David's Capacity for Compassion: A Literary-Hermeneutical Study of 1 - 2 Samuel [Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies, 641]

Green, Barbara

ISBN 10: 0567673588 / ISBN 13: 9780567673589

Published by T & T Clark, 2017

About this Item

317pp. Color frontispiece. Perfectound in simulated cloth with gilt stamped lettering. Ex-library; exceedingly clean and sharp with sound binding and no evidence of use. Shipped professionally in a box. (Publisher's blurb).

Seller Inventory # 513498

Bibliographic Details

• Title: David's Capacity for Compassion: A Literary-Hermeneutical Study of 1 - 2 Samuel [Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies, 641]
• Publisher: T & T Clark
• Publication Date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0567673588
• ISBN 13: 9780567673589
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: VERY GOOD
• Weight: 35 ounces
• Seller catalogs:
  • Religion

About this title

Synopsis

In this book Barbara Green demonstrates how David is shown and can be read as emerging from a young naive, whose early successes grow into a tendency for actions of contempt and arrogance, of blindness and even cruelty, particularly in matters of cult. However, Green also shows that over time David moves closer to the demeanor and actions of wise compassion, more closely aligned with God.

Leaving aside questions of historicity as basically undecidable Green's focus in her approach to the material is on contemporary literature. Green reads the David story in order, applying seven specific tools which she names, describes and exemplifies as she interprets the text. She also uses relevant hermeneutical theory, specifically a bridge between general hermeneutics and the specific challenges of the individual (and socially located) reader. As a result, Green argues that characters in the David narrative can proffer occasions for insight, wisdom, and compassion. Acknowledging the unlikelihood that characters like David and his peers, steeped in patriarchy and power, can be shown to learn and extend wise compassion, Green is careful to make explicit her reading strategies and offer space for dialogue and disagreement.

About the Authors

Barbara Green is Professor of Biblical Studies at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley.

Andrew Mein is Director of Research at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, UK

Claudia V. Camp is Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University, USA and was on the steering committee of the Seminar. She is currently co-general editor of the LHBOTS series, as well as the author or editor of 4 books and numerous articles.