The House of David
Subtitle: between political formation and literary revision
By: Mahri Leonard-Fleckman
Publisher: Fortress Press
Published: 2016
Place of publication: Minneapolis, MN
Language: eng
Number of pages: 334
ISBN-13: 9781506410180
Subjects: Criticism, interpretation; Jews; Politics and government; History; Kings and rulers; Bible
Description: "Current scholarly debate over the historical character of David's rule generally considers the biblical portrait to represent David as king of Judah first, and subsequently over "all Israel." The ninth-century Tel Dan inscription, which refers to the "House of David" (byt dwd), is often taken as evidence for the dynasty of Judah. Mahri Leonard-Fleckman argues, however, that references to Judah in the story of David as king do not suffice to constitute a coherent stratum of material about Judah as a political entity. Comparing the "house of . . ." terminology in the ninth-century Tel Dan inscription with early first-millennium Assyrian usage, then giving close examination to the "house of David" materials in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, she understands the "house of David" as a small body politic connected to David, but distinct from any Judean dynastic context. One implication is that the identification of Judah as a later southern kingdom may have less to do with an Israelite secession from Jerusalem than with an Israelite rejection of David's lineage and the subsequent redactional creation of Judah-centric language on the part of a Davidic coterie. Leonard-Fleckman's arguments suggest a rethinking of the rise of monarchy in Israel"--Publisher's website.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-295) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: pt. I. The Syrian House of X: 1. Ancient Syria and the "House of X" pattern; title: 2. Adini, Halupe, and Zamani; title: 3. Agusi and Bahiani; title: pt. II. The Biblical House of David: 4. Rebellions against David; title: 5. David, King of Israel (2 Samuel 2:1-5:3); title: 6. The assembly at Shechem (1 Kings 12:1-20); title: 7. The House of David in history.