David's Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King (Bible in Its World (Paperback))

Halpern, Baruch

ISBN 10: 0802827977 / ISBN 13: 9780802827975

Editore: Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source, 2004

This is a pre-loved book that shows moderate signs of wear from previous reading. You may notice creases, edge wear, or a cracked spine, but it remains in solid, readable condition. Please note: -May include library or rental stickers, stamps, or markings. -Supplemental materials e.g., CDs, access codes, inserts are not guaranteed. -Box sets may not come with the original outer box. If it does, the box will not be in perfect condition. Your satisfaction is our top priority! If you have any questions or concerns about your order, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you for shopping with us and supporting small businessâ happy reading! Codice articolo STM.7CC

Riassunto:

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

The Bible portrays King David as an exceptional man and a paragon of godly devotion. But was he? Some scholars deny that he existed at all. Did he? This challenging book examines the written and archaeological evidence critically in an effort to paint an accurate picture of one of the Bible's central figures.

Neither defending nor rejecting the traditions about David, Baruch Halpern, a leading scholar of biblical history and the ancient Near East, traces the origins of development of David's persona. Because the biblical text clearly responds to concerns that can only be contemporary with David himself, we can believe that David was both real and a central actor in the historical drama of ancient Israel. Yet at the same time, the written record also shows that contemporaries understood David's character to be much more unsavory trhan the tradition has hitherto allowed.

Halpern digs beneath the layers of tradition to understand David as an individual, as a person. The man he uncovers turns out to have been complex, ambiguous, and — above all — surprising. According to Halpern, the image of David grew over time. He was the founder of the dynasty that perpetuated the texts about him, and they progressively exaggerated his accomplishments. But in the earliest writings David remains a modest figure, as this book shows for the first time. To understand David as a human being, one must keep in mind that he was primarily a politicians who operated in a rough-and-tumble environment in which competitors were ready literally to slit throats.

Halpern's work raises many provocative questions: Was David an Israelite or a Philistine? Was Solomon really David's son? Did David take the throne of Israel by the consent or against the will of the people? How many murders did he commit on his way to the crown? Indeed, was David someone it would have been wise to even invite to dinner?

The challenging arguments in David's Secret Demons are sure to provoke all kinds of discussion among biblical scholars and general readers alike. In addition — a big bonus — Halpern's accessible, at times humorous prose will itself draw readers everywhere into the compelling story of David found between these covers.

Informazioni sull'autore: Baruch Halpern is Covenant Foundation Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Georgia and former codirector of the Megiddo Expedition. His other books include The Constitution of the Monarchy in Israel, The Emergence of Israel in Canaan, The First Historians: The Hebrew Bible and History, and Law and Ideology in Monarchic Israel.

Dati bibliografici

Titolo: David's Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, ...
Casa editrice: Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source
Data di pubblicazione: 2004
Legatura: Brossura
Condizione: good