Richard G. Smith is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Taylor University.

"The first manifestation of this study was as a 2000 doctoral dissertation at the University of Cambridge focusing on the characterization of Joab in the passage. Scholars are falling away from the hypothesis that this part of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings 1-2 together form a defense of Solomonic succession, he explains, but no paradigm has risen to replace it. In that vacuum, he focuses on Samuel alone, and its expression of values as a contribution to exploring the overall ethics of the Old Testament. His topics include justice and righteousness as ancient Near Eastern ethical ideal and hermeneutical constructs, redefining the court history according to the passage, reading it as the beginnings and corruption of justice and righteousness, the perversion of justice and righteousness in the Absalom affair, and the death of justice and righteousness with David's return and Sheba's secession." -Eithne O'Leyne, BOOK NEWS, Inc.

• nullnullChapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Critical MethodologyChapter 3: Justice and Righteousness as Ancient Near Eastern Ethical Ideal and Hermeneutical ConstructChapter 4: Redefining the Court History as a Literary Unit according to 2 Samuel 8:15b-20:26Chapter 5: Reading 2 Samuel 8:15b-10:19 as the Beginnings of Justice and Righteousness: David's Acts of Kindness and the Ammonite-Aramean WarChapter 6: Reading 2 Samuel 11-12 as the Corruption of Justice and Righteousness: The Uriah Affair and the Fall of RabbahChapter 7: Reading 2 Samuel 13:1-19:9[8] as the Perversion of Justice and Righteousness: The Absalom AffairChapter 8: Reading 2 Samuel 19:10[9]-20:26 as the Death of Justice and Righteousness: David's Return and Sheba's SecessionChapter 9: Conclusion

Richard G. Smith is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Taylor University.

"The first manifestation of this study was as a 2000 doctoral dissertation at the University of Cambridge focusing on the characterization of Joab in the passage. Scholars are falling away from the hypothesis that this part of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings 1-2 together form a defense of Solomonic succession, he explains, but no paradigm has risen to replace it. In that vacuum, he focuses on Samuel alone, and its expression of values as a contribution to exploring the overall ethics of the Old Testament. His topics include justice and righteousness as ancient Near Eastern ethical ideal and hermeneutical constructs, redefining the court history according to the passage, reading it as the beginnings and corruption of justice and righteousness, the perversion of justice and righteousness in the Absalom affair, and the death of justice and righteousness with David's return and Sheba's secession." -Eithne O'Leyne, BOOK NEWS, Inc.

• nullnullChapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Critical MethodologyChapter 3: Justice and Righteousness as Ancient Near Eastern Ethical Ideal and Hermeneutical ConstructChapter 4: Redefining the Court History as a Literary Unit according to 2 Samuel 8:15b-20:26Chapter 5: Reading 2 Samuel 8:15b-10:19 as the Beginnings of Justice and Righteousness: David's Acts of Kindness and the Ammonite-Aramean WarChapter 6: Reading 2 Samuel 11-12 as the Corruption of Justice and Righteousness: The Uriah Affair and the Fall of RabbahChapter 7: Reading 2 Samuel 13:1-19:9[8] as the Perversion of Justice and Righteousness: The Absalom AffairChapter 8: Reading 2 Samuel 19:10[9]-20:26 as the Death of Justice and Righteousness: David's Return and Sheba's SecessionChapter 9: Conclusion

Richard G. Smith is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Taylor University.

"The first manifestation of this study was as a 2000 doctoral dissertation at the University of Cambridge focusing on the characterization of Joab in the passage. Scholars are falling away from the hypothesis that this part of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings 1-2 together form a defense of Solomonic succession, he explains, but no paradigm has risen to replace it. In that vacuum, he focuses on Samuel alone, and its expression of values as a contribution to exploring the overall ethics of the Old Testament. His topics include justice and righteousness as ancient Near Eastern ethical ideal and hermeneutical constructs, redefining the court history according to the passage, reading it as the beginnings and corruption of justice and righteousness, the perversion of justice and righteousness in the Absalom affair, and the death of justice and righteousness with David's return and Sheba's secession." -Eithne O'Leyne, BOOK NEWS, Inc.

• nullnullChapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Critical MethodologyChapter 3: Justice and Righteousness as Ancient Near Eastern Ethical Ideal and Hermeneutical ConstructChapter 4: Redefining the Court History as a Literary Unit according to 2 Samuel 8:15b-20:26Chapter 5: Reading 2 Samuel 8:15b-10:19 as the Beginnings of Justice and Righteousness: David's Acts of Kindness and the Ammonite-Aramean WarChapter 6: Reading 2 Samuel 11-12 as the Corruption of Justice and Righteousness: The Uriah Affair and the Fall of RabbahChapter 7: Reading 2 Samuel 13:1-19:9[8] as the Perversion of Justice and Righteousness: The Absalom AffairChapter 8: Reading 2 Samuel 19:10[9]-20:26 as the Death of Justice and Righteousness: David's Return and Sheba's SecessionChapter 9: Conclusion