The Woman of Tekoa and Bloodguilt: Layers of Meaning in 2 Sam 14:1–24
As King David considers the future of his son-in-exile Absalom, his military commander Joab conceives a plan using the woman of Tekoa to bring Absalom home. The narrative dialogue that follows is a complex and ambiguous text. This article argues that, through the woman's enacted character and i...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2023
|
| In: |
Australian biblical review
Year: 2023, Volume: 71, Pages: 55-69 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Samuel 2. 14,1-24
/ Bible. Genesis 4
/ Bible. Deuteronomium 19,1-13
/ David, Israel, König
/ Joab
/ Blood
/ Debt
|
| IxTheo Classification: | BC Ancient Orient; religion HB Old Testament ZB Sociology |
| Summary: | As King David considers the future of his son-in-exile Absalom, his military commander Joab conceives a plan using the woman of Tekoa to bring Absalom home. The narrative dialogue that follows is a complex and ambiguous text. This article argues that, through the woman's enacted character and its effect on the king, a message somewhat different to that planned by Joab emerges, introducing another layer of meaning which invites the audience to consider the choices facing David. Giving due attention to the characterisation of the mourning mother adds a subject's perspective on the collusion of the monarch in bloodguilt. This performance reflects both Pentateuchal narrative (Cain and Abel, Genesis 4) and law code (Deut 19: 1-13) as it induces both king and audience to weigh the management ofbloodguilt against the future of David's dynasty. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0045-0308 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Australian biblical review
|