Agsa, vrou van Otniël

Abstract

Die literêre uitbeelding van die verhale in die boek Rigters weerspieël 'n korporatiewe eenheid van stamme of sibbes waarin individue ook 'n prominente rol speel. Binne die stammeorganisasie kan verwag word dat dié individue tipiese "ideale liggame" - heel manlike Israeliete - sal wees. In teenstelling daarmee speel "nie-ideale liggame" soos vroue, "gestremdes" en "heidene" 'n toonaangewende rol in die boek. Die naasmekaarstelling van "ideale" en "nie-ideale liggame" in die boek skep beide spanning en ironie, veral wanneer die "nie-ideale vroulike liggaam" inisiatief neem terwyl die ideale manlike Israeliet dikwels 'n bedreiging skep wat op skade of skande uitloop (bv Rgt 14-16). Die rol wat Agsa in Rigters 1:11-15 speel is 'n illustrasie van 'n "teenkultuur-retoriek" as verskuilde polemiek (vgl ook 4-5; 9:50; 11:37-40; 13).

The literary depiction of this story in the book of Judges reflects a corporate unit of tribes or clans in which individuals played a prominent role. Within the tribal organisation these individuals could be expected to have typical "ideal bodies" - entirely masculine Israelites. "Non-ideal bodies", such as women, the handicapped and heathens, in contrast, play a leading role in the book. The juxtaposition of the "ideal" and the "non-ideal body" in Judges creates both tension and irony, especially when the "non-ideal female body" takes the initiative, while the ideal manly Israelite often creates a threat that results in harm or shame (e.g. Judges 14-16). The role Achsah plays in Judges 1:11-15 is an illustration of a counter-culture rhetoric as hidden polemic (cf also 4-5; 9:50; 11:37-40; 13).