David in the Desert by Hannes Bezzel Reinhard G. Kratz

Author:Hannes Bezzel, Reinhard G. Kratz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: De Gruyter
Published: 2021-10-25T13:40:37.529000+00:00

4

The Continuation: 1 Sam 23; 27

Regarding 1 Sam 23 I will be very brief. The classical analysis was made by Timo Veijola in 1984 (reprinted in 1990). Reinhard Müller’s revision of it is to be found in the current volume. 57 Veijola clearly delineates the division of the chapter. One section involves David alone (vv. 1–5 + 6) and a second part brings Saul to the stage (vv. 7–13). 58 According to Veijola, the second section is derived from the author of the “History of David’s Rise”, integrating elements of an ancient tradition. 59 However, I think it is better understood as a Fortschreibung. Further, Veijola identifies the phrases that evoke the saviour formula in verses 2bβ and 5b and the threshing floors in v. 1bβ 60 as secondary additions. One might also ask whether the hesitation of David’s men and the second act of divination in vv. 3–4 might be secondary as well. Note, for example, the use of a more elaborate Übergabeformel כי־אני נתן את־פלשתים בידך (“for I am giving the Philistines into your hand”). 61

Notwithstanding these analytical details, 23:1–5* provide us with an excellent continuation of chapter 18* as well as of 22:2. Here David is presented in the role of Saul’s general, leading a counterstrike in Keïla. Nota bene: Read from this perspective, “his men” first and foremost designates those אנשי המלחמה (“men of war”) over whom David is made leader in 18:5. This contingent may possibly, but not necessarily, be supplemented with the outlaws of chapter 22:2. That David becomes a freelance leader of a gang of “Merry Men” only becomes necessary when he is no longer the commander of Saul’s troops – because he had to flee. Thus, the figure of “David the privateer” entirely depends on the flight-rescue-pattern. Historically, the difference between a general of a Levantine Early Iron Age king and a Bronze Age ʿApiru leader may well have been rather small in substance – but this is another question.

The similarity of David’s act of divination in chapter 23:2abα with the one in 2 Sam 2:2 (and 1 Sam 30:8, 2 Sam 5:19) 62 has long been noted. This connection should not be underestimated, especially with regard to the first instance. Here, in 2 Sam 2 (or, to be more precise, in 2 Sam 2:1.2aα.3aLXX.4a [without על־בית יהודה], followed directly by 2 Sam 5:6), 63 we are dealing with the basic level of a “History of David’s Rise”. In 2 Sam 2, after the death of Saul, David asks YHWH whether he shall go up – and gets the approving answer that he is to go to Hebron. The phrase “to go up” means, according to 2 Sam 1:1bα, 64 from Ziklag to Hebron.

David’s presence in Ziklag, however, depends on his relation with Achish of Gath, as noted in chapter 27. In the version of this paper presented in Jena during the symposium, I expressed the opinion that 1 Sam 27 should be understood in terms of the flight-rescue-pattern. This would have

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.