This is the eighth in a series of biblical summaries from David Dorsey's book: The Literary Structure of the Old Testament. This is the fourth in the sub-series of historical books, covering the Book of (1 and 2) Kings.
a Solomon's reign in Jerusalem; Jerusalem's wealth; temple is built (1 Kings 3:1-11:43)
b rise of northern kingdom: its first seven kings (1 Kings 12:1-16:34)
c prophet Elijah and early Omride dynasty (1 Kings 17:1-2 Kings 1:18)
d CENTERPIECE: Elisha's miracles of kindness (2 Kings 2:1-8:6)
c' prophet Elisha and end of Omride dynasty (2 Kings 8:7-13:25)
b' fall of northern kingdom: its last seven kings (2 Kings 14:1-17:41)
a' Solomon's dynasty in Jerusalem ends; fall of Jerusalem and destruction of Solomon's
temple (2 Kings 18:1-25:30)
The 'a' pattern shows the rise and fall of Solomon's dynasty. The first section shows Solomon's temple being built. The second section shows it being destroyed. The first section shows the making of the temple's bronze and gold articles, bronze pillars, and Sea. The second section shows the plunder of these same items from the temple. All this underscores that the glory of Israel's achievements were not truly theirs, but had to do with obedience.
The 'b' pattern focuses on the reign of the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. Even as Israel rises to power, the kings grow worse and worse. In the first section, the first unit is the longest, in which Jeroboam's sins are emphasized, as "the sins of Jeroboam" will follow Israel throughout its history and will eventually lead to its downfall. In the second section, the last unit is the longest, detailing the ultimate downfall of the kingdom of Israel. All this underscores the shared patterns of disobedience that (nearly) all the Israelite kings shared with Jeroboam.
The 'c' pattern shows how Elisha's prophetic ministry parallels his master Elijah's prophetic ministry with regard to Jezebel and Ahab. The whole first section centers on Jezebel killing Naboth for his vineyard. The whole second section centers on Jezebel being killed for the sin against Naboth. In the first section, it is predicted that dogs will lick up Jezebel's blood in Naboth's vineyard. In the second section, this is fulfilled. In the first section, it is predicted that Ahab's family will be annihilated in his son's day. In the second section, this is fulfilled. In the first section, Baal worship is established. In the second section, Baal worship is removed. In the first section, there are instructions to anoint Jehu and Hazael as new kings. In the second section, Elisha does this. All this shows that Elijah and Elisha both served as mouthpieces for God's Word in bringing judgment upon the family of Ahab and Jezebel.
The 'd' section shows Elisha's miracles and acts of kindness toward the poor and unfortunate. The politics that dominate the remainder of the book of Kings recede into the background. No king's reign is traced, and most of the stories do not even involve a king. There are fourteen episodes in this episode of Elisha's ministry, twice the number of those in the Elijah cycle, which Dorsey notes is at least curious in light of Elisha's requesting a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit when Elijah is carried away by chariots of fire. All this suggests that the book is centered around the type of work that truly pleases Yahweh - "with Yahweh's admirable prophet Elisha quietly doing what pleases Yahweh, Israel's rightful king (in contrast to Israel's evil human kings) - helping the poor and helpless." (Dorsey 139)
Monday, September 3, 2018
Samuel
This is the seventh in a series of biblical summaries from David Dorsey's book: The Literary Structure of the Old Testament. This is the third in the sub-series of historical books, covering the Book of (1 and 2) Samuel.
a Samuel succeeds elderly Eli and rules over all Israel (1 Sam. 1-7)
b Saul's failure (1 Sam. 8-15)
c David's initial rise to popularity in Saul's kingdom (1 Sam. 16-20)
d TURNING POINT: Yahweh reverses fortunes of Saul and David
(1 Sam. 21-31)
c' David's initial rise to power over all Israel (2 Sam. 1-8)
b' David's failure (2 Sam. 9-20)
a' Solomon succeeds elderly David; David's final years (2 Sam. 21-1 Kings 2)
The 'a' pattern shows leadership succession. The first section includes a song from Hannah, which references her horn, her rock, the grave, death, darkness, being armed with strength, the anointed one, and more. The later section includes a song from David as Solomon ascends his throne, which also includes all these same themes and more from Hannah's song. Both sections treat the theme of the fall of Eli's priestly line: in the first section, Eli's line falls. In the second, Yahweh's word about the house of Eli is finally fulfilled when Zadok replaces Abiathar. Both sections treat Yahweh's plagues and the human actions that stop them. These things suggest that the Word of God is going forth with regard to the transition of leadership in Israel.
