The Deteronomistic Historian

  1. Provenance and interests
    1. Jerusalem
    2. Also knew the northern traditions which were brought south after the fall of Samaria (721 BCE)
  2. Dating (ca. 600–525 BCE?)
    1. Two stages
    2. First before exile but just as Babylonians were about to take Judea; judgment of doom
    3. Revision during exile, to give a ray of hope that God might restore Israel, including the monarchy (e.g., Jehoiakin released by Babylonian king and fed at his table: 2 Kgs 25:27-30)
  3. Theology
    1. Israel
      1. God's chosen people, thus, different from the nations, accountable to God; God is grundlage rather than primary character in the story
      2. Identity of the nation based on covenant laws and commands, but failure of Israel to live up to the demands of covenant justice
      3. God is indivisible, thus Israel should also be (concept of kôl Israel); concept of communal salvation is paramount
    2. Land is a pledge, but promise is fulfilled in the conquest of the peoples west of the Jordan
    3. One God therefore one place of worship (i.e., Jerusalem)
    4. King is the principal guardian of the covenant
    5. Urgent choice to live the commands of YHWH or to suffer rejection
    6. Covenant is basis of relationship of Israel to God
    7. Torah
      1. revelation, story of God's revelation, salvation history as grace
      2. Law itself as grace (Deut. 4:7-8), characterize the response to grace which God expects of Israel
      3. meaning of laws found in the Torah story
    8. Tribal league period
      1. attempt to live out the covenant
      2. theocracy
      3. Torah becomes law of the land for covenanted community
      4. sharing of resources among those who share the covenant relationship
      5. rejection of Canaanite model of leadership through aristocracy
    9. Kingship model
      1. still tried to view it under the aegis of covenant
      2. re-working of covenant idea so king becomes servant of YHWH (nási' or nagid)
      3. later melek as viceroy
      4. David shown as recipient of unconditional covenant (2 Sam 7:1-17, 28)
      5. there is no other ANE model for this type of covenant, but closest is a royal grant of land in perpetuity to a loyal servant
      6. Sinai covenant is drawn into this complex and develops into a statement of the grace of YHWH