S. Van Den Eynde, «Crying to God Prayer and Plot in the Book of Judith», Vol. 85 (2004) 217-231
If prayers are defined as communication in which prayers receive a response from God, this implies that they have a function as regards the plot of a story. As a test case, the impact of praying on the plot as well as the characterisation in the book of Judith (containing 21 references to praying) is analysed. The specific characterisation of God through prayer affects the plot. Apart from their importance for characterisation and plot, the prayers in Judith contribute in their own way to the development of its main theme: who is truly God, Nebuchadnezzar or YHWH?
Crying to God. Prayer and Plot in the Book of Judith 231
function of this kind of discourse, not only in the book of Judith, but
also in other biblical texts.
Catholic University Leuven (Belgium) S. VAN DEN EYNDE
Elfnovemberlaan 36
3010 Kessel-Lo Belgium
SUMMARY
If prayers are defined as communication in which prayers receive a response
from God, this implies that they have a function as regards the plot of a story.
As a test case, the impact of praying on the plot as well as the characterisation
in the book of Judith (containing 21 references to praying) is analysed. The
specific characterisation of God through prayer affects the plot. Apart from
their importance for characterisation and plot, the prayers in Judith contribute
in their own way to the development of its main theme: who is truly God,
Nebuchadnezzar or YHWH?