Die fruhe Konigszeit in Israel, 10. Jahrhundert v. Chr.

• Author: Frends, Anthony J.
• Position: Review

Die fruhe Konigszeit in Israel, 10. Jahrhundert v. Chr. By WALTER DIETRICH. Stuttgart: W. KOHLHAMMER, 1997. Pp. 312, illustrations, maps. DM 44.

Once the reader picks up Dietrich's book, he will find it very difficult to put it down again. Although this volume is meant to be an encyclopedic book, it is definitely a pleasure to read. Indeed, Dietrich presents a thorough overview of the period of the early kings in ancient Israel, and he therefore deals with the turbulent but interesting tenth century B.C. in the southern Levant. He mainly concentrates on the biblical evidence as found in the narratives from Samuel 9 up to 1 Kings 12. without forgetting the relevant extra-biblical evidence both of an archaeological and historical nature. The book is welt written and produced, and the few critical comments which are interspersed below do not impugn the great merit of this work. The publishers too have done a great job and there are virtually no misprints, though it is a pity that the maps shown on pages 164 and 167 are rather unclear.

Dietrich views the pre-Dtr narrative dealing with the early monarchy in Israel as starting in 1 Samuel 9 and ending in 1 Kings 12 rather than in i Kings 2. In this manner, the narrator seems to give an equal share of attention to Saul (and Samuel), David, and Solomon with the upshot that he in fact presents a triptych with king David at the center (p. 259). This narrative is dated to a period after the demise of the United Monarchy but not immediately thereafter, and it very probably stems from some time shortly after 722 B.C., when the northern kingdom had been destroyed by the Assyrians (p. 267).

In the process of unfolding the story of the early kings of ancient Israel, Dietrich maintains an excellent balance between a diachronic and a synchronic approach to the biblical text. His historical-critical approach results in some superb insights regarding the pre-Dtr material dealing with Samuel and Saul (pp. 41-42). Indeed, he makes use of literary criticism and tradition-historical analysis to present two different accounts regarding Saul's death: a pro-Israelite one is found in 1 Samuel 31, whereas a pro-Davidic one, with king David as the protagonist, is found in 2 Samuel 1 (p. 235). However, as far as the slaying of Goliath goes, Dietrich does not really solve the contradiction between the two different versions of the story found in 1 Samuel 17:7 (where Goliath is slain by David) and 2 Samuel 21:19 (where the...