Wednesday, January 06, 2021

David's disturbing deathbed directions

DR. DAVID GLATT-GILAD: King David’s Troubling Deathbed Instructions. (TheTorah.com).
Before his death, David commands Solomon to kill two men: Joab, his loyal general, and Shimei, his enemy, whom he had sworn not to kill.
The Deuteronomist didn't seem to mind this disturbing story. But it bothered later interpreters. Even the Chronicler leaves it out and gives David a far more pious ending (1 Chronicles 28-29). It seems the disquiet goes back to our earliest intepreter.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.