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.
Arvustused
These essays highlight the multi-layered feature of the narratives in Kings. This leads to a greater appreciation of the literary skills of the biblical authors in depicting their characters as complex and interesting. * The Bible Today * This volume provides a richly nuanced analysis of characters and characterization in the book of Kings and contains a wealth of illuminating insights into some familiar texts. * Journal for the Study of the Old Testament *
Muu info
A study of the many and often complex characters and the characterization of them in the narrative of 1 and 2 Kings.
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vii | |
| Preface |
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ix | |
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xiii | |
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Chapter 1 Characterization and Ethics |
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1 | (16) |
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Chapter 2 Ahaz and Jeroboam |
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17 | (15) |
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Chapter 3 Bathsheba between the Lines and beneath the Surface |
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32 | (18) |
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Chapter 4 The Portrait of Solomon in the Book of Kings |
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50 | (15) |
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Chapter 5 Rehabilitating Rehoboam |
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65 | (18) |
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Chapter 6 Deceiving the Man of God from Judah: A Question of Motive |
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83 | (20) |
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Chapter 7 Dancing with Death; Dancing with Life: Ahab between Jezebel and Elijah |
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103 | (18) |
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Chapter 8 Jezebel Now: Gazing through Multiple Windows |
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121 | (14) |
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Chapter 9 An Ambivalent Hero: Elijah in Narrative-Critical Perspective |
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135 | (17) |
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Chapter 10 The Character of Elisha and His Bones |
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152 | (15) |
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Chapter 11 He's Driving Like Jehu---Like a Madman: Humor and Violence in 2 Kings 9-10 |
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167 | (15) |
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Chapter 12 Athaliah: The Queen Who Was Not |
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182 | (17) |
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Chapter 13 Artifacts of Scenery or Agents of Change? A Subaltern Character in 2 Kings 4:1-7 |
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199 | (15) |
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Chapter 14 The Trust of Hezekiah: In YHWH ... and Assyria, Egypt, and Babylon (2 Kings 18--20) |
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214 | (20) |
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Chapter 15 Manasseh the Boring: Lack of Character in 2 Kings 21 |
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234 | (16) |
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Chapter 16 To Reform or Not to Reform: Characterization and Ethical Reading of Josiah in Kings |
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250 | (19) |
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| Afterword |
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269 | (2) |
| Bibliography |
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271 | (18) |
| Index of References |
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289 | (11) |
| Index of Authors |
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300 | |
Keith Bodner is Professor of Religious Studies at Crandall University, USA.
Benjamin J.M. Johnson is Tutor in Religious Interpretation at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford, UK.
