ABSTRACT
The introduction opens by noting that there is no such thing as the Hebrew Bible. Neither were its male authors the sole producers of biblical literature. Nevertheless, both the Hebrew Bible and its authors have assumed outsized influence across the globe. The introduction then describes the aims and goals of masculinity studies and defines primary terms in the field. It lays out primary characteristics of biblical male friendship, arguing that biblical hegemonic masculinity should be analyzed not simply through individual characters but by examining male alliances and relationships. Male relationships depend on the sexual use of women's bodies for their very creation, as well as for their sustenance and success. Finally, the author introduces the argument of this book: the exploitation of women's bodies is not a byproduct of the Hebrew Bible's hegemonic masculinity, but rather foundational to it.
