Heroines Heroes and Deity

Kamrada's study analyses three narratives concerning the greatest heroic figures of the biblical tradition: Jephthah's daughter Samson and Saul and includes a consideration of texts about King David. All three characters are portrayed as the greatest and most typical and exemplary heroes of the heroic era. All three heroes have an exceptionally close relationship with the deity all die a traditionally heroic tragic death. Kamrada argues that within the Book of Judges and the biblical heroic tradition Jephthah's daughter and Samson represent the pinnacle of female and male heroism respectively and that they achieve super-human status by offering their lives to the deity thus entering the sphere of holiness. <br/><br/>Saul's trajectory by contrast exemplifies downfall of a great hero in his final irreversible separation from God and it also signals the decline of the heroic era. David however is shown as an astute hero who founds a lasting dynasty thus conclusively bringing the heroic era in the Deuteronomistic history to a close.