Geographical and historical realities behind the earliest layer in the David story

Israel Finkelstein*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The article attempts to identify an early Judahite layer in the David narrative in 1-2 Samuel and dates the reality behind it to the period prior to Judah expansion into the southern Hebron Highlands and the Beer-sheba Valley in the second half of the 9th century BCE. This helps to clarify the territorial and historical situation in the south in the 10th and early 9th centuries BCE. The article delineates the southern extent of the early north Israelite highlands polity, whose hub was in the area of Gibeon-Gibeah, and the territories of the Philistine kingdom of Gath and the desert polity that emerged at that time in the Beer-sheba Valley. It also deals with the role of Sheshonq I in shaping the long-term territorio-political order in southern Canaan.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)131-150
Number of pages20
JournalScandinavian Journal of the Old Testament
Volume27
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2013

Keywords

  • Amalek
  • Apiru
  • David
  • Gath
  • Hebron Hills
  • Negeb
  • Saul
  • Shephelah
  • Sheshonq I (Shishak)

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