The 'b' pattern compares Saul and David. In the first section, Saul fights a war against King Nahash of Ammon. In the second section, David fights a war against King Nahash of Ammon. In the first section, Saul's sins are uncovered and condemned by the prophet Samuel. In the second section, David's sins are uncovered and condemned by the prophet Nathan. In the first section, Saul responds by making excuses. In the second section, David responds by repenting. All this suggests that David succeeds where Saul fails precisely in his repentance.
The 'c' pattern shows a parallel between David's initial rise to popularity and his subsequent ascent to the throne of power. In the first section, Saul initially accepts David, then turns on him. In the second section, its the reverse: Saul's kingdom initially turns on David, then accepts him. In the first section, David is anointed by Samuel and Michal marries David. In the second section, David is anointed king by the kingdom of Judah and becomes remarried to Michal. In the first section, members of Saul's family were kind to David. In the second section, David is kind to members of Saul's family. All of this shows the hints about David in his rise to popularity being fulfilled and confirmed in his enthronement.
The 'd' section is the turning point. Saul has been powerful and has pursued David to kill him. The result is that Saul himself is killed. This shows that God's Word brings about a reversal in fortune in the case of Saul and David.
a Samuel succeeds elderly Eli and rules over all Israel (1 Sam. 1-7)
b Saul's failure (1 Sam. 8-15)
c David's initial rise to popularity in Saul's kingdom (1 Sam. 16-20)
d TURNING POINT: Yahweh reverses fortunes of Saul and David
(1 Sam. 21-31)
c' David's initial rise to power over all Israel (2 Sam. 1-8)
b' David's failure (2 Sam. 9-20)
a' Solomon succeeds elderly David; David's final years (2 Sam. 21-1 Kings 2)
The 'a' pattern shows leadership succession. The first section includes a song from Hannah, which references her horn, her rock, the grave, death, darkness, being armed with strength, the anointed one, and more. The later section includes a song from David as Solomon ascends his throne, which also includes all these same themes and more from Hannah's song. Both sections treat the theme of the fall of Eli's priestly line: in the first section, Eli's line falls. In the second, Yahweh's word about the house of Eli is finally fulfilled when Zadok replaces Abiathar. Both sections treat Yahweh's plagues and the human actions that stop them. These things suggest that the Word of God is going forth with regard to the transition of leadership in Israel.
The 'b' pattern compares Saul and David. In the first section, Saul fights a war against King Nahash of Ammon. In the second section, David fights a war against King Nahash of Ammon. In the first section, Saul's sins are uncovered and condemned by the prophet Samuel. In the second section, David's sins are uncovered and condemned by the prophet Nathan. In the first section, Saul responds by making excuses. In the second section, David responds by repenting. All this suggests that David succeeds where Saul fails precisely in his repentance.
The 'c' pattern shows a parallel between David's initial rise to popularity and his subsequent ascent to the throne of power. In the first section, Saul initially accepts David, then turns on him. In the second section, its the reverse: Saul's kingdom initially turns on David, then accepts him. In the first section, David is anointed by Samuel and Michal marries David. In the second section, David is anointed king by the kingdom of Judah and becomes remarried to Michal. In the first section, members of Saul's family were kind to David. In the second section, David is kind to members of Saul's family. All of this shows the hints about David in his rise to popularity being fulfilled and confirmed in his enthronement.
The 'd' section is the turning point. Saul has been powerful and has pursued David to kill him. The result is that Saul himself is killed. This shows that God's Word brings about a reversal in fortune in the case of Saul and David.
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