Reconciling Violence and Kingship

Synopsis: The Hebrew Bible preeminently hails King David in narratives of kingship. Israel's first king, Saul, is interpreted as a weak king whose failings contrast with David's success. Reading the stories at the end of Judges and early in 1 Samuel, Reconciling Violence and Kingship demonstrates the significance of Saul and the inauguration of monarchy independent of and preceding David's kingship. Attuned to issues of mimetic rivalry and sacrifice extending from Abimelech in Judges, Michelson argues that Saul's kingship is uniquely important in establishing the person of the king, inaugurated in order to minimize violence through sacrifice. Read in this way, Saul is not a failed king, but is truly Israel's predominant king. Israelite monarchy emerges with Saul alongside emerging practices of the sacrificial cult. Endorsements: "In this bracing study of the Deuteronomistic History, Marty A. Michelson combines a careful literary reading of key texts with Rene Girard's theory of mimetic violence, sacrifice, and the scapegoat mechanism to offer a fresh explanation of the emergence of kingship in Israel. Michelson's innovative study not only unsettles common historical assumptions but challenges readers to think in new ways, including positive ways, about violence and kingship, and the relation between the two. Girardian theory is here put to constructive historical use." -Ben C. Ollenburger Professor of Biblical Theology Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Author Biography: Marty Alan Michelson is Professor of Old Testament at Southern Nazarene University. Michelson earned his PhD in Bible (Manchester, UK) and has earned graduate degrees in psychology and theology. Michelson teaches integrative courses that deal with issues of human personhood, peacemaking, ecological and global stewardship, and Shoah/genocide studies. Michelson founded and directs the Eupan Global Initiative and has worked as a pastor to inner-city congregations.