of Deborah and Barak in the Book of Judges
- Appendix: Lexical and Text Critical Analysis
- Bibliography
- Author Index
- Scripture Index