Remember like a man: Memory and masculinity in the Gideon and Jephthah cycles

Scholars often overlook key similarities between the narrative cycles of Gideon (Judg. 6.11–8.35) and Jephthah (Judg. 11.1–12.7). They are the only so-called judges who recall the exodus tradition and are the only men who are described as גבור חיל. Their cycles are the only places in the Hebrew Bible where גבור חיל is associated with the recalling of the exodus tradition. In this article, I read the stories of these two men together and argue that such unique parallels suggest a connection between masculinity and memory in Judges. I demonstrate that in instances where the ‘going up’ from Egypt is cited, only males are the agents of the action. Furthermore, two of the men who do refer to the exodus—Gideon and Jephthah—are described as גבור חיל‎, a title often linked to ideas of masculinity. This connection is further accentuated by the manner in which the Gideon and Jephthah cycles present the uneven nature of each judge’s demonstration of memory recollection, following the uneven demonstrations of other aspects of their masculinity, specifically: their relationships with women and other men, their posterity, and their persuasive skill. By examining the narratives’ philological features and integrating theoretical frameworks of memory and masculinist studies, I demonstrate how Gideon and Jephthah’s ability to recall the deliverance from Egypt is integral to the maintenance of their masculinity. This study invites a deeper analysis of under-examined parallels between Gideon and Jephthah and has ramifications for understanding memory’s role in Judges, the Hebrew Bible’s conceptions of masculinity, and the priorities of the scribes who produced the narratives.