Divine Violence in the Book of Samuel

Much of the drama, theological paradox, and interpretive interest in the Book of Samuel derives from instances of God''s violence in the story. The beginnings of Israel''s monarchy are interwoven with God''s violent rejection of the houses of Eli and of Saul, deaths connected to the Ark of the Covenant, and the outworking of divine retribution after David''s violent appropriation of Bathsheba as h...