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David is one of the most complex and fascinating characters in all of literature. His story exists at a crucial point in the biblical narrative where God turns toward committing to monarchy in Israel. He is the slayer of Goliath, the hero of Israel, and God's chosen king. Yet, he is also a manipulator, adulterer, and murderer. This book provides a broad audience of students, lay readers, and scholars with a close reading of David's story, presenting scholarly study of this fascinating and crucial character in an accessible and engaging manner. By carefully presenting David's story, this book addresses how it is possible to consider a flawed and imperfect character like David as a man after God's own heart.
Characters provide the entry point to the story of the books of Samuel, just as they do in all stories. In this book the history of research into characters in Samuel, and the role(s) they play in the text are examined and discussed. The contributors look at the interpretative function of characters in the Samuel stories, and at issues of textual composition and what profiling of characters within the text can add to theories surrounding this issue. Specific characters are also profiled and studied. The character of God is examined: is God kind towards Israel? Is God loving and 'worthy to be praised' 2 Sam 22.4. Characters such as Hannah are examined from the perspective of literary type, as well as Eli as priest and Samuel himself as prophet. All of the major characters within the books are studied, including David and Jonathan, and chapters also treat the minor characters and offer information on their roles in the structure of the text. The contributors provide a range of different approaches to characterization, according to their specific expertise, and provide a thorough handbook to the characters in Samuel and their roles in the literary make-up of the text.
The story of David and Goliath existed in antiquity in two variant literary editions, a short version found in the Greek tradition of Codex Vaticanus (LXXB) and a longer version found in the Hebrew tradition of the MT. Benjamin J. M. Johnson proposes that each version is worthy of study in its own right and offers a close literary reading of the narrative of David and Goliath in the Greek text of 1 Reigns 16-18. The author explores a method for reading the Septuagint that recognizes it is both a document in its own right and a translation of a Hebrew original. In offering a reading of the septuagintal version of the David and Goliath narrative, the literary difference between the two versions of the story and the literary significance of the Greek translation are highlighted.
This book is an examination of characters in the books of Kings; showing how understanding and interpretation of key characters affects readings of the story. The volume begins with more general pieces addressing how the study of characters can shed light on the composition history of Kings and on how characters and characterization can be considered with respect to ethics, particularly with respect to the moral complexity of biblical characters. Contributors then consider key characters within the Kings narrative in depth, such as Nathan, Bathsheba, Solomon and Jezebel. The contributors use their own specific expertise to analyze these characters and more, drawing on insights from literary theory and considering such approaches as questioning our view of a particular character with based on the character within the text with whom we identify. Contributors also assess whether or not characters as portrayed in the biblical text necessarily match up to their possible counterparts in history.
David is one of the most complex and fascinating characters in all of literature. His story exists at a crucial point in the biblical narrative where God turns toward committing to monarchy in Israel. He is the slayer of Goliath, the hero of Israel, and God’s chosen king. Yet, he is also a manipulator, adulterer, and murderer. This book provides a broad audience of students, lay readers, and scholars with a close reading of David’s story, presenting scholarly study of this fascinating and crucial character in an accessible and engaging manner. By carefully presenting David’s story, this book addresses how it is possible to consider a flawed and imperfect character like David as a man after God’s own heart.
The volume consists of 21 essays from an international group of scholars. The volume is broken into two parts: Reading Samuel with the Hebrew Bible, and beyond the Hebrew Bible. Each section will offer readings of portions of the Book of Samuel that engage with other texts. The chapters are arranged in the order of the narrative sequence of Samuel to highlight the way reading with other texts can inform a reading of the Book of Samuel.
This follow-up to Theology of the Hebrew Bible, Volume 1: Methodological Studies, focuses on readers’ engagement with the text and their communities. Part 1 offers fresh interpretations of divine images and theological concepts drawn from various theophanies in the text. Part 2 focuses on how these insights can form new overarching structures, serving as reading strategies or foundations for alternative theologies. Part 3 emphasizes the bond between readers and their communities, highlighting the active participation of both ancient and modern readers through an analysis of past literature. Contributors, each an expert in their field, include Rachel Adelman, Samuel E. Balentine, Shelly L. Birdsong, Ginny Brewer-Boydston, Johanna Etzberger, Frances Flannery, David Frankel, Barry R. Huff, Hyun Chul Paul Kim, Barbara Leung Lai, J. Richard Middleton, Hye Kyung Park, Kris Sonek, Brent A. Strawn, David E. S. Stein, Marvin A. Sweeney, Soo Kim Sweeney, Joseph Sykora, Daniel C. Timmer, and Beat Weber. This collection of essays guides readers, including those well-versed in theology, to explore innovative and unexpected depictions of divine beings and how human characters respond to them.
"This book is a work of medieval history and the history of gender and sexuality. It looks at the biblical King David, who has multiple paradigmatic identities in the Middle Ages: king, military leader, adulterous lover, sinner. It views David primarily from the perspective of medieval European Christian society but also from the medieval European Jewish viewpoint"--
The Old Testament book of Samuel is an intriguing narrative that offers an account of the origin of the monarchy in Israel. It also deals at length with the fascinating stories of Saul and David. In this volume, John Goldingay works through the book, exploring the main theological ideas as they emerge in the narratives about Samuel, Saul, and David, as well as in the stories of characters such as Hannah, Michal, Bathsheba, and Tamar. Goldingay brings out the key ideas about God and God's involvement in the lives of people, and their involvement with him through prayer and worship. He also delves into the mystery and complexity of human persons and their roles in events. Goldingay's study traces how God pursues his purpose for Israel and, ultimately, for the world in these narratives. It shows how this pursuit is interwoven with the realities of family, monarchy, war, love, ambition, loss, failure, and politics.
The Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies (JBTS) is an academic journal focused on the fields of Bible and Theology from an inter-denominational point of view. The journal is comprised of an editorial board of scholars that represent several academic institutions throughout the world. JBTS is concerned with presenting high-level original scholarship in an approachable way. Academic journals are often written by scholars for other scholars. They are technical in nature, assuming a robust knowledge of the field. There are fewer journals that seek to introduce biblical and theological scholarship that is also accessible to students. JBTS seeks to provide high-level scholarship and research to both scholars and students, which results in original scholarship that is readable and accessible. As an inter-denominational journal JBTS is broadly evangelical. We accept contributions in all theological disciplines from any evangelical perspective. In particular, we encourage articles and book reviews within the fields of Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Theology, Church History, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Philosophical Theology, Philosophy, and Ethics.