King David: A Biography

by Steven L. McKenzie

Overview

One of the most important and complex characters in the Bible, King David has been the subject of innumerable portraits, both artistic and literary. Michaelangelo's magnificent sculpture of him is perhaps the single best known work of art in the world, and the story of the humble shepherd who slew Goliath and became king has assumed a powerful mythological status. But was David a real person—and if so what kind of person was he?
Through a close and critical reading of biblical texts, ancient history, and recent archeological discoveries, Steven L. McKenzie concludes that David was indeed a real person. This David, however, was no hero but a usurper, adulterer, and murderer—a Middle Eastern despot of a familiar type. McKenzie shows that the story of humble beginnings is utterly misleading: "shepherd" is a metaphor for "king," and David came from a wealthy, upper-class background. Similarly, McKenzie reveals how David's ascent to power, traditionally attributed to popularity and divine blessing, in fact resulted from a campaign of terror and assassination. While instituting a full-blown Middle Eastern monarchy, David was an aggressive leader, a devious politician, and a ruthless war chief. Throughout his scandalous reign, important figures who stood in his way died at convenient times, under questionable circumstances. Even his own sons were not spared. David's story, writes McKenzie, "reads like a modern soap opera, with plenty of sex, violence, and struggles for power."
Carefully researched and vividly written, King David: An Unauthorized Biography offers a provocative reappraisal of the life of one of the Bible's most compelling figures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195132731
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/27/2000
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	9.48(w) x 6.49(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Steven L. McKenzie as an Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Rhodes College. His other books include The Hebrew Bible Today and All Gods Children: A Biblical Critique of Racism. He lives in Memphis.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Maps	xi
Introduction Images The Need for a Biography of David	1
1 Was There a King David? Extrabiblical Sources	9
2 Royal Propaganda The Bible's Account of David's Life	25
3 Was David a Shepherd? David's Origins and Youth	47
4 Who Killed Whom? The Goliath Story and David's Career as
a Soldier in Saul's Army	69
5 Holy Terrorist David and His Outlaw Band	89
6 Assassin David's Reign as King of Judah	111
7 The Cost of Kingship The Policies and Changes of David's
Administration	129
8 Like Father, Like Son The Bathsheba Affair and Absalom's
Revolt	153
9 Poetic Justice The Last Days of King David	175
10 Finished Portrait A Synopsis	185
Notes	191
Bibliography	211
Index	231

Editorial Reviews

Scholarship relating to the Bible tends to gravitate toward two extremes: the apologetic and devotional camp finesses difficulties and sees pure heroes and villains, while the skeptical and secular camp takes the Bible to be a purely human creation untainted by divine intervention. McKenzie (Hebrew Bible, Rhodes Coll.; The Hebrew Bible Today), who clearly belongs in the latter camp, laments that there are few "real" biographies of David. A careful and accomplished scholar, he begins solidly with the recognition that the Deuteronomist's goal was not to recount what happened but to use what happened to instruct the reader. Nevertheless, McKenzie asserts that there is much of historical value in the text and sets forth three guidelines for the analysis of data. As a result, a real King David, who ruled over a real kingdom, emerges as a typical Eastern monarch of his time, albeit one of exceptional ability, who connived, murdered, pillaged, betrayed, and ruthlessly crushed all opposition. This work ought to get enough disdain from both extremes to make it very profitable reading for the informed and thoughtful student. Recommended for public and academic libraries.--Eugene O. Bowser, Univ. of Northern Colorado, Greeley Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Library Journal

"McKenzie is little short of brilliant."—The New York Times Book Review

"A provocative look at a complex biblical figure....McKenzie uses biblical texts and recent archaeological discoveries to paint a searing portrait of the 'real' King David."—The Sunday Star-Ledger

"[A] remarkable book...McKenzie brings to bear all the analytical tools of the modern historian....We see a darker and more realistic David and a more troubling biblical history....McKenzie's portrait of David is both convincing and disturbing."—Bible Review

From the Publisher