Arguments on the Bible: 2 Samuel, Isaiah, Book of Jonah, and Psalms
Choose one of the five statements below. Write a thesis-based essay (four or five pages long—double spaced, 12-point type) in which you argue to what degree, if any, you believe the statement is true.
1. “David does so many things to forfeit his legitimacy that it is surprising the author of 2 Samuel still considers him a legitimate ruler.” You may assume that we all know the concepts of legitimacy introduced in Cox’s lecture 10.
2. “The concerns of the prophet Isaiah are not very similar to the concerns of the books of Genesis or Exodus.” Address this by using Isaiah and either Genesis or Exodus or both.
3. “In the final episode in the book of Jonah, Jonah is right and Yahweh is wrong (despite what Cox thinks).” Write about this only if you are on Jonah’s side; that will make it a bit more challenging.
4. “If the Psalms we’ve read in this course were the only parts of the Old Testament we possessed, we would still have the essential concepts of God that are present in Genesis.”
5. “In the Symposium, the speech of Phaedrus is a sufficient account of what is good about love. Other people may have something valuable to add, but that something isn’t really necessary.” You may substitute Pausanias for Phaedrus.
you may choose any one of the previous statements. please include about 6-9 quotes/evidence only from the given. no outside sources.
Note: The name of the Bible and the names of its parts are never italicized or put in quotation marks. Thus: the Bible, the book of Jonah, the Psalms, Psalm 83, Isaiah 5, etc.
Religion & Theology
10th, February 2021
DAVID DOES SO MANY THINGS TO FORFEIT HIS LEGITIMACY THAT IT IS SURPRISING THAT THE AUTHOR OF 2 SAMUEL STILL CONSIDERS HIM A LEGITIMATE RULER.
David's ascension to power was quite glorious and a smooth transition without bloodshed. It is a scenario that would not be expected in most cases, importantly when deposing a sitting and an alive king-King Saul. The book of 1 Samuel introduces the Israelite monarchy and rulership. The 2 Samuel elaborates on the genesis, establishment, and creation of God's preferred dynasty and ruler, David.
After Saul's death, his only surviving son Ishbaal was anointed as his successor, unanimously supported by the Israelite's northern tribes. However, perhaps through Yahweh's guidance, the southern elders went to David's military camp, Hebron. They anointed him king over the house of Judah – the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. "And they told David, saying, "the men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul" (King James Version, 2 Samuel 2:4). He eventually became God's anointed ruler over the entire of Israel, uniting all twelve tribes into a tight-knit nation. The scripture says, "so all the elders of Israel came to the King at Hebron, and king David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel" (King James Version, 2 Samuel 5:3). The book of 2 Samuel 1:19-27 opens with David learning of King Saul's death. He bitterly mourns the deaths of Jonathan, his unlikely best friend, and Saul. David portrayed personal grief over their demise despite King Saul numerously trying to have him killed before.
In the wake of his early reigns and rise to power, David was a wise and benevolent ruler loved by all. His actions were often well thought of, and he made sober decisions and rulings. The initial ten chapters of the book of 2 Samuel chronicles King David as a successful leader who reigned over Israel without any hiccups and conquered his enemies. He was righteous in God's eyes, compassionate to the poor and the sick, and was praised by the people. In 2 Samuel 6: 12-16, King David is seen having a jubilant dance for the Lord in Jerusalem's streets as his men brought back home the ark of the covenant. The ark had stayed in the house of Obed-Edom for three months-"the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household" (King James Version, 2 Samuel 6: 11).
King David's grace, kindness, and forgiveness were unrivaled. In 2 Samuel, David extends grace to Jonathan's crippled son, Mephibosheth. Jonathan was his best friend and always stood by him when Saul, his father, was king and wanted to persecute him. So David said to him, "do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually" (King James Version, 2 Samuel 9:7). His gesture towards Mephibosheth was applauded as it contravened how other kings would have behaved towards the heirs of a former dethroned monarchy, either have them detained, killed, or exiled. King David's triumphs did not derail him from state duties. He performed his conquests under Yahweh's guidance, always consulting with God before heading to any war. In the book of 2 Samuel 5: 17-25, King David defeated and triumphed over the Philistines and the Ammonites in 2 Samuel 10.
David had a stellar rule over Israel under God's protection and guidance until the misdeeds between him and Bathsheba, Uriah, the Gittite's wife. He did so many wicked and non Godly deeds under his kingship that it was a surprise that God did not forsake him and replace him immediately as he would have habitually done.
In all the Israelites wars, which God usually inspired through the King of Israel, kings needed to lead their troops to the conquests. However, in the Ammonites battle, David chose to remain in Jerusalem and enjoy his palace's luxuries while sending his General, Joab, to lead the conquest against Yahweh's wish. "Now it came to pass in the spring of the year, at a time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem" (King James Version, 2 Samuel 11:1). Contrary to what he had previously done in other conquests, this time, he chose not to participate in Israel's battle with the Ammonites but instead de...