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Homicideandaggressioninthehistoryofmankind
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Theoretically,theIsraeliteregulationsregardingcrimes,woundsandblows
wereveryold,datingfromthetribalperiod,andlinkedtotherighttorevenge.
Lawwasinevitablytiedtotheconceptofsocial,familyordivinerevenge,the
aimofwhichwastorestorethedesignatedorder.TheBibleclearlystated:
“Whososheddethman’sblood,bymanshallhisbloodbeshed”(Gen.9,6),and
thiswasthejustificationforthedeathpunishment.Revengewasadivinedutyof
theentirefamily,andtheclosestkinsmanofthevictimwassupposedtobethe
goel,“revengerofblood”.Itwas,however,prohibitedtofulfillthisdiredutyin
thecaseofanaccidental,unintentionalkilling(Ex.21,12;Deut.29,3-73),and
revengecouldnotbetakenoninnocentmembersofthekiller’sfamily(Deut.
24,16-74).
1.2.2FemalekillersintheBible
Womenfunctioninthemale-dominatedworldoftheBibleinvariousroles,
mainlythoseofthekings’mothers,wives,daughters,ormournerskeeningthe
kings’deaths;allinall,namelessparticipantsofeverydaylife,whosepersonal
lifeusuallymeritedscantattention.
Veryfewbiblicaltextsmentionfemalekillers.Oneofthereasonsisthat
foramantobekilledbyawomanwashumiliating.Thisiswellillustratedby
thenarrativeofthedeathofAbimelech.HavinglaidsiegetothecityofThe-
bez,“Abimelechcameuntothetower,andfoughtagainstit,andwenthard
untothedoorofthetowertoburnitwithre.Andacertainwomancase
apieceofamillstoneuponAbimelech’shead,andalltobrakehisskull.Then
hecalledhastilyuntotheyoungmanhisarmour-bearer,andsaiduntohim,
Drawthysword,andslayme,thatmensaynotofme,Awomanslewhim.
Andhisyoungmanthrusthimthrough,andhedied”(Judg.9,52-54).Theac-
cidentalnatureofthiskillingexplainsthelackofinterestinthewomanwho
perpetratedit.
Aboutsomeotherfemalekillersalittlemorecanbelearntfromthedescrip-
tionsoftheiremotionalstates,theirtraumaticexperiencesandviolencetowhich
theyweresubjected.Thisconcernsespeciallythosewomen,whosedeedswere
vividlydescribedandcommenteduponintheBible.Homicideswhichthose
womenperpetratedwereacceptable,aswastheirmotivation:politicalandreli-
giousmotives,anger,resentmentandrevenge.