Of Kings and Moabites: History and Theology in 2 Kings 3 and the Mesha Inscription
2 Kings 3 and the Mesha Inscription give diametrically opposed accounts of the Moabite War of Independence in the 9th century B.C.E. The Mesha Inscription is relatively matter of fact and evinces a deep knowledge of Transjordan. The Biblical chapter is skimpy on details of Transjordan and depends on...
| Published in: | Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
College
1993
|
| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
|
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Moabite language
/ Inscription
|
| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Bible. Könige 2. 3,1-27
B Epigraphy |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
|
| Summary: | 2 Kings 3 and the Mesha Inscription give diametrically opposed accounts of the Moabite War of Independence in the 9th century B.C.E. The Mesha Inscription is relatively matter of fact and evinces a deep knowledge of Transjordan. The Biblical chapter is skimpy on details of Transjordan and depends on miracles to achieve its staggering military success. The Mesha Inscription knows of the Israelites settled in Transjordan, especially the Gadites, and tells of Mesha's slaughter of them. 2 Kings 3 deals in national entities, and shows no concern for the plight of the Gadites at all. The kings of 2 Kings 3 travel a southern route, one calculated to leave the Gadites to their predicament. In short, 2 Kings 3 does not deal with the realities of the situation; rather, it is a theologically motivated response to the reality of renewed Moabite independence. The mysterious "wrath" with which 2 Kings 3 ends has been attributed by some to Kemosh. However, as a rule, alien gods do not express emotion in the Bible (Kaufmann). The Israelites under Ahab braved the wrath of a greater god than Kemosh, namely Aššur, at the battle of Qarqar, a few years before. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0360-9049 |
| Contains: | In: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
|