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...as 'identity crisis'. One's identity can be asserted at the cost of the other that constitutes the current problems which take different names and forms like the so called 'war against terrorism', 'casteism', 'patriarchy' and 'communal riots'. If these issues of 'space', 'identity', 'power' which can be encompassed within the theoretical trajectory of 'identity politics' it becomes the locus of creative biblical interpretation that can move to post modern phase in India. My attempt here is to see how the biblical portrayal of Achsah found in Judges chapter 1 can be interpreted in a way that it addresses the questions of female 'power', 'space' 'affirmation' and 'identity'.
The Relevance of the Achsah Story to the Indian Context
The experiences of Indian women are such that they are inextricably intertwined with the existing situation of poverty as well as the 'set expectations' about women. Women have not been in a position to have 'space' for themselves in terms of their social mobility and fertility. Their space and roles are expected to be confined to the 'domestic' chores as well as child bearing and child rearing. Moreover, they derive their own identity on the basis of the relationship that they enjoy with either their husband or their sons. Further, the submissive roles and status ascertained to women in India is further validated and legitimized on a scriptural and religious basis. Women have been further systematically alienated from the 'centers of power and authority' partly because of the male fear psychosis of the 'male' psyche, which has been so tempered by patriarchy that it cannot just 'tolerate' anything/anyone but the 'male' to hold the bastions of 'power' and 'authority'.
Amidst such a hierarchical and dominating and subjugating model of power, the biblical passage of Achsah offers us many lessons about what should be the real model of power and authority and how women ought to take steps to reclaim their own space and identity in the realm of interrelationships as well as in the cultural, social and political realms.
The story of Achsah is found in Judges Ch:1 vs. 111-5. The passage is as follows (1).
From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher). Then Caleb said, "whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and takes it, I will give him my daughter Achsah as wife." And Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's Younger brother took it." and he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb said to her, "what do you wish?" She said to him, "Give me a present; since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also Gullothmayim." So Caleb gave her Upper Gulloth and Lower Gulloth.
At the very outset, the story of...
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