Not «Who Is on the Lord's Side?» but «Whose Side Is the Lord On?»: Contesting Claims and Divine Inscrutability in 2 Samuel 16: 5-14

170 Pages·2014·10.39 MB·English

by  Timothy F. Simpson

Not “Who Is on
the Lord’s Side?”
but “Whose Side
Is the Lord On?”
Studies in Biblical Literature

Hemchand Gossai
General Editor

Vol. 152

This book is a volume in a Peter Lang monograph series.
Every title is peer reviewed and meets
the highest quality standards for content and production.

PETER LANG
New York  Washington, D.C./Baltimore  Bern
Frankfurt  Berlin  Brussels  Vienna  Oxford
Timothy F. Simpson

Not “Who Is on
the Lord’s Side?”
but “Whose Side
Is the Lord On?”

Contesting Claims and
Divine Inscrutability
in 2 Samuel 16:5–14

PETER LANG
New York  Washington, D.C./Baltimore  Bern
Frankfurt  Berlin  Brussels  Vienna  Oxford
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Simpson, Timothy F.
Not “who is on the Lord’s side?” but “whose side is the Lord on?”: contesting
claims and divine inscrutability in 2 Samuel 16:5–14 / Timothy F. Simpson.
pages cm. — (Studies in biblical literature; v. 152)
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Bible. Samuel, 2nd, XV I, 5–14—Criticism,
interpretation, etc. I. Title.
BS1325.52.S57 222’.4406—dc23 2013013004
ISBN 978-1-4331-1979-8 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4539-1130-3 (e-book)
ISSN 1089-0645

Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data is available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.

The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability
of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity
of the Council of Library Resources.

© 2014 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com

All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.

Printed in Germany
Simpson Final_simpson final 2/3/14 3:45 PM Page v
Contents
Editor’s Preface vii
Acknowledgments ix
1. “Confession Is Good for the Soul”: Owning Up to Methodological and
Theological Assumptions 1
1.1 Canonical Criticism: Privileging Theological Discourse and
Reading the Text as Scripture 4
1.2 Reader-Response Criticism: A Diary of the Reading Process 10
1.3 Intertextuality: Reading Scripture with Scripture 12
1.4 Summary 16
2. “Out with the Old and In with the New”: Surveying the Work
of Earlier Interpreters: What has Worked, What Hasn’t and Why
A Fresh Approach Is Needed 19
2.1 Classical Historical-Critical Approaches to David 21
2.1.1 Leonhard Rost 21
2.1.2 Martin Noth 23
2.2 The Literary Reappraisal of the David Narratives 26
2.2.1 David M. Gunn 27
2.2.2 J.P. Fokkelman 30
Simpson Final_simpson final 2/3/14 3:45 PM Page vi
vi | CONTENTS
2.2.3 Robert Polzin 33
2.3 Contemporary Historical and Literary Approaches to David 38
2.3.1 Baruch Halpern 39
2.3.2 Steven McKenzie 41
2.3.3 Antony Campbell 42
2.3.4 Robert Alter 44
2.3.5 Paul Borgman 46
2.3.6 Robert Pinsky 48
2.4 Walter Brueggemann 49
2.5 Summary 52
3. “The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways”: The Inscrutability of God and
Attempts to Co-Opt It for Personal, Political Gain in 2Sam 16:5-14 53
3.1 The Story Thus Far 54
3.2 The Fall and Rise of David: 2Samuel 15-20 57
3.3 vv. 5-7a: David on the Run from Absalom, Jerusalem 61
3.4 vv. 7b-8:Shimei Comes Cursing; Sounds Like a Prophet 65
3.5 v. 9:Abishai Speaks for Tradition; Offers to Settle the
Matter Immediately 76
3.6 vv. 10-12: David Affirms, Rejects Both Shimei, Abishai 82
3.7 vv. 13-14:Narrating the Exit from the Land; Dirt, Stones and
Curses 92
3.8 Aftermath 94
3.8.1 2Sam 19:17-24(ET 16-23): Shimei Begs David’s Pardon 94
3.8.2 1Kings 2:1-9: David Instructs Solomon to Kill Shimei 97
3.8.3 1Kings 2:36-46: Solomon Kills Shimei 99
3.9 Summary 102
4. Conclusion 105
Notes 111
References 141
Simpson Final_simpson final 2/3/14 3:45 PM Page vii
Editor’s Preface
More than ever the horizons in biblical literature are being expanded beyond that
which is immediately imagined; important new methodological, theological, and
hermeneutical directions are being explored, often resulting in significant contri-
butions to the world of biblical scholarship. It is an exciting time for the academy
as engagement in biblical studies continues to be heightened.
This series seeks to make available to scholars and institutions, scholarship of a
high order, and which will make a significant contribution to the ongoing biblical
discourse. This series includes established and innovative directions, covering gen-
eral and particular areas in biblical study. For every volume considered for this se-
ries, we explore the question as to whether the study will push the horizons of
biblical scholarship. The answer must be yes for inclusion.
In this volume Tim Simpson through the interpretive prism of intertextuality
examines a particular text, II Samuel 6:5-14, with an eye towards a new and chal-
lenging understanding of David. In his overview of the studies of several scholars
whose works have been foundational for an interpretation and understanding of
David, Simpson argues that the methodological principles employed have been in-
sufficient and inefficient in providing a textually accurate depiction of David. The
author contends that for the most part David has been give a “free ride” in the over-
whelmingly positive manner in which he is portrayed. Howsoever, one reads and
Simpson Final_simpson final 2/3/14 3:45 PM Page viii
viii | PREFACE
responds to this study, it is sure to generate a widespread conversation. The argu-
ments and conclusions must be reckoned with.
The horizon has been expanded.
Hemchand Gossai
Series Editor