Abstract

While there are key differences between Jephthah's daughter's story and that of Jesus, not least the difference in gender of the sacrificial victims, this thesis posits that both the similarities and differences between these two accounts can enrich readings of Jesus' death in the gospel of Matthew. A careful comparison of the narrative of Jephthah's daughter with Jesus' Passion narrative in the gospel of Matthew leads to the conclusion that Jesus' death should be interpreted as a human sacrifice. Reading Jesus' death as a human sacrifice and locating it in that socio-religious context makes his death indicative of a transactional, covenantal relationship between him and the Father. These two accounts also share archetypes that come from the Hebrew Bible. Foregrounding Jesus' narrative with Jepthah's daughter's narrative intricately reveals Jesus' connections with the Hebrew Bible, shedding light on the interpretation of his Passion.

Degree

College and Department

Humanities; Comparative Arts and Letters

Rights

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