1 – 2 Samuel

Marvin Sweeney's commentary on 1–2 Samuel emphasizes the qualities of leadership displayed by the book's major characters and compares them to Machiavelli's The Prince and Sun Tzu's The Art of War. He also offers an analysis of the synchronic literary structure of Samuel and a new theory regarding its composition. Additionally, he re-evaluates the role of 2 Samuel 21–24 within the book's synchronic literary structure, arguing that it is a northern Israelite composition that stands as a component of the Jehu Dynastic History.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 364 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In this comprehensive commentary on 1-2 Samuel, Marvin Sweeney delves into the profound qualities of leadership showcased by the prominent figures of the book. By drawing comparisons with Machiavelli's The Prince and Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Sweeney offers a comparative analysis of the leadership traits exhibited by Eli, Samuel, Saul, David, Ish-Bosheth, Abner, Abshalom, Joab, and other key characters. Additionally, Sweeney provides a detailed examination of the synchronic literary structure of Samuel, exploring its intricate composition and proposing a novel theory regarding its formation. Furthermore, he re-evaluates the significance of 2 Samuel 21-24 within the broader synchronic literary framework of the book, contending that the so-called Succession Narrative in 2 Samuel 9-20 is a northern Israelite composition that forms an integral part of the Jehu Dynastic History. Through his meticulous exploration of the geography and cities of the land of Israel, Sweeney's commentary empowers readers to gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal role that the land of Israel plays in the narrative of the book of Samuel.

In this comprehensive commentary on 1-2 Samuel, Marvin Sweeney delves into the profound qualities of leadership showcased by the prominent figures of the book. By drawing comparisons with Machiavelli's The Prince and Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Sweeney offers a comparative analysis of the leadership traits exhibited by Eli, Samuel, Saul, David, Ish-Bosheth, Abner, Abshalom, Joab, and other key characters. Additionally, Sweeney provides a detailed examination of the synchronic literary structure of Samuel, exploring its intricate composition and proposing a novel theory regarding its formation. Furthermore, he re-evaluates the significance of 2 Samuel 21-24 within the broader synchronic literary framework of the book, contending that the so-called Succession Narrative in 2 Samuel 9-20 is a northern Israelite composition that forms an integral part of the Jehu Dynastic History. Through his meticulous exploration of the geography and cities of the land of Israel, Sweeney's commentary empowers readers to gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal role that the land of Israel plays in the narrative of the book of Samuel.

ISBN-13: 9781108460040