The Function of the Root śkl in Shaping the Ideal Figure of David in 1 Samuel 18

The fourfold recurrence of the root śkl in 1 Samuel 18 to describe David (vv. 5, 14, 15, 30) calls for an explanation. While David’s characterization as maśkîl would seem to refer, above all, to his success in battle, a broader analysis of śkl in wisdom-related contexts, as well as elsewhere in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Forti, Tova (Author) ; Glatt-Gilad, David A. 1961- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2015
In: Vetus Testamentum
Year: 2015, Volume: 65, Issue: 3, Pages: 390-400
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Samuel 1. 18 / David, Israel, König / Hebrew language / Verb / śkl
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B David maskîl ideal king
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:The fourfold recurrence of the root śkl in 1 Samuel 18 to describe David (vv. 5, 14, 15, 30) calls for an explanation. While David’s characterization as maśkîl would seem to refer, above all, to his success in battle, a broader analysis of śkl in wisdom-related contexts, as well as elsewhere in the Deuteronomistic History, demonstrates that maśkîl functions as an epithet, bestowing upon the holder a wider sense of “success” that is intimately linked with Divine patronage. Thus, David’s characterization as maśkîl in 1 Samuel 18 promotes a more comprehensive definition of the ideal king, in contrast to the more restricted prerequisite of military skill associated with Saul. While it is most likely that the story in 1 Samuel 18 is composed solely from pre-Deuteronomistic strands, the intensity with which the root śkl is employed with relation to David corresponds with the Deuteronomistic agenda of portraying David as the ideal king.
ISSN:1568-5330
Contains:In: Vetus Testamentum
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685330-12301204