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Manasseh the Boring: Lack of Character in 2 Kings 21
- Author(s):
- Alison Joseph (see profile)
- Date:
- 2020
- Group(s):
- Bible and the History of Biblical Interpretation, Biblical Studies, Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
- Subject(s):
- Deuteronomistic history (Biblical criticism), Bible as literature, Bible and literature, Historiography
- Item Type:
- Book chapter
- Tag(s):
- 1-2 Kings, Book of Kings, 2 Kings 21, Manasseh, Deuteronomistic history, Biblical studies
- Permanent URL:
- http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/dwvd-8r27
- Abstract:
- King Manasseh of Judah is blamed for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, a heavy mantle to carry. But as a character, Manasseh is boring—he looks like the other ordinary bad kings, even described as a “cardboard cutout,” that Kings has little literary use for. Wouldn’t we expect a more colorful villain? Is there anything in the character of Manasseh that would attract the heavy weight of the blame? Or do we just have to attribute the blame to a later editor, unconcerned with characterization? Or is his lack of character what gives Dtr a “blank slate” for this theological reading of historical-political events?
- Metadata:
- xml
- Published as:
- Book chapter
- Status:
- Published
- Last Updated:
- 4 years ago
- License:
- All Rights Reserved
- Share this:
Open access, open source, open to all
ajoseph_manasseh.pdf