Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

I just reread Samuel and Kings, and noticed that the language used is usually 
linguistically simple like what I had come to expect from post-exilic 
writing. Particularly in Kings, there is repeated references to source 
materials. Linguistically, many of the most complex passages are where it 
quotes spoken statements. Part of that could be attributed to the subject 
matter covered, but some of it from being late to post exilic.

There is no date given to the authorship nor the identity of the author, but 
the last event related happened well after the Galut Babel started. That 
gives an earliest date if these books were written as a unit. Most of what we 
know of King David’s life chronologically is from Samuel, though other 
aspects of the man can be learned from his Psalms.

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>

> On 01/02/2004 06:39, Karl Randolph wrote:
>
> >Dora:
> >
> >Practically all the we know about David comes from one source document. As I 
> pointed out in a previous missive, that document clearly points out that David’s 
> 600 men were brought by him to Ziklag, not chosen while in Ziklag. Unless 
> Halpern has newly discovered documentation, that makes his statements 
> contradicting that one source document pure speculation based on his personal 
> presuppositions.
> >
> >  
> >
> >As for our source document, from its language and content, it appears post 
> exilic, but that the author(s) (possibly Ezra?) consulted, concatenated and 
> condensed at that time still extant original documents.
> >
> >  
> >
> Which document are you talking about? The major source, the books of 
> Samuel (and 1 Kings 1-2 which probably originally went with Samuel), are 
> dated by many scholars as pre-exilic although perhaps with later 
> redaction. Chronicles, which is post-exilic (and traditionally linked to 
> Ezra), is mostly secondary. Other sources which tell us something of 
> David include the Psalms, and some snippets in the prophetic books and 
> in Ruth.
>
>
> --
> Peter Kirk
> peter AT qaya.org (personal)
> peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
> http://www.qaya.org/

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