A Portrait of an Apostate King: Contrast in the Characterization of David in 2 Samuel 11

Abstract

The eleventh chapter in the second book of Samuel stands out in that it tells of the uncharacteristic atrocities of the otherwise reputable and venerated King David. By uncovering David’s dark side, the narrator in 2 Samuel 11 ventures where the Chronicler does not. This dissertation starts on the premise that the narrator primarily uses contrast to characterize David. It goes on to argue that the narrator does not only contrast David with the other characters in the David-Bathsheba narrative but also with his earlier disposition as he is hitherto renowned. Perhaps driven by the need to avoid judging the revered king, the narrator deliberately refrains from qualifying David’s conduct as either good or bad. By this also, he invites the discretion of the reader and implicitly conveys important lessons to be gleaned from the story of the mighty yet ordinary and vulnerable king. This study therefore takes on a narrative criticism of 2 Samuel 11. It particularly explores the use of contrast in the characterization of David as an apostate and atrocious king.