Behold Your King

Behold Your King
Author: Anthony Robert Petterson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2009-12-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567385949

This book investigates the nature of the hope for the house of David in the final form of the book of Zechariah. It focuses particularly on the following themes: the roles of Joshua and Zerubbabel; the nature and identity of the Shoot; the coming King; the Shepherd; and the Pierced One. It challenges the scholarly consensus, going back to the thesis of Julius Wellhausen, that the high priest took over the role and prerogatives of the pre-exilic monarch in the early post-exilic period. Instead, Zechariah merely envisages Joshua the high priest being reinstated to the temple duties that were undertaken before the exile. Furthermore, Zechariah does not identify Zerubbabel as the promised future Davidic king ("Shoot"). Rather, Zechariah demonstrates a hope for the restoration of a Davidic king who will have a key role in temple building after the time of Zerubbabel. The belief that Zechariah 9-11 and 12-14 are oracles that seek to reinterpret prophecies that have become problematic is also challenged. There is no strong evidence that the hope for the house of David in Zechariah 9-14 contradicts the presentation of Zechariah 1-8. This thesis shows how these later chapters continue and develop many of the themes related to the Davidic hope in Zechariah 1-8. The picture of the Davidic hope that emerges from the book of Zechariah is consistent with the expectations of earlier prophets and confirms that the book, when read as a whole, provides a strong impetus for later messianism in the post-exilic period.

Has Joab Foiled David?

Has Joab Foiled David?
Author: Michael A. Eschelbach
Publisher: Peter Lang
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2005
Genre: Bibles
ISBN: 9780820474601

Was David a good man ruined by the negative influence of the evil villain Joab or was David himself the villain who cast his dark shadow wrongfully over Joab? The depth and complexity of David's character is more clearly observed and appreciated through this careful reading of the texts describing Joab as his foil. This book provides a wealth of information regarding character studies, a new perspective on David, and a groundbreaking study of Joab. Courses in biblical studies, especially literary or historical, will find this text most helpful.