Fate of Justice and Righteousness during David's Reign: Narrative Ethics and Rereading the Court History according to 2 Samuel 8:15-20:26

This work argues that 2 Sam 8:15-20:26 is a literary unit designed to show how David and his house failed to establish justice and righteousness during David's reign over all Israel. It suggests that Chapter 3 reads 2 Sam 8:15-20:26 as a coherent literary unit reflecting an ethical world-view grounded in kindness and having as its main theme the failure of justice and righteousness to be established. Chapter 4 presents a case for reading 2 Sam 8:15-10:19 as an account of the beginnings of justice and righteousness during David's reign, in which David's kindness towards Mephibosheth is presented as analogous to a Mesopotamian royal declaration and was performed as an inaugural act of charity upon David's ascent to the throne.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This work makes a compelling argument that 2 Sam 8:15-20:26 is a literary unit meticulously crafted to illustrate the failure of David and his house to establish justice and righteousness during David's reign over all Israel. The book begins with an introductory chapter and a chapter on critical methodology, setting the stage for a detailed close reading of the selected verses.

Chapter 3 takes a deeper dive into the text, presenting a compelling case for reading 2 Sam 8:15-20:26 as a cohesive literary unit that reflects an ethical worldview grounded in kindness. The central theme of this chapter is the failure of justice and righteousness to be established during David's reign.

Chapter 4 delves into a different perspective, suggesting that 2 Sam 8:15-10:19 can be interpreted as an account of the beginnings of justice and righteousness during David's reign. In this chapter, David's kindness towards Mephibosheth is presented as analogous to a Mesopotamian royal declaration, serving as an inaugural act of charity upon David's ascent to the throne.

Through meticulous analysis and thoughtful interpretation, this work offers a fresh perspective on the text, shedding light on the complexities of David's reign and the ethical challenges he faced. It provides valuable insights into the literary and historical context of the biblical narrative, enriching our understanding of the text and its significance in the broader context of ancient Israelite society.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780567689276