Royal Ideology in Ancient Israel
Royal Ideology in Ancient Israel
One of the main themes present in the rise of monarchy in Ancient Israel has to be the concept of royal ideology. Royal Ideology is the practice of believing that the king is considered to be at the same level of power as Yahweh, and vice versa. Throughout our studies of Ancient Israel there are many pieces of evidence to support this idea, and it had a great influence on the monarchal structure that developed throughout the time. Dealing with this subject matter, focusing on Wisdom is undoubtedly one of the prime methods of being able to interpret these Old Testament texts.
One of the clearest themes to emerge when dealing with royal ideology in Ancient Israel is the acknowledgment of the king as Yahweh's anointed one and the function of the king as one whom Yahweh willed to deliver Israel. A prime example of this would be King David, although with him, the scope was greatly enlarged. He was still anointed and chosen by the "men of Judah” (Sam. 2:4) and later by the "elders of Israel" (2 Sam. 5:3), but he also conquered Jerusalem and called it the "city of David" (2 Sam. 5:9); he had a capital city that he considered his personal property, not a part of any tribal allotment. The next important amplification of David's royal ideology was the transfer of the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam.6:1-15); with this step the "city of David" was made co-extensive with Israel's cultic center.
Considered to be one of the most momentous steps in this expansion of royal ideology under David would be the prophecy of Nathan (2 Sam. 7). This text seems to exhibit many expansions from later hands, but it is still possible to discern the oldest layer of the tradition. The key concepts dealt with within the text were that Yahweh promised to "make a house" (i. e. a dynasty) for David and to establish his throne "for ever" (v. 16). A later expansion has added that David's descendants would be the recipients of a special parent-child relationship with Yahweh
One of the main themes present in the rise of monarchy in Ancient Israel has to be the concept of royal ideology. Royal Ideology is the practice of believing that the king is considered to be at the same level of power as Yahweh, and vice versa. Throughout our studies of Ancient Israel there are many pieces of evidence to support this idea, and it had a great influence on the monarchal structure that developed throughout the time. Dealing with this subject matter, focusing on Wisdom is undoubtedly one of the prime methods of being able to interpret these Old Testament texts.
One of the clearest themes to emerge when dealing with royal ideology in Ancient Israel is the acknowledgment of the king as Yahweh's anointed one and the function of the king as one whom Yahweh willed to deliver Israel. A prime example of this would be King David, although with him, the scope was greatly enlarged. He was still anointed and chosen by the "men of Judah” (Sam. 2:4) and later by the "elders of Israel" (2 Sam. 5:3), but he also conquered Jerusalem and called it the "city of David" (2 Sam. 5:9); he had a capital city that he considered his personal property, not a part of any tribal allotment. The next important amplification of David's royal ideology was the transfer of the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam.6:1-15); with this step the "city of David" was made co-extensive with Israel's cultic center.
Considered to be one of the most momentous steps in this expansion of royal ideology under David would be the prophecy of Nathan (2 Sam. 7). This text seems to exhibit many expansions from later hands, but it is still possible to discern the oldest layer of the tradition. The key concepts dealt with within the text were that Yahweh promised to "make a house" (i. e. a dynasty) for David and to establish his throne "for ever" (v. 16). A later expansion has added that David's descendants would be the recipients of a special parent-child relationship with Yahweh
Bibliography: Crenshaw, J. "Wisdom," Old Testament Form Criticism, ed. J. H. Hayes (San Antonio: Trinity Univ. Press, 1974) Johnson, A. R. Sacral Kingship in Ancient Israel (Car-diff: Univ. of Wales, 1955) Rad, G. Von. Wisdom in Israel (Nashville: Abingdon, 1972) Toy, C. H. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Proverbs (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1899) Holy Bible: The King James Version (Collins Bible, A Division of Harper Collins Publisher, 2006)