The Theology of the Book of Kings

285 Pages·2019·1.21 MB·English

by  Keith Bodner

the theology of the book of kings
1and2Kingsunfoldsanepicnarrativethatconcludesthelongstoryof
Israel’s experience with institutional monarchy, a sequence of events
thatbeginswiththeaccessionofSolomonandtheestablishmentofthe
Jerusalem temple, moves through the partition into north and south,
andleadsinexorablytowardthenation’sdestructionandthepassageto
exile in Babylon. Keith Bodner’s The Theology of the Book of Kings
providesareadingofthenarrativeattentivetoitsliterarysophistication
and theological subtleties, as the cast of characters – from the royal
courtstotheruralfields–arevariouslychallengedtoresistthetempting
pathwayofpoliticalandspiritualaccommodationsandinsteadmaintain
allegiance to their covenant with God. In dialogue with a range of
contemporary interpreters, this study is a preliminary exploration of
some theological questions that arise from the Kings narrative, while
inviting contemporary communities of faith into deeper engagement
with this enduring account of divine reliability amid human scheming
and rapaciousness.
Keith Bodner is Stuart E. Murray Professor of Christian Studies at
Crandall University in New Brunswick, Canada. A member of the
editorial board of the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, his
recent books include Jeroboam’s Royal Drama (2012), The Rebellion of
Absalom(2013),AftertheInvasion:AReadingofJeremiah40–44(2015),
and An Ark onthe Nile: The Beginning of the Book of Exodus (2016).

old testament theology
general editors
Brent A.Strawn
Professorof Old Testament
Candler School of Theology, Emory University
StephenB. Chapman
Associate Professorof Old Testament
Duke Divinity School,Duke University
Patrick D.Miller
Charles T. Haley Professorof Old Testament Theology, Emeritus
Princeton Theological Seminary
Thisseriesaimstoremedythedeficiencyofavailablepublishedmaterial
on the theological concerns of the Old Testament books. Here, special-
ists explore the theological richness of a given book at greater length
thanisusuallypossibleintheintroductionstocommentariesoraspart
ofotherOldTestamenttheologies.They arealsoabletoinvestigate the
theologicalthemesandissuesoftheirchosenbookswithoutbeingtiedto
a commentary format or to a thematic structure provided from else-
where. When complete, the series will cover all the Old Testament
writings and will thus provide an attractive, and timely, range of short
texts around which courses can be developed.
published volumes
The Theology oftheBook of Amos, John Barton
The Theologyof the Book of Genesis,R. W. L.Moberly
TheTheology of theBook ofJeremiah, Walter Brueggemann

THE THEOLOGY OF THE
BOOK OF KINGS
keith bodner
Crandall University
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©KeithBodner2019
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title:ThetheologyoftheBookofKings/KeithBodner.
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Series:OldTestamenttheology|Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
identifiers:lccn2018023259|isbn9781107124028(hardback:alk.paper)|
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subjects:lcsh:Bible.Kings–Criticism,interpretation,etc.|Bible.Kings–Theology.
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’
Prayer Before Reading St. Marks Gospel
Please attack mycolonialist ego,
o lion-face, o ancient evangelist.
The carcinogenic self, gleeful
but cruel in its unhealthyglow,
needseverymeans of resistance,
nor doI expect your treatmentto be
remotely easygoing, if any freedom
is to be won from tumor, polyp, cyst.
Don’t letmywithheld forgiveness
be among the glitteringcargo
of mysickly little boat,battered,kissed
by fortune’ssurges. Let me bestow
instead regard to every fellow narcissist,
to thief and punk, humbug and arsonist.
Brett Foster (1973–2015)

Contents
General Editors’ Preface page xiii
Preface xvii
List of Abbreviations xxi
1 toward the theology of the book of kings . . . . 1
Charting the Theological Plot 3
Navigating the Terrain 11
From Entry to Exile: Exploring Kings in Context 21
2 dynastyand succession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Aged Monarch 26
Fraternal Factions 29
Prophetic Collusion 32
The Interview 35
Some Conditions Apply? 39
Process of Elimination 43
3 palace and temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Foreign Alliance 53
Dispensing Wisdom 57
Administrative Moves 60
ix