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The Persuasive Portrayal of Solomon in 1 Kings 1-11 and the Josianic Redaction Theory

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The Persuasive Portrayal of Solomon in 1 Kings 1-11 and the Josianic Redaction Theory The Persuasive Portrayal of Solomon in 1 Kings 1-11 and the Josianic Redaction Theory Jung Ju Kang A thesis submitted to University of Gloucestershire in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities March 2002 GLOUCESTERSHIRE 23 MAY2002 RESEARCH ADMINISTRAi1O1 Abstract This present research is motivated by observing the diversity of views held in understanding the portrayal of Solomon in 1 Kgs 1-11, its importance in resolving the problem of the composition of DtrH, and especially by a certain doubt about the pervasive Josianic understandings of Solomon. The main concern of the present study is to establish a sound understanding of Solomon as portrayed in I Kgs 1-11 in relation to the theories of the composition of Kings, especially the Josianic redaction theory. This study seeks to understand Solomon in 1 Kgs 1-11 from the perspective of the text's persuasive function in relation to the reader. Chapter one surveys modem researches on Kings in general and the Solomon narrative (1 Kgs 1-11) in particular. It shows that the essential question in studies of Kings and the Solomon account is the understanding of the thematic tensions in relation to their composition. This chapter also argues that a rhetorical approach is methodologically relevant in solving the question. Chapter two defines what rhetorical criticism is, and in relation to the definition, shows how a rhetorical approach will be applied to our study of 1 Kgs 1-11. Rhetorical criticism is a methodology concerned with determining the means of persuasion employed in the communication, through an analysis of the text in its final form. This chapter also establishes four practical steps for discovering the argumentative or persuasive function of the Solomon text: the rhetorical unit, arrangement (dispositio) and style (elocutio), argumentation (inventio), and finally the rhetorical situation and the original reader. Following these steps, chapter three identifies 1 Kgs 1-11 as a rhetorical unit by showing 1 Kgs 1-2 as the true beginning of the narrative through the structural and rhetorical connections between 1 Kgs 1-2 and 3-11. Chapter four examines how 1 Kgs 1-11 as a persuasive narration has been arranged in order to have an impact on the reader's apprehension of the Solomon narrative. It shows the concentric structure of 1 Kgs 1-11 based on the function of repetition, which guides the reader to the picture of Solomon's incapacity in his `covenant relationship' with Yahweh. Chapter five examines I Kgs 1-11 from the point of view of argumentation or invention, and deals with the understanding or evaluation of the issue in I Kgs 1-11. The narrator in 1 Kgs 1- 11 11 shows the reader Solomon's failure in the relationship with Yahweh based on his ethical and rational, and emotional, appeal. Chapter six defines the rhetorical situation which causes the existence of 1 Kgs 1-11. It shows that Kings would be a fitting response to the rhetorical situation of the Jewish exilic community in Babylon. The community may have held very different views about their past, their identity, or the continuity of the covenant relationship with Yahweh in the exilic or post-exilic period. Our conclusion in this study of 1 Kgs 1-11 is that the subtle portrayal of Solomon in 1 Kgs 1-11 does not display a Josianic standpoint, but an exilic view, persuading the Babylonian exiles to recover their covenant relationship with Yahweh or to find a new understanding of this through the portrayal of Solomon in the light of his inevitable failure in relationship with Yahweh. iii Author's Declaration I declare that the work in this thesis was carried out in accordance with the regulations of University of Gloucestershire and is original except where indicated by specific reference in the text. No part of the thesis has been submitted as part of any academic award. The thesis has not been presented to any other education institution in the United Kingdom or overseas. Any views expressed in the thesis are those of the author and in no way represent those of the University. Date A l...... a Signed :?:... .. IV Acknowledgements Many people deserve thanks for their help in the writing of this thesis. Above all, I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Dr J. Gordon McConville for his scholarly guidance and encouragement. I am also grateful to my second supervisor Dr Craig G. Bartholomew for his constructive comments on this project. I would like to thank the following people and institutions for their financial support and various help during my long doctoral career: my parents Mr and Mrs S. K. Kang, Mr S. C. Kim, Mr K. S. Han, Mr D. J. Moon, Mr K. 0. Ann, Mr A. C. Thomson, other dear friends and churches in Korea, the School