Journal Article

Homeric and Ancient Near Eastern Intertextuality in 1 Samuel 17

FROLOV, SERGE, WRIGHT, ALLEN

2011

Overview

[...] complicating the picture, parallels often point in several directions, sometimes toward texts composed in different languages and belonging to different cultures. Since the relative dating of ancient texts-and accordingly the mimetic vector-may likewise be indeterminate, meaningful discussion of intertextuality with regard to such texts would appear beset by ambiguities to the point of being doomed from the outset.2 The Hebrew Bible is a case in point. [...] with the criterion of interpretability in mind, the author of the newly created composition has to be reasonably sure that the same is true of his or her intended audience.7 If so, in order to argue that 1 Samuel 17 imitates the Iliad, it is necessary to demonstrate that at the time when the biblical chapter could conceivably have come into existence some Jews/Israelites were, or at least could have been (1) in possession of Homer scrolls and (2) sufficiently literate in Greek to detect and appreciate (not to mention create) an imitation of his opus.

• Publisher: Society of Biblical Literature
• Subject: Analysis / Armor / Beliefs, opinions and attitudes / Bible / Bible and literature / Bible as literature / Classical literature / Comparative analysis / Criticism and interpretation / Epic literature / Exegesis & hermeneutics / Greek language / Hebrew language / Homeric epics / Homeric hymns / Imitation / Intertextuality / Jewish people / Kristeva, Julia / Mimesis / Philosophers / Religious literature / Swords / Torah / Warfare / Weapons / Written composition