How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
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. (NRSV 1:12-13)
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. (KJV 1:12-13)
Is there any quest manlier than a battle fought for the hand of a beautiful maiden? And yet, could this giving and taking of wives have somehow contributed to Israel's crisis of masculinity?
Quote #2
But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull. Immediately he called to the young man who carried his armour and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so people will not say about me, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man thrust him through, and he died. (NRSV 9:53)
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. (KJV 9:53)
Did Abimelech preserve his masculinity with this little stunt, or diminish it? He's obviously most concerned here about his reputation as a man, which he thinks would be diminished if other men knew that a woman had killed him.
Quote #3
Then Manoah entreated the Lord, and said, "O Lord, I pray, let the man of God whom you sent come to us again and teach us what we are to do concerning the boy who will be born." (NRSV 13:8)
Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. (KJV 13:8)
Manoah might be the most blameless man in Judges, and certainly the most blameless father. He seems excited about being a new daddy, but he's probably scared he's going to mess it up, so he's asking for God's "New Dad" guidebook.