David's Secret Demons
Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Published: 2004
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Publisher's Description
This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable. The Bible portrays King David as an exceptional man and a paragon of godly devotion. But was he? Some scholars deny that he existed at all. Did he? This challenging book examines the written and archaeological evidence critically in an effort to paint an accurate picture of one of the Bible's central figures. Neither defending nor rejecting the traditions about David, Baruch Halpern, a leading scholar of biblical history and the ancient Near East, traces the origins of development of David's persona. Because the biblical text clearly responds to concerns that can only be contemporary with David himself, we can believe that David was both real and a central actor in the historical drama of ancient Israel. Yet at the same time, the written record also shows that contemporaries understood David's character to be much more unsavory trhan the tradition has hitherto allowed. Halpern digs beneath the layers of tradition to understand David as an individual, as a person. The man he uncovers turns out to have been complex, ambiguous, and — above all — surprising. According to Halpern, the image of David grew over time. He was the founder of the dynasty that perpetuated the texts about him, and they progressively exaggerated his accomplishments. But in the earliest writings David remains a modest figure, as this book shows for the first time. To understand David as a human being, one must keep in mind that he was primarily a politicians who operated in a rough-and-tumble environment in which competitors were ready literally to slit throats. Halpern's work raises many provocative questions: Was David an Israelite or a Philistine? Was Solomon really David's son? Did David take the throne of Israel by the consent or against the will of the people? How many murders did he commit on his way to the crown? Indeed, was David someone it would have been wise to even invite to dinner? The challenging arguments in David's Secret Demons are sure to provoke all kinds of discussion among biblical scholars and general readers alike. In addition — a big bonus — Halpern's accessible, at times humorous prose will itself draw readers everywhere into the compelling story of David found between these covers.
Endorsements (3)
“A sophisticated, engaging biography of David. The 'messiah/king' confronted Goliath and stars in the windows of Gothic churches and in Michelangelo's art. But the 'murderer/traitor'? Brilliantly navigating between the dynasty's apologetic portrait and the early defense of David against the accusations of his foes, Baruch Halpern peels off the story layer by layer. He exploits all the pertinent materials and disciplines: biblical literature, extrabiblical Near Eastern sources, and archaeology. Against those who question David's existence, Halpern brings the founder of the Jerusalem dynasty back to life — neither the saintly David nor the anti-David, but simply the human David.”
“Everyone is writing about David. Baruch Halpern here not only surpasses all other writers but also shows what it is about David's story that has drawn all those authors to it in the first place. As a literary reader, Halpern is the first to capture the character of David. As a historian, he is the first to explain why the biblical author told David's story the way he did. Why, for example, does the Bible minimize some of David's offenses but then openly criticize him for adultery and murder? Halpern offers the first plausible explanation of this crucial puzzle. This book is brilliant. It is a century more advanced than any other book about David. Halpern's grasp of ancient history writing and his own skill at writing history are extraordinary. He sets a new standard by which all future writing of biblical history must be carried out. . . After reading Halpern you will see David's story as you've never seen it before.”
“This book will breathe new life into what has become a sterile debate about the history of King David. Drawing on a much wider range of sources than previously cited in this connection, and with a dazzling display of scholarly erudition mingled with the fruits of his fertile historical imagination, Halpern has produced an analysis and synthesis sure to provoke lively interest and open up the subject of David to wider debate.”
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