Judith

Jennifer L. Koosed is professor of religious studies at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. She is the author of several books, including (Per)mutations of Qohelet: Reading the Body in the Book (Continuum, 2006); Gleaning Ruth: A Biblical Heroine and Her Afterlives (University of South Carolina, 2011); and Reading the Bible as a Feminist (Brill, 2017). She is also the editor of several works, including The Bible and Posthumanism (SBL Press, 2014) and Reading with Feeling: Affect Theory and the Bible (with Fiona C. Black; SBL Press, 2019).  Robert Paul Seesengood is associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor of Bible and cultures at Drew Theological School. He received his ThM (New Testament) from Princeton Theological Seminary and his PhD (History of Ancient Christianity) from Drew University. He is a frequent lecturer, an editor, and an author of several essays and monographs, including Philemon (Bloomsbury, 2017), Paul: A Brief History (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010), and, with Jennifer L. Koosed, Jesse’s Lineage: The Legendary Lives of David, Jesus and Jesse James (T & T Clark, 2013).

• ContentsAcknowledgments viiList of Abbreviations ixList of Contributors xiForeword: “Tell It on the Mountain”—or, “And You Shall Tell Your Daughter [as Well]” xiiiAthalya Brenner-IdanEditor’s Introduction to Wisdom Commentary: “She Is a Breath of the Power of God” (Wis 7:25) xviiBarbara E. Reid, OPAuthors’ Introduction xxxviiJudith 1:1–4:15   The Masculine Machinations of War 1Judith 5:1–6:21   Achior, a Different Kind of Man 25Judith 7:1–9:14   Judith Takes Center Stage 41Judith 10:1–11:23   High Femme Warrior 73Judith 12:1–13:10a   Wielding the Master’s Tool 97Judith 13:10b–16:25   Judith Triumphant 131Conclusion 163Works Cited 173  Index of Scripture References and Other Ancient Writings 187Index of Authors and Subjects 193

“There are many ancient Jewish stories that feature women, but in the book of Judith the woman fully dominates. This volume achieves every goal of the Wisdom Commentary series. This beautifully written introduction to Judith is a treat; great reading for students, scholars, religious professionals, and a general audience, as well. In keeping with the series, the authors bring a feminist and an intersectional approach, but manage also to include literary and comparative studies and art history. This book is as engaging as its subject matter!”Lawrence M. Wills, author of Judith in Hermeneia series