Of all the characters bequeathed to us by the Hebrew Bible, none is more compelling or complex than David. Divinely blessed, musically gifted, brave, and eloquent, David's famous slaying of Goliath also confirms that he is a redoubtable man of war. Yet, when his son Absalom rebels, David is dogged by the accusation than he will lose his kingdom because he is not merely a man of war, but a man of 'bloods' - guilty of shedding innocent blood. In this book, for the first time, this language of 'innocent blood' and 'bloodguilt' is traced throughout David's story in the books of Samuel and 1 Kings. The theme emerges initially in Saul's pursuit of David and resurfaces regularly as David rises and men like Nabal, Saul, Ishbosheth, and Abner fall. Innocent blood and bloodguilt also turn out to be central to David's reign. This is seen in a surprising way in David's killing of Uriah, but also in the subsequent deaths of his sons, Amnon and Absalom, his general, Amasa, and even in David's encounters with Shimei. The problem rears its head again when the innocent blood of the Gibeonites shed by Saul comes back to haunt David's kingdom. Finally, the problem reappears when Solomon succeeds David and orchestrates the executions of Joab and Shimei, and the exile of Abiathar. Attending carefully to the text and drawing extensively on previous biblical scholarship, David J. Shepherd suggests that innocent blood is not only a pre-eminent concern of David, and his story in Samuel and 1 Kings, but also shapes the entirety of David's history.

This book explores 'innocent blood' and its traditions as keys to the death of Jesus in Matthew, against background of exile and return.

David's remarkable life, insights, and achievements inspire us today. David's story is compelling, exciting -- with "chance" encounters, narrow escapes, beautiful women, and a warrior who carves out an empire. David is a singer-songwriter, whose body of work is revered by millions of fans three thousand years after his death. His character encourages us, his weaknesses speak to us, his faith moves us. He is the king of Israel's Golden Age and points us to his great descendant, the Son of David, Jesus Christ the Lord. This book is designed to aid your study of David's life, with a special emphasis on what we can learn as Jesus' disciples today. Twenty maps and charts help you understand his family, as well as the geography of his sojourns, escapes, battles, and conquests. The historical background and geopolitical context will help you to appreciate David in his own world and grasp his internal complexity. Classes and small groups will find this a helpful curriculum guide to their study of 1 and 2 Samuel, with links to free participant handouts as well as thorough preparation for the leader. Thought-provoking questions will stimulate many insightful discussions. Preachers and teachers will find a great deal of their research done for them. Lessons are heavily footnoted for those who want to dig deeper, but are optional for the general student. According to Paul, "David ... served God's purpose in his own generation." Your understanding of David's life and faith will help you to live out God's plan for you in your own generation.

"In Violence in the Hebrew Bible scholars reflect on texts of violence in the Hebrew Bible, as well as their often problematic reception history. Authoritative texts and traditions can be rewritten and adapted to new circumstances and insights. Texts are subject to a process of change. The study of the ways in which these (authoritative) biblical texts are produced and/or received in various socio-historical circumstances discloses a range of theological and ideological perspectives. In reflecting on these issues, the central question is how to allow for a given text's plurality of possible and realised meanings while also retaining the ability to form critical judgments regarding biblical exegesis. This volume highlight that violence in particular is a fruitful area to explore this tension"--

Dr. Ralph Klein interprets 1 Samuel in its literary context as part of the Deuteronomistic History, the epic account of Israel's history from the settlement in the land (Joshua and Judges) through the rise of kingship (1 & 2 Samuel) to the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah to their end in exile. He expounds the stories about Samuel, Saul and David within the context of this exilic composition that recounts the high and low points of Israel's history in the land. Now, in a new supplement to the introduction, Dr. Klein interacts with recent studies of the history reflected in 1 Samuel, and of the history of both the text and composition of 1 Samuel itself. He also adds extensive reviews of the literary studies that have marked scholarship on Samuel in the last twenty-five years. Klein evaluates the contributions of narratology and feminism to understanding the stories of 1 Samuel, especially the characterization of Saul and David. The result is a fresh assessment of the book's contribution to biblical theology, especially in its focus on David as the man after God's own heart.