The Story of

King

David

Genre and Interpretation

D. M. Gunn

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 6

Sheffield

First published by JSOT Press 1978

Reprint editions by JSOT Press 1982, 1989

Copyright © 1978, 1982, 1989 David M. Gunn

ISSN 0309-0787

Published by JSOT Press

JSOT Press is an imprint of

Sheffield Academic Press Ltd

The University of Sheffield

343 Fulwood Road

Sheffield S10 3BP

England

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Gunn, D.M.

The story of King David.—(Journal for the study of the Old Testament Supplement series, ISSN 0309-0787; 6)

1. Bible. O.T. Samuel 2—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Bible. O.T. Kings 11, I–II—Criticism, interpretation, etc.

I. Title II. Series

222′.44′ 0924 BS1325.5.2

ISBN 0-905774-05-1

To

my mother and father,

Jean and Farquhar Gunn

Contents

Preface

Reference and Abbreviations

Chapter One

Introduction

Chapter Two

Genre: Prevailing Views

Genre

Political Propaganda

Wisdom Literature

The Narrative and Egyptian Literature

The Date of the Narrative

Conclusion

Chapter Three

Genre: An Alternative View

Novel or Story

Traditional Story

A. Traditional Motifs

1. David and the Sons of Zeruiah

2. The Judgement-eliciting Parable

3. The Woman who brings Death

4. The Woman and the Spies

5. The Two Messengers

6. The Letter of Death

Accounting for the Patterns

Tradition

B. Oral-traditional Composition

1. The Gift of Provisions

2. The Battle

3. The News of Defeat

Accounting for the Patterns

Oral Tradition

Concluding Observations

Chapter Four

The Boundaries of the Story

A. The Beginning of the Story: 2 Sam 2–4

B. Narrative Thread

C. The Precise Boundaries of the David-Ishbosheth Story

2 Sam 5:1–3

The Beginning

D. Style

Inclusio

Other Forms of Repetition

Vocabulary and Phraseology

Foreshadowing

Conclusion

E. Theme

Methodology

The “Succession” Theme

F. Conclusion

Chapter Five

An Interpretation of the Story

Introduction

David and the Kingdom: The Private and the Political

David and the Kingdom: Giving and Grasping

The Scene is Set: 2 Sam 2–5, 9, 10

Complication: 2 Sam 11–12

Transition: 2 Sam 13

Further Complication: 2 Sam 14–17

Resolution/Transition: 2 Sam 18–20

Final Outcome: 1 Kgs 1–2

Providence

Conclusion

Appendix

A. Observations on Recent Literary/Redaction-Criticism of the Narrative

B. Boundaries: Additional Evidence on Style

Bibliography

Index of

Modern Authors

Biblical Passages

Biblical Names

Subjects

Preface

This book seeks to foster a fresh understanding of the narrative about David in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, commonly known as the “Succession Narrative”, by arguing for a fuller appreciation of its nature as a story. If some readers find some segments of the argument familiar that is because the book in part builds upon studies which have appeared in print elsewhere. In particular, Chapter Three draws upon two articles in VT 24 and 26 (see Bibliography: Gunn, 1974a and 1976a) and Chapter Five upon an essay in Semeia 3 (Gunn, 1975). Incorporation of this material, which is in revised form, is ...