Characters and Characterization in the Book of Kings

This book is an examination of characters in the books of Kings; showing how understanding and interpretation of key characters affects readings of the story. The volume begins with more general pieces addressing how the study of characters can shed light on the composition history of Kings and on how characters and characterization can be considered with respect to ethics, particularly with respect to the moral complexity of biblical characters. Contributors then consider key characters within the Kings narrative in depth, such as Nathan, Bathsheba, Solomon and Jezebel. The contributors use their own specific expertise to analyze these characters and more, drawing on insights from literary theory and considering such approaches as questioning our view of a particular character with based on the character within the text with whom we identify. Contributors also assess whether or not characters as portrayed in the biblical text necessarily match up to their possible counterparts in history.

Keith Bodner is Professor of Religious Studies at Crandall University in New Brunswick,Canada. He holds PhD degrees in biblical studies (Universityof Aberdeen) and English Literature (University of Manchester). He serves on the editorialboard of the Journal for the Study of theOld Testament, and is a former section chair (Bakhtin and the BiblicalImagination) for the Society of Biblical Literature. His 2008 book 1 Samuel: A Narrative Commentary wasawarded the R. B. Y. Scott Award from the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies,and his most recent book is Jeroboam'sRoyal Drama (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012).

Laura Quick is Assistant Professor of Religion and Judaic Studies at Princeton University, USA.

Jacqueline Vayntrub is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale University, USA