SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Although the ancient Jewish novels with central female characters (Judith, Susanna, and Aseneth) were probably written by male authors and represent their perspectives and ideals, they are the main sources on women’s religiosity in Second Temple time. In these novels religiosity is primarily expressed in private prayer (including lamentation) and exemplary moral behaviour. Judith, Susanna, and Aseneth present (male) ideals of womanhood that are presented as identification figures to female readers and listeners, who knew that women could be as courageous and outspoken (Judith), morally impeccable (Susanna), and adventurous in crossing traditional boundaries (Aseneth) as males. The texts are particularly interesting from an intersectional perspective: they feature women whose high socio-economic status contrasted with the low status attributed to their gender. In the foreign political settings in which Judith (Persia) and Susanna (Babylon) are placed, the heroines are part of Jewish communities that are ethnic and religious minorities and, in the case of Judith, persecuted by the local rulers. In this context, Judith serves as a model for exhibiting courage in the face of political adversity, which Jews experienced in various circumstances under Hellenistic and Roman rule.