James Donkor Afoakwah - The Nathan-David Confrontation (2 Sam 12: 1-15a); A slap in the face of the Deuteronomistic hero?

James Donkor Afoakwah

The Nathan-David Confrontation (2 Sam 12:1-15a)

A slap in the face of the Deuteronomistic hero?

Bibliographic Information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.

Zugl.: Tbingen, Univ., Diss., 2014

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Afoakwah, James Donkor, 1967

The Nathan-David confrontation (2 Sam 12:1-15a) : a slap in the face of the Deuteronomistic hero? / James Donkor Afoakwah. 1 [edition].

pages cm

ISBN 978-3-631-66186-4

1. Bible. Samuel, 2nd, XII, 1-15Criticism, interpretation, etc.. 2. Nathan (Biblical prophet). 3. David, King of Israel. I. Title.

BS1325.52.A36 2015

222'.4406dc23

2015016741

D 21
ISBN 978-3-631-66186-4 (Print)
E-ISBN 978-3-653-05849-9 (E-Book)
DOI 10.3726 978-3-653-05849-9

Peter Lang GmbH
Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Frankfurt am Main 2015
All rights reserved.
Peter Lang Edition is an Imprint of Peter Lang GmbH.

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About the Author

James Donkor Afoakwah is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Ghana. He studied Philosophy in Accra, Theology in Cape Coast, holds a Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a PhD from the Eberhard Karls University in Tbingen, Germany.

About the Book

The study discusses the Old Testament's parable of Nathan and the subsequent condemnation of King David. The intriguing episode of the Prophet Nathan pronouncing judgment on the erring King David has always attracted the interest of the exegete and various researchers have used different methods to separate the condemnation of King David from the ancient author. This study presents a synchronic reading of the canonical text that reveals the episode as the mirror image of the oracle of eternal dynasty pronounced to David by the same prophet in the Second Book of Samuel 7. It is indeed the work of the deuteronomistic writer who has adapted an oracle against the dynasty of David and trimmed it to the advantage of his hero in the unfolding of history.

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This edition of the eBook can be cited. To enable this we have marked the start and end of a page. In cases where a word straddles a page break, the marker is placed inside the word at exactly the same position as in the physical book. This means that occasionally a word might be bifurcated by this marker.

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Acknowledgement

The journey that has culminated in the publication of this book begun as a surprise and has progressed with the help and under the guidance of many loving and well-meaning companions along the way. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the numerous personalities who have been a gift to me at various stages of the journey and the development of this work. His Eminence Peter Cardinal Turkson initiated the journey with his acquisition of a Propaganda Fidei scholarship for me to Study in Rome. At the end of that phase he linked me up with Prof. Dr. Peter Hnermann, through whose effort the Diocese of Rottenburg/Stuttgart welcomed me into her pastoral embrace and accorded me every necessary aid to complete my studies. To the Bishop, Dr. Gephardt Frst and the personnel of Hauptabteilung IV, I say, thank you for the acceptance and the trust reposed in me and Archbishop Mathias Nketsiah of Cape Coast for allowing me the needed time for my sojourn in Germany.

Prof. Dr. Walter Gro has not just been my moderator but a Doktorvater in every ramification of the word. Herr Gro began his pension before the completion of this work but still accompanied me like the son of his old age, with meetings at short notice, prompt reading of the different parts of the work and encouraging words at the deepest moments of the journey. Herr Gro, this book is a personal, pension gift to you.

Prof. Dr. Ruth Scoralick assumed the responsibility of the second moderator and carried out that responsibility in record time. To you I express my sincere appreciation. As if one Professor Emeritus was not enough for me, I was blessed with two others; Prof. Dr. Ottmar Fuchs and B. J. Hilberath, under whose paternal but scrutinizing glance I sat for the final Exams Rigorosum. Thank you, Herrn Fuchs and Hilberath, for the opportunity to learn from you at the various seminars and your paternal collegiality at the rigorosum.

Msgr. James Myers of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast has taken the time to read through the work, correct the language and offer challenging comments that helped yield the present result. Monsignor, I am grateful to you as my English Master in the minor seminary and proof-reader of my thesis. Whenever I was at my wits end with my computer knowledge, Frau V | VI Giuseppina Modica came to my rescue with her secretarial services. Giusy, accept my thanks for your silent, almost invisible aid.

The Italian parishes of Beato Carlo Steeb, in Reutlingen and San Bruno in Metzingen were a piece of home for me despite being far from home. My dear Parishioners, I am blessed to have had you in my life during the period of my studies. Despite the scarcity of time for pastoral work, you accepted me into your midst and into your families. Thank you for the experience of real love among you. Frs. Anthony Sackey and Richard Techie-Quansah, my brother Ghanaian priests who are also studying here in Germany; your unwavering, fraternal support and sharing with me in good and in bad times have worked an anchor-effect in my academic, moral and pastoral life. To you and the many nameless others, I render my heartfelt gratitude.

Finally, my sincere thanks to Jacob James Donkor (who did not live to see the completion of this work) and Joana Donkor, my parents, my brothers and sisters; James, Mary, Georgina, Isaac, Cecilia, Emmanuel, Gloria, Michael, Francis, William and Anthoinette. Together with you I have learnt to live, to love, to offend, to be offended, to forgive, to be forgiven and to grow. Thank you for your love. To God be the glory.

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To
Jacob James Donkor,
Peter Cardinal Turkson, Walter Gro
and all the priests of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast.

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