2 Samuel 21-24 : structure, context and meaning in the Samuel conclusion
The examination of the final chapters of the books of Samuel offered here proceeds initially from an unease about the frequent pejorative appraisal of them as an unsuitable, late addition that is out of place in its context. Taking a cue from the recent interest in initial and concluding texts in the context of literary and ~Canonical~ methods, the work attempts to describe this text complex, with its six chiastically arranged units, in terms of its literary function as a concluding text in relation to the rest of the preceding book. Following remarks of W. Brueggemann and J. Flanagan, the ring structure is further compared with other groups of texts in the Samuel corpus. The specific, overarching macrostructure which is thus perceived is structured not according to linear-chronological principles but according to patterns of parallelism and chiasmus. This observation of a concept of order that is distinct from modem western convention is understood, following Emma Brunner-Traut, as deriving from an ~aspectival~ perception of reality. By means of this kind of reading, many inner relationships open up, binding the closing chapters to the other parts of the book in such a way that it is shown to be a unified
Klement, Herbert H.
bible study, old testament, exegesis, theology, books of Samuel, 2 Sam 21â24, Samuel appendix ; Bible
2 Samuel 21-24 : structure, context and meaning in the Samuel conclusion. The examination of the final chapters of the books of Samuel offered here proceeds initially from an unease about the frequent pejorative appraisal of them as an unsuitable, late addition that is out of place in its context. Taking a cue from the recent interest in initial and concluding texts in the context of literary and ~Canonical~ methods, the work attempts to describe this text complex, with its six chiastically arranged units, in terms of its literary function as a concluding text in relation to the rest of the preceding book. Following remarks of W. Brueggemann and J. Flanagan, the ring structure is further compared with other groups of texts in the Samuel corpus. The specific, overarching macrostructure which is thus perceived is structured not according to linear-chronological principles but according to patterns of parallelism and chiasmus. This observation of a concept of order that is distinct from modem western convention is understood, following Emma Brunner-Traut, as deriving from an ~aspectival~ perception of reality. By means of this kind of reading, many inner relationships open up, binding the closing chapters to the other parts of the book in such a way that it is shown to be a unified
structure context meaning conclusion examination final book offer proceeds initially unease frequent appraisal unsuitable late addition place_context taking cue recent interest initial conclude texts context literary canonical method work attempt_describe text complex arrange unit term literary function conclude text relation rest precede book following remark ring structure compare group_texts corpus specific overarching thus perceive structured accord linear chronological principle accord pattern parallelism observation concept order distinct modem western convention understood follow derive perception reality mean kind reading many inner relationship open bind closing part book way show unified