{"product_id":"king-david-9780195147087","title":"King David","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough 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 was not the humble shepherd who slew Goliath and became king, however, but was 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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMcKenzie is little short of brilliant. * The New York Times Book Review *\u003cbr\u003eA 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 *\u003cbr\u003e[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 *\u003cbr\u003eMckenzie...uses historical analysis of the texts, augmented by archaeology and the immense body of scholarship about the ancient Middle East, to create a plausible real-life portrait of the figure who gets more space in the Bible than anybody, Moses and Jesus included....A spirited analysis. * The Fayetteville Observer *\u003cbr\u003eThe conventional, laudatory image of David as a simple shepherd boy who courageously slew Goliath and rose to become Israel's greatest king despite some human failings is disputed by McKenzie. * Publishers Weekly *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction: Images: The Need for a Biography of David; 1. Was there a historical David? Extrabiblical Sources; 2. Royal Propaganda: The Bible's Account of David's Life; 3. Was David a Shepherd? David's origins and youth; 4. Who killed whom? The Goliath story and David's career as a soldier; 5. Holy terrorist: David and his outlaw band; 6. Assassin: David's reign as King of Judah; 7. The cost of kingship: the policies and changes of David's administration; 8. Like father, like son: the Bathsheba Affair and Absolom's revolt; 9. Poetic justice: the last days of King David; 10. Finished portrait: a synopsis","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51766878929239,"sku":"9780195147087","price":16.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780195147087.jpg?v=1758711514","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/king-david-9780195147087","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}