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Agunah Agur Ahab (King of Israel)

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Agunah Agur Ahab (King of Israel) 615 Agunah 616 32. ■ A. Kerkeslager, “Agrippa and the Mourning Rites for Agrippa probably supplied some sources used Drusilla in Alexandria,” JSJ 37 (2006) 367–400. ■ A. Ker- by Josephus. Sources on Agrippa include Josephus, keslager, “Agrippa I and the Judeans of Alexandria in the the archaeology of Paneas, coins, and inscriptions. Wake of the Violence in 38 C.E.,” REJ (forthcoming). ■ N. Kokkinos, The Herodian Dynasty (Sheffield 1998). ■ Y. Mes- Bibliography: ■ N. Kokkinos, The Herodian Dynasty (Shef- horer, A Treasury of Jewish Coins (Jerusalem 2001). ■ D. R. field 1998). ■ N. Kokkinos, “Justus, Josephus, Agrippa II Schwartz, Agrippa I (Tübingen 1990). ■ J. Wilker, Für Rom and his Coins,” SCI 22 (2003) 163–80. ■ Y. Meshorer, A und Jerusalem (Frankfurt a. M. 2007). Treasury of Jewish Coins (Jerusalem 2001). ■ T. Rajak, The Jewish Dialogue with Greece and Rome (Leiden 2002). ■ D. R. 2. Agrippa II Schwartz, Studies on the Jewish Background of Christianity (Tü- ■ Agrippa II was the last Herodian king in Palestine. bingen 1992). J. F. Wilson, Caesarea Philippi (New York 2004). He was born ca. 27 CE and named after his father Allen Kerkeslager Marcus Julius Agrippa (see 1.). He was educated in Rome under Claudius’ patronage. Agrippa was placed over Chalcis in 49. Probably he ruled with- out leaving Rome. In January of 53 he gave up Agunah Chalcis and received the former territories of Philip /Divorce and Lysanias. Agrippa was enthroned in Paneas (Caesarea Philippi) by summer of 53 or 54. He then began construction that included monumental fa- Agur cilities in foreign cities such as Berytus, renovations Son of Yakeh and purported compiler and/or au- to the temple and palace in Jerusalem, and the first thor of Prov 30 (cf. 30 : 1). Interpreters debate how of many projects in Paneas and other primarily much of Prov 30 to attribute to Agur, but lack of Gentile cities in his kingdom. Agrippa’s aid in the another superscription or obvious shift in speaker, Parthian tensions in 55 probably influenced Nero’s coupled with the largely discontinuous texture of decision to award him Tiberias and other cities in Prov 10–29, suggests the whole chapter is Agur’s Galilee and Peraea. In 60, Agrippa refounded Pa- “oracle.” Use of two consecutive terms meaning neas and named it “Neronias.” His regnal years on “[the] oracle” (hammas´ s´ a¯ and ne˘u¯ m)in30:1 coins and inscriptions are dated by two concurrent prompts many to emend the first term slightly to systems: a Tiberian system beginning in autumn read “the Massaite” or “from Massa,” i.e., as an eth- of 55 and a Panean system beginning in autumn nic designation (cf. Prov 31 : 1; Gen 25 : 14; 1 Chr of 60. 1 : 30). Agur may thus be non-Israelite. Many Jews were alienated by Agrippa’s Roman- In the history of reception, Agur is understood ization, conflicts with the Jerusalem priesthood, variously as: and patronage of foreign cults. He was unable to quell the eruption of the Jewish revolt. During the a) the proper name of an otherwise unknown war, he aided Vespasian and Titus. Titus and Ag- sage; rippa celebrated Domitian’s birthday in 70 with b) an appellative (e.g., “the Assembler” in the Vul- combats between Jewish captives in Paneas. Ag- gate); rippa advertised the Roman victory on coins. His c) a reference to Solomon (e.g., “these are the rewards included new territory, probably acquired words of Solomon; Agur – he who girded [agur] while in Rome in 75. His patronage of Pan and his loins for wisdom” in Midrash Mishle); or other deities in Paneas continued until his death. d) simply a verb (e.g., “fear my words” in LXX). Some of his other territories may have been ceded Christine Roy Yoder shortly beforehand due to changing frontier poli- See also /Proverbs, Book of; /Wisdom cies. He died childless, either in Palestine or Italy. His death is usually dated before 93 or in 100. Probably 100 is correct. Josephus’ compositional Ahab (King of Israel) processes and use of sources can accommodate I. Hebrew Bible/Old Testament coins, testimony by Photius, and other evidence for II. Judaism this date. Agrippa’s remaining territory then was III. Literature added to the province of Syria. His clients and rela- tives remained among the elites at Paneas. I. Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Agrippa’s sister Berenice frequently lived with Ahab (MT Ahøa¯ b) was a member of the Omride dy- him because of her ill-fated marriages. Rumors of nasty and is referenced in both biblical and extra- incest were mere slanders often hurled at royalty. biblical sources. In the Bible, Ahab first appears in Paul’s hearing before Agrippa in Acts 25–26 ex- 1 Kgs 16 : 29 as a king of Israel who reigned for 22 emplifies its author’s strategy of recruiting famous years. The dates for his reign are disputed: Thiele figures to defend Paul against critics and enhance places his reign 874–853 BCE, while Barnes dates Paul’s historical significance. Probably it is en- his reign 873–852 BCE and Miller and Hayes argue tirely fictional. for 873–851 BCE. Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception vol. 1 Authenticated | [email protected] © Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York, 2009 Download Date | 1/1/19 9:09 PM Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception 1 (© Walter de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 2009) 617 Ahab (King of Israel) 618 The biblical account of Ahab is most promi- whether a prophet would demand strict adherence nently found in 1 Kgs 16 : 29–22 : 20, intermixed to YHWH worship at this time. But the story with the stories of the prophet Elijah. The Deuter- presents the popularity of Baal worship in the king- onomistic compilers judge him as one of the worst dom of Israel during the reign of Ahab, and credits kings of Israel during the divided monarchy. Ahab much of this popularity to Jezebel’s support of it. is also mentioned in Mic 6 : 16 and 2 Chr 17–20. It also depicts Jezebel as a fierce advocate for Baal The “House of Ahab” (bayit Ahøa¯ b) is also men- worship, which follows a pattern found in other tioned 18 times in the Hebrew Bible, which is pecu- areas of the Bible, where a queen or foreign wife is liar in view of the fact that this title is usually given the reason for the rejection of strict obedience to to the founder of the dynasty, in this case Ahab’s YHWH (Miller/Hayes: 314). father Omri. This title is probably used by the Deu- c. Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kgs 21). Unlike the stories teronomists to reference Ahab because of his dis- connected to Elijah and the drought, Naboth’s tinction as the worst ruler in the history of Israel, Vineyard is directly linked to the tradition of Ahab even outdoing his father, Omri, in evil deeds (Ish- and Jezebel. Moreover, Jezebel is the main villain ida 1975: 136). in the story, thereby reflecting a clear anti-Jezebel 1. Traditions in 1 Kings. The Ahab material in sentiment that is integral to this story. When Ahab 1 Kings can be classified as follows: Introduction of offers to purchase Naboth’s land, Naboth refuses Ahab (1 Kgs 16 : 28–34); The prophet Elijah and the to sell, arguing that Israelite property laws do not drought (1 Kgs 17–19); Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kgs permit him to sell (1 Kgs 21 : 3). This conflict of in- 21); The battle narratives (1 Kgs 20; 22 : 1–38). terest leads to Naboth’s demise, as he was falsely a. Introduction of Ahab (1 Kgs 16 : 29–34). 1 Kings charged with treason and executed (1 Kgs 21 : 13). 16 : 30 introduces Ahab with this judgment: “Ahab This story indicates later perceptions about the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more Omrides, who seem to have been known for deceit than all who were before him.” 1 Kings 16 : 31–33 and unlawful practices in later memory (Miller/ then elaborates on his sins, first citing that he fol- Hayes: 274). Micah 6 : 16 echoes this opinion con- lowed the ways of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, and cerning this dynasty: then that he married Jezebel, the daughter of King For you have kept the statutes of Omri and all the Ethbaal of Sidon. He is also credited with venerat- works of the house of Ahab, and you have followed ing Baal, building a temple for him in Samaria and their counsels. Therefore I will make you desolation, also erecting a sacred pole. 1 Kings 16 : 33 con- and your inhabitants an object of hissing; so you shall bear the scorn of my people. cludes the list of the evil deeds of Ahab stating, “Ahab did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, d. The Battle Narratives (1 Kgs 20; 22 : 1–38). In these the God of Israel, than had all the kings of Israel chapters, three battles are chronicled between the who were before him.” This analysis continues king of Israel and Ben-Hadad, king of Damascus. throughout the stories of Ahab and his wife Jezebel In the first battle, Ben-Hadad besieges Samaria, but and thus reflects the later Deuteronomistic bias to- the Israelites eventually defeat him leading to Ben- wards the kingdom of Judah and against the king- Hadad’s withdrawal (1 Kgs 20 : 20). In 1 Kgs 20 : 26– dom of Israel. 34, a second battle occurs when Ben-Hadad advan- b. The Prophet Elijah and the Drought Stories (1 Kgs ces against Israel at Aphek.
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