ABSTRACT
Madness is one of the topics inextricably related to an etic approach since its meaning depends on the criteria used by its observers and the definition these latter give to it. The Jewish representation of madness in ancient times can be found in textual sources that are very different in nature, ranging from the discourse of legal documents to prophetic oracles and philosophical reflections. Saul, the founder of the institution of monarchy, represents the emblematic figure for madness in the Hebrew Bible. People usually understand the emergence of madness in the world as the affliction of an individual or occasionally a group. Nevertheless, the situation of Jehu represents another modality in which madness manifests itself: this is the case of events which are unjustifiable or incomprehensible within the framework of an organized history, they are nonsensical. An example of royal madness in the Bible is represented by the portrait of Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel.
