Precedents of Jewish Masculinity Psychosocial Studies of Biblical Vignettes

This monograph offers an interdisciplinary examination of masculinity across biblical, and psychological, and modern social contexts. Drawing on the theoretical framework of men’s studies, it applies key concepts of masculinity construction and performance to nine major male figures in the Hebrew Bible, illuminating how gendered identities are negotiated within sacred texts. Employing the modern psychological methodology of Transactional Analysis, the book presents a close reading of the dialogue in the Book of Jonah, uncovering themes of despair and suicide prevention that resonate with insights found in certain medieval rabbinic commentaries. By bridging biblical studies, psychology, and gender theory, and social history, this volume makes a distinctive contribution to contemporary scholarship and is of interest to researchers in theology, religious studies, gender studies, and the social sciences.