Synopses & Reviews
1 Samuel is a national autobiography of the Hebrew people. David Jobling reads 1 Samuel as a story that is complete in itself, although it is part of a much larger narrative. He examines it as a historical document in a double sense: (1) as a document originating from ancient Israel and (2) as a telling of the past. Organizing the text through the three interlocking themes of class, race, and gender, Jobling asks how this historical - and canonical - story relates to a modern world in which these themes continue to be of crucial importance.
While drawing on the resources of biblical narratology," Jobling deviates from mainstream methodology. He adopts a "critical narratology" informed by such cultural practices as feminism and psychoanalysis. He follows a structuralist tradition which finds meaning more in the text's large-scale mythic patterns than in close reading of particular passages, and seeks methods specific to 1 Samuel rather than ones applicable to biblical narrative in general.
David Jobling, PhD, is a professor of Old Testament language and literature at St. Andrews College in Saskatoon. He is a co-chair of the Ideological Criticism section of the Society of Biblical Literature and a member of The Bible and Culture Collective."
Review
There are three things to celebrate here: the emergence of the second volume in this promising series, growth in the commentary genre, and Jobling's careful reconsideration of three decades of work on 1 Samuel.The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
Review
. . . will be valued for the strength with which it dialogues intelligently with the culture of today, ingeniously suggesting ways in which a biblical text from a world so long ago can be made relevant for today. Just as interesting is his reading of 1 Samuel itself, finding there interesting things to say about three principal themes: classism (a political view), gender (the feminist view) and ethnicity (the problem of self-identity, diversity and 'the other.'). . . . This brief description of the book's contents does not come near to capturing its richness, but is intended merely to suggest how the author takes on the task of breaking out of the rigid confines of the so-called historical-critical method.Gregorianum
Review
. . . a very valuable contribution with many well thought out and fascinating insights on 1 Samuel itself and on its canonical formation as an interpretative process. Perhaps most significantly, Jobling achieves much in advancing methodological pluralism as not only viable but necessary in biblical studies.Journal of Biblical Literature
Review
Jobling demonstrates deep respect for the complexities of the text, for varied canonical contexts, and for his students and readers. His readings of 1 Samuel are accordingly unconventional, and masterly, and of integrity. They whet the appetite for more.Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Review
Many of Jobling's hypotheses are unlikely to change very many minds outside his interpretive community, but even struggling with them can prove a fascinating experience.Review Society of Biblical Literature
Synopsis
This study of the book of 1 Samuel espouses a "critical narratology: informed by such cultural practices as feminism and psychoanalysis, following a tradition which finds meaning more in the text's mythic patterns than in the text itself.
Synopsis
For centuries people have turned to the Hebrew Bible to hear the life-giving words of God's everlasting covenant. Berit Olam: Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry shares the riches of this message with all who seek to hear it. Twenty-four volumes are projected for the series. Anticipate one volume in the series each spring and fall.
-- This series reflects the latest developments in a relatively new method of biblical study: literary criticism.
-- The authors approach the books of the Hebrew Bible as literary works, recognizing that the stories and poetry can be better appreciated if one is acquainted with the techniques whereby the ancient Hebrew authors told stories and wrote poems, as well as the strategies that modern readers use to understand them.
-- The contributors represent a variety of religious traditions, and theoretical approaches.
-- The authors comment on the text of the Hebrew Bible but they refer primarily to the New Revised Standard Version when referring to a modern translation.
-- The volumes in Berit Olam contain commentary only; the complete biblical text is not included.
Organizing the text through the three interlocking themes of class, race, and gender, Jobling asks how this historical story relates to a modern world.
About the Author
David Jobling, PhD, is a professor of Old Testament language and literature at St. Andrews College in Saskatoon. He is a co-chair of the Ideological Criticism section of the Society of Biblical Literature and a member of The Bible and Culture Collective.