of Theology & Religious Studies at the University of Gloucestershire, the Cheltenham Korean Christian Fellowship, and Cheltenham Evangelical Church. My deepest appreciation is offered to my wife Nam Soon for her constant prayer and encouragement. When it all seemed so long and hard, her confidence in me gave me the will to continue and her practical support gave me the time to get it all done. Finally, I am thankful for my lovely and cheerful daughters Ju Hui and Hyea Young who have always been a source of joy and inspiration which has encouraged me to work hard and finish on time. Soli Deo Gloria V Abbreviations AB Anchor Bible ABD The Anchor Bible Dictionary AJBI Annual of the Japanese Biblical Institute AnBib Analecta biblica: Investigationes scientificae in res biblicas ASTI Annual of the Swedish Theological Institute ATANT Abhandlungen zur Theologie des Alten und Neuen Testaments ATD Das Alte Testament Deutsch BALS Bible and Literature Series BBR Bulletin for Biblical Research Bib Biblica BibOr Biblica et Orientalia BIP Biblical Institute Press BMik Beth Mikra BWANT Beiträge zur Wissenschaft vom Alten und Neuen Testament BZ Biblische Zeitschrift BZA IV Beihefle zur Zeitschrift für die alitestamentliche Wissenschaft CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CBQMS The Catholic Biblical Quarterly Monograph Series CUP Cambridge University Press DSB The Daily Study Bible ExpTini Expository Times FCI Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation FOTL Forms of Old Testament Literature FRLANT Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments GBSS Guides to Biblical Scholarship Series HAR Hebrew Annual Review Herrn Hermathena HKAT Handkommentar zum Alten Testament HSM Harvard Semitic Studies HTR Harvard Theological Review HUCA Hebrew Union College Annual HUP Harvard University Press ICC International Critical Commentary IDBSup Supplementary volume to The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, G.A. Buttrick, ed. Int Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology ITC International Theological Commentary IUP Indiana University Press IVP Inter-Varsity Press JANES The Jow"nal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society JA OS Journal of the American Oriental Society JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JES Journal of Ecumenical Studies vi JNSL Journal of Nortlnvest Semitic Languages JOTT Journal of Translation and Textlinguistics JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament JSOTSup Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series JSS Journal of Semitic Studies JTS Journal of Theological Studies JTSoA Journal of Theology for Southern Africa KHCAT Kurzer Hand-Commentar zum Alten Testament LB Linguistica Biblica LCL Loeb Classical Library MTA Münsteraner Theologische Abhandlungen NIBC New International Biblical Commentary OBO Orbis biblicus et orientalis OJS Quarterly Journal of Speech OTE Old Testament Essays OTG Old Testament Guides OTL The Old Testament Library OTS Oudtestamentische Studien OUP Oxford University Press PBI Pontifical Biblical Institute PEGLMBS Proceedings, Eastern Great Lakes and Midwest Biblical Society PTMS Pittsburgh Theological Monograph Series RB Revue Biblique Re1SRev Religious Studies Review SBL Society of Biblical Literature SBLDS The Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series SBLMS The Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series SBT Studiesin Biblical Theology SBTS Sources for Biblical Theological Study SIL Summer Institute of Linguistics SOTSMS Society for Old Testament Study Monograph Series SPCK Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge SSJ Southern Speech Journal StSN Studia Semitica Neerlandica TB Theologische Bücherei TBT The Bible Today TOTC Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries TRu Theologische Rundschau TynBul Tyndale Bulletin TZ Theologische Zeitschrift VT Vetus Testarnentivn VTSup Supplements to Vetus Testamentum WBC Word Biblical Commentary WBT Word Biblical Themes YUP Yale University Press Z4 TV Zeitschrift ffir die alttestainentliche Wissenschaft ZTK Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche vii Table of contents Abstract ii Author's Declaration iv Acknowledgements v Abbreviations vi Introduction 1 Chapter 1: A Review of Recent Studies on the Book of Kings 4 and the Need for a Rhetorical Approach 1.1 Introduction 4 1.2 The focus of modem theories on Kings 4 1.2.1 Kings in the context of the Deuteronomistic History 4 1.2.1.1 Martin Noth's Deuteronomistic History hypothesis 5 1.2.1.2. The single exilic composition theory of DtrH after Noth 8 1.2.1.3 The Josianic (or double) redaction theory 12 1.2.1.4 The triple and multiple redaction theories 19 1.2.1.5 Kings in the newer literary approach 23 1.2.2 Deut-Kings as a series of discrete literary units 26 1.3 The need for a rhetorical approach to Kings 28 1.3.1 Summary and the questions in Kings 28 1.3.2 Evaluation focused
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