Not at First Sight: Gender Love in Jubilees

Updated by: 
Oren Ableman
Research notes: 
Reader Checked OA 09/03/2014
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Livneh, Atar
year: 
2013
Full title: 

Not at First Sight: Gender Love in Jubilees

Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Volume: 
23
Issue / Series Volume: 
1
Abbreviated Series Name: 
JSP
Pages: 
3-20
Work type: 
Essay/Monograph
Abstract: 

This article examines the theme of love in Jubilees, suggesting that the author distinguishes between two types of love: ‘eye-appeal’ and ‘moral-appeal’—that is, that based on a person's attributes as expressed through ethical conduct. The first consists of a three-stage cause and effect process in which a person's outward appearance elicits erotic feelings that frequently lead to transgression of the law. In systematically depicting this sin as a violation of a recorded authoritative instruction Jubilees highlights the gravity of love/desire kindled by eyesight, which threatens the social order. In contrast, love based on moral-appeal is depicted as flourishing within the marriage bond and grounding familial harmony. The scheme is exemplified in the Jubilean reworking of the Jacob–Rachel–Leah triad and Reuben's relation with Bilhah, together with other references to love introduced by the Jubilean author.

URL: 
http://jsp.sagepub.com/content/23/1/3.abstract
Record number: 
97 686