Not at first sight: Gender love in jubilees

This article examines the theme of love in Jubilees, suggesting that the author distinguishes between two types of love: 'eye-appeal' and 'moral-appeal'-that is, that based on a person's attributes as expressed through ethical conduct. The first consists of a three-stage cause and effect process in which a person's outward appearance elicits erotic feelings that frequently lead to transgression of the law. In systematically depicting this sin as a violation of a recorded authoritative instruction Jubilees highlights the gravity of love/desire kindled by eyesight, which threatens the social order. In contrast, love based on moral-appeal is depicted as flourishing within the marriage bond and grounding familial harmony. The scheme is exemplified in the Jubilean reworking of the Jacob-Rachel-Leah triad and Reuben's relation with Bilhah, together with other references to love introduced by the Jubilean author.