Royal Illness and Kingship Ideology in the Hebrew Bible

Royal illness as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible anticipates the failure of kingship resulting in the destruction of Israel and Judah. This is the first systematic study of royal illness in this context. It will be of interest to students and scholars of history in the ancient Near East, biblical studies, medical humanities, and disability studies.

List of contents

Introduction: Part I. The Failure of Kingship and the Demise of the Nation: Illness as Frame: 1. Royal illness in stories about the early monarchy; 2. Royal illness in the story cycles of Elijah and Elisha; 3. The illnesses of Abijah and Hezekiah in light of Israelite and Judahite history; Part II. Flawed Personalities and Divine Judgment: The Framing of Illness in the Book of Chronicles: 4. Jehoram spills his guts (Literally): The embodiment of retribution and the davidic covenant in 2 Chr 21; 5. Royal illness and self-reliance: King Asa; 6. Royal illness and arrogance: Uzziah and Hezekiah; 7. Conclusions; Bibliography; Index.

About the author

Isabel Cranz is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Pennsylvania. Her area of specialization is the Hebrew Bible in relation to its ancient Near Eastern contexts. She is the author of Atonement and Purification: Priestly and Assyro-Babylonian Perspectives on Sin and its Consequences.

Summary

Royal illness as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible anticipates the failure of kingship resulting in the destruction of Israel and Judah. This is the first systematic study of royal illness in this context. It will be of interest to students and scholars of history in the ancient Near East, biblical studies, medical humanities, and disability studies.

Product details

• Authors: Isabel Cranz, Isabel (University of Pennsylvania) Cranz, CRANZ ISABEL
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.10.2020
• EAN: 9781108830492
• ISBN: 978-1-108-83049-2
• No. of pages: 275
• Series: Society for Old Testament Stud; Society for Old Testament Study Monographs
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Judaism; RELIGION / Judaism / General, RELIGION / Christianity / General, RELIGION / Judaism / Talmud, RELIGION / Biblical Studies / General, Christianity, Judaism, Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts, Biblical Studies & Exegesis, Judaism: sacred texts and revered writings, Judaism: Sacred Texts