Old Testament Introduction: Lecture 5

Kings and Prophets

Kings
 
The setting
	in the ancient near east
	   among nations and cultures
	   common humanity
	as one people, many tribes
	   true to "peculiar" ancestors
	   exodus and covenants

immediate context
	surrounding "nations"
	   canaanites, philistines, moabites
	competing and co-operating tribes
	judges as leaders
	   deuteronomic pattern schematic
	   but desire to be normal

disputes about having a king
	first king Abimelek
	   (Jotham's fable - Judges 9)
	[place of Samuel]
	views of Saul (king? leader?)
	     (tribe of Benjamin; capitals Gibeah and Gilgal)
	   people demand (1 Sam 8:4-18; 10:17-21)
	   God initiates (1 Sam 9:15-21; 10:1,9-13)
    Saul rejected  (1 Sam 13:1-15a; 15:1-25)

David and Saul
	   David (from tribe of Judah) joining Saul
	      Goliath story (1 Sam 17; contrast 2 Sam 21:19)
			note 1 Sam 17:55-58
	      soothing music (1 Sam 16:14-23)
			following anointing of David 15:35-16:13
               (cf Psalm headings & Chronicles)
	   separation from Saul (despite Jonathan)
	      to point of joining Philistines (1 Sam 27-29)

David as King
     mercenary with philistines (1 Sam 27-29)
     capitol and kingdom
	     anointed by Judah (2 sam 2:4 at hebron)
		 and Israel(2 sam 5:5)
     Jerusalem captured: city of David (2 sam 5:6-10)
        [Davies' objections -- cf thucydides 1.10 - big enough for capital?]
     religion
	     The ark of the covenant (2 sam 6:1-19)
	     Nathan's oracle of permanence (2 Sam 7:1-17)
     census (2 Sam 24:1-9)

David and loved ones
    Jonathan
       (1 Sam 18:1-5; 19:1-7; 2 Sam 1)
    Saul's family
       (2 Sam 9)
    Absalom
       (2 Sam 15:1-18; 18:6-15, 31-33) rebellion

David and the women
    praise in contrast to Saul (1 Sam 18:6-9)
    Saul's daughters (1 Sam 18:17-29; 2 Sam 6:12-16, 20-23)
    Abigail (1 Sam 25:2-13, 23-44) 
    other wives (2 Sam 5:13-16)
    Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1-12:25) and denial of primogeniture
    Abishag  (1 Kgs 1:1-4)

The sequel
	Solomon
        the succession (1 Kgs 1:4-31)
        even more like the nations
        taxing districts replacing tribes

divided kingdoms
	separation
	   nature of union
	   expansion of Solomon's oppression
	   continued unity (at least ideological)
	Judah
	   single succession (with a question or two)
	   single capitol
	   less prominence internationally
	     therefore, Assyria accepts vassal status
	   fall of Nineveh in 612
	   exile ca 586
	Ephraim
	   capitols & cult centres separate
	   changes of dynasty
	     prophetic involvment
	   international connections
	     temptations to religious apostasy
	     more notice in external sources
	   fall to Assyria (722)
	     dispersal of nobility
	     importation of foreigners
	     involvement of some in Judean worship
	     "ten lost tribes"


Prophets
backgrounds
	cultic, independent, court 
         [cf nathan, samuel, balaam]
	aaron as moses'prophet - spokesman
	ecstatic activity (in wilderness camp, Saul, etc)
	various terms and functions (seer, prophet, etc)

former prophets ("non-writing")
		[mostly in northern kingdom]

	Elijah
	   Ahab and Jezebel (and cult of Baal)
            	relationship to golden calves
			freedom of religion for the queen
	      drought & mt carmel prophets of baal (1 kgs 17-18)
	      still small voice (1 kgs 19)
	      naboth's vineyard (1 kgs 21)
	   Malachi 3:23-24 (Hebrew numbering) - end of prophets

	Elisha
          succession (call:1 kgs 19 ; and traditio: 2 kgs 2:1-13)
	    "bizarre" tales (2 kgs 2:19-25)
	    healing of Naaman (2 kgs 5) - note Gehazi's end
	    politics (anointing Jehu 2 kgs 9)