Divine Aggression in Psalms and Inscriptions: Vengeful Gods and Loyal Kings (Society for Old Testament Study Monographs)

Cornell, Collin

ISBN 10: 1108842674 / ISBN 13: 9781108842679

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2020

About this Item

Cover and edges may have some wear.

Seller Inventory # mon0004127425

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Divine Aggression in Psalms and Inscriptions: Vengeful Gods and Loyal Kings (Society for Old Testament Study Monographs)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1108842674
• ISBN 13: 9781108842679
• Binding: hardcover
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

The aggression of the biblical God named Yhwh is notorious. Students of theology, the Bible, and the Ancient Near East know that the Hebrew Bible describes Yhwh acting destructively against his client country, Israel, and against its kings. But is Yhwh uniquely vengeful, or was he just one among other, similarly ferocious patron gods? To answer this question, Collin Cornell compares royal biblical psalms with memorial inscriptions. He finds that the Bible shares deep theological and literary commonalities with comparable texts from Israel's ancient neighbours. The centrepiece of both traditions is the intense mutual loyalty of gods and kings. In the event that the king's monument and legacy comes to harm, gods avenge their individual royal protégé. In the face of political inexpedience, kings honour their individual divine benefactor.

About the Author

Collin Cornell is visiting assistant professor for the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and editor of Divine Doppelgängers: YHWH's Ancient Look-Alikes (2020).