This book explores, by way of narrative analysis, the story of Jehu's revolt in 2 Kings 9 and 10, and the tensions and ambiguities surrounding the evaluation of Jehu that it contains. In the narrative, the Deuteronomist writes in many voices: the prophet(s), the Lord, the narrator, even Jehu himself. The tension within the Jehu narrative arises in the interaction of the various voices, and careful study of these narrative voices reveals two primary criteria for evaluating Jehu: faithful observance of correct Deuteronomistic worship, that is, true Yahwistic worship in the Jerusalem Temple; and faithful obedience to the prophetic word. Each criterion is expressed in the narrative and, as a means of finally resolving the ambiguity of the evaluative voices, the narrative presents the criterion of worship in suppression over the criterion of the prophetic word. The narrative analysis shows how the Jehu narrative connects linguistically, thematically, and analogically the larger Deuteronomistic History and provides rubrics under which a Deuteronomistic theology of kingly legitimation can be examined. The theology that arises from the Jehu narrative in respect of kingly legitimation, traced through the criteria of proper worship and the prophetic word, at times adds unique emphases to the theology of kingly legitimation presented in the history. At other times, it stands seamlessly with the theology of the larger history. At all times, the theology of worship and word shows the Jehu narrative ultimately cannot be real successfully or fully in isolation from the surrounding text and the theology presented there. Series editors, Claudia Camp and Andrew Mein, were formerly of "Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement", a book series that featured original and creative approaches to the interpretation of Old Testament literature. "The Bible in the 21st Century" series, a part of JSOTS, seeks to examine contemporary authoritative and cultural meanings of bibles by focusing on the processes of transmission, readership and actualization of biblical texts up to and including the twenty-first century. The series explores issues related to contemporary culture and the place of the bible and religion within it. Copenhagen International Seminar is also part of JSOTS.

Author Biography

Lissa M. Wray Beal is the Associate Professor of Old Testament at Providence Theological Seminary in Manitoba, Canada.