L. L. Grabbe (ed.), Kings and Bad Kings: The Kingdom of Judah in the Seventh century BCE

Abstract

Good Kings and Bad Kings: The Kingdom of Judah in the Seventh century BCE (ed. LESTER L. GRABBE), Library of Hebrew Bible / Old Testament Studies 393 / European Seminar in Historical Methodology 5, T & T Clark - London - 2005, xi + 371 pp.

This volume gathers the works presented during the seventh meeting of the European Seminar in Historical Methodology (= ESHM) in Berlin in July 2002, under the auspices of the European Association of Biblical Studies in conjunction with the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting. The topic of discussion revolves around the status of the Judah during the 7th century BC, with special reference to the religious reform of King Josiah (640-609 B.C.). Here, particularly, the historical context of this small South-Eastern kingdom serves as a historical reference for the theological counterpoint that the Old Testament presents to us between "good king" and "bad king" in the biblical history of Israel.