Ritual or military action: interpreting Israel's muster at Mizpah in 1 Sam 7:2-17

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    Abstract

    This article evaluates the historicity of 1 Sam 7:2-17 in light of renewed analysis of the archaeological remains from Tell en-Nasbeh, other Iron Age I sites in the region of Benjamin, broader literary considerations in 1 Sam 1-10, and the geography of the Central Hill Country. In so doing, a case is made that there is far more going on in vv. 6-7 than what appears to be a miscommunication between the Israelites, who have gathered at the site of Mizpah, and the Philistines, who send troops against the Israelites. A historical reconstruction that considers the narrative form of 1 Sam 7:2-17 and the archaeological remains is offered, as is a new proposal for the identification of the site of Gibeath-elohim.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)620-633
    Number of pages14
    JournalVetus Testamentum
    Volume70
    Issue number4-5
    Early online date17 Jan 2020
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

    Keywords

    • Tell en-Nasbeh
    • Iron Age I
    • 1 Samuel
    • Philistines
    • historical geography
    • historiography
    • Mizpah
    • Gibeath-elohim
    • archaeology

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