The literary function of Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum 49 in Hannah’s story: Hannah and the people as inverted mirror images

Abstract

This article argues that Pseudo-Philo carefully crafted the sequence of events and the speeches in Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum (L.A.B.) 49 so as to create connections with Hannah’s story. Through this, the reader is invited to compare the various reactions of the people with those of Hannah, so that Hannah’s role as an exemplar for the people is highlighted. The two stories follow a similar trajectory of disappointments and encouragements but show a marked contrast in protagonists’ attitudes and relationships to God. Faced with similar trials, Hannah succeeds where the people fail. The article also shows that the elements of L.A.B.’s version of Hannah’s story that are not found in the biblical text are nonetheless inspired by hints present in it, showing that Pseudo-Philo grounded his retelling of the story in a close reading of the text.