More on David

Posted on December 20, 2016 by jamesbradfordpate

theoutwardquest

I wrapped up my consideration of Joel Baden’s The Historical David.  But I am still thinking about David’s career.  One way of thinking about David is that the Bible uses him as a bad example and as part of the reason for the eventual divine judgment that fell upon his city and his dynasty.

David Noel Freedman’s The Nine Commandments: Uncovering the Hidden Pattern of Crime and Punishment in the Hebrew Bible made the case that by separating the Torah from the historical books we have missed a continuous story about how Israel broke each of the Commandments one by one.  Some of Freedman’s case I find unconvincing.  However, its strongest parts are the connection of David’s behavior to the breaking of the commandments against adultery and murder.  So is an idealized portrait of David something the devout have imposed on the Bible?

Part of the nativity story is…

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About jamesbradfordpate

My name is James Pate. This blog is about my journey. I read books. I watch movies and TV shows. I go to church. I try to find meaning. And, when I can’t do that, I just talk about stuff that I find interesting. I have degrees in fields of religious studies. I have an M.Phil. in the History of Biblical Interpretation from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. I also have an M.A. in Hebrew Bible from Jewish Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a B.A. from DePauw University.
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