The characterization of David in the Book of Samuel raises the question of whether he should be classified as a virtuous or flawed king. However, it is worth reconsidering whether the interpretation of Davidic narratives should be constrained by a rigid binary framework. This paper concurs with recent scholarship that challenges a dichotomous reading of … Read more
In a 2015 article for Biblica (“A King Like the Nations: 1 Samuel 8 in Its Cultural Context,” Bib 96.2 [2015]: 179-200), Jonathan H. Walton argues that the Israelite elders’ desire for a king like the nations is to be interpreted as a desire for a king who can effectively replace the loss of the … Read more
In Chronicles scholarship, Judean King Asa is generally evaluated as a religiously devout king at first, but in 2 Chronicles 16, there is a tendency to interpret his experienced a spiritual deterioration based on his lack of reliance on God, his reaction after the prophet’s rebuke, and his attitude after becoming ill. However, this paper … Read more
Scholars have traditionally argued that the Chronicler makes no critical comment on intermarriage, citing his omission of Solomon’s foreign wives as evidence of this position. This paper challenges this view by demonstrating how the Chronicler employs sophisticated literary strategies to preserve Kings’ critique of problematic marriages while shifting the emphasis from ethnic to religious considerations. … Read more
The refrain “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judg 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) serves as a literary and theological key to the book’s epilogue. However, its precise meaning and significance remain debated. Some view it as pro-monarchical, i.e., a lament that underscores Israel’s need for a king. Others argue for an anti-monarchical … Read more