Full Description
This work examines some of the stories in 1 Sam. 16-25 with the particular focus placed on Saul, Doeg, Nabal and the "son of Jesse." It seeks to discover new meaning in the structure as well as in the characters' functions in the narratives by studying the stories synchronically and diachronically.
One of the mysterious characters in 1 Samuel that has puzzled many a scholar is Nabal the Calebite. This study scrutinizes the elements of his characterization in 1 Sam. 25 and considers his abuses of the "son of Jesse", the contextual role of the geographic setting and political environment during King Saul's reign. Similarly, this volume studies the function of the character of Doeg the Edomite in 1 Sam. 21 and 22 regarding his Edomite origin, his particular business in Nob and his official status in Saul's court.
The phrase the "son of Jesse" is quite important in 1 Samuel and serves a particular purpose in the thematic development in the second half of the book. Viewed against the background of the Saul/David relationship, it underscores the superiority of the Davidic person in advancing the divine plan for the nation of Israel.
The determination of the book's historical context is the key to understanding the multilayered messages. The roles of history and ideology in making these stories are also considered with the proposal that the making of the book(s) of Samuel after the Exile (5th c. B.C.) might have been instigated by the writer's desire to create the context needed for further development of the messianic ideas.
Contents
CHAPTER I : 1 SAMUEL 16-25 AND THE RECENT SCHOLARSHIP
I. Introductory Remarks
II. Various Approaches to 1 Sam. 25
III. The Stories in 1 Sam 21 and 22
IV. MT, LXX, Q and Josephus in 1 Sam. 16-25
V. The Need for the Present Study
VI. The Approach Taken Here
CHAPTER II: NABAL THE CALEBITE
I. Introductory Remarks
II. Characterization of Nabal
III. Geographic Setting
IV. Narrative Analogy and 1 Sam. 25
V. Looking for the Answers
VI. Summary
CHAPTER III: DOEG THE EDOMITE
I. Introductory Remarks
II. Doeg the Edomite in Biblical Tradition
III. Summary
CHAPTER IV: SAUL, DOEG, NABAL vs. JONATHAN AND THE "SON OF JESSE"
I. Introductory Remarks
II. The "Son of Jesse" in the Hebrew Bible
III. Saul vs. David the "Son of Jesse" .
IV. Jonathan and David
V. Saul, Doeg and Nabal and the "Son of Jesse"
VI. Summary
CHAPTER V: THE BOOK(S) OF SAMUEL AND ITS WRITER(S)
I. Introductory Remarks
II. The Calebites in Biblical Tradition
III. The Chronicler and the Post-Exilic Writers
IV. 1 Samuel 25 and its Author(s)
V. 1 Samuel 17-22 and its Author(s)
VI. The Making of the Book of 1 Samuel
VII. VII. History and Ideology in 1 Samuel 16-25
VIII. Conclusion
CHAPTER VI: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
I. Assessment of the findings
II. Where does One go from Here?
APPENDICES
Appendix I: Doeg The Edomite in the Rabbinic Literature
Appendix II: Who Were the Biblical Amalekites?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
