John Noble, Harvard University
Women as Israel and a Feminine David: Narrative Themes in the History of David's Rise and 2 Samuel 6:20-23

Abstract:

The books of Samuel have been understood in a variety of ways, but are they not first of all the stuff of Israel's public life, one version of history that describes the state's early days? If so, how can we account for the space and attention given to women in these public records? Simply put, what are all the females doing in the books of Samuel? Are they mere incidentals of the broader story, or may we find other functions, from literary, political, or theological points of view? Do women have some symbolic meaning in the books of Samuel? This paper addresses some of these important questions. Drawing on Tivka Frymer-Kensky's work on the narrative functions of women in the Hebrew Bible, I survey a few key passages from the "History of David's Rise" (HDR; 1 Sam 16:14 - 2 Sam 5:10), as well as 2 Sam 6:20-23, with a view to understanding a popular groundswell of women as supporters of David and stand-in representatives of Israel. The next section examines the extent of David's own identity in feminine terms, and his connection to the female supporters. Finally, I offer some conclusions about the effect of these literary themes in the HDR.