Description: The Books of Kings have long been at the center of scholarly discussions on the Hebrew Bible because they constitute important sources for the history of ancient Israel and Judah, and because they are key components of the Deuteronomistic History. The Oxford Handbook of the Books of Kings provide a clear and useful introduction to the main aspects and issues pertaining to the scholarly study of Kings. These include textual history (including the linguistic profile), compositional history, literary approaches, key characters, history, important recurring themes, reception history and some contemporary readings. As a one-volume introduction embracing all the aspects of the study of Kings, written by an international and diverse team of scholars, this handbook is the ideal point of entry into the study of Kings for generations of students and scholars.
Review Quotes: "The work bridges the gap between textual study and historical, literary, and reception analyses. Its ambitious ideological contributions also shape future interpretive approaches. For biblical scholars and historians of ancient Israel, this is a must-have, essential both for quick consultations (e.g., on textual history, chronology, and ancient translations) and for critical orientation in recent debates (composition, narrative, reception, and ideological readings). Thanks to its well-organized structure and interdisciplinary list of authors, this book is characterized by a high level of substantive quality and serves as an exemplary didactic synthesis and research panorama for the new decade of biblical scholars and historians." -- Krzysztof Kinowski, Rivista Biblica