Prophet, Intermediary, King

The Dynamics of Mediation in the Biblical World and Old Babylonian Mari

Series: 

Author:
Julie B. Deluty
In Prophet, Intermediary, King: The Dynamics of Mediation in the Biblical World and Old Babylonian Mari, Julie B. Deluty investigates the mediation of prophecy for kings in biblical narratives and the Old Babylonian corpus from Mari. In many cases, the prophet’s message is delivered through a third party—sometimes a royal official or family member—who may exercise a degree of autonomy in the transmission of the words. Drawing on social network theory, the book highlights the importance of third-party intermediaries in the process of communication that lies at the core of biblical and ancient Near Eastern prophecy. Recognition of the place of non-prophetic intermediaries in a monarchic system offers a new dimension to the study of prophecy in antiquity.
Copyright Year:
2024
E-Book (PDF)
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Published
ISBN:
978-90-04-69077-6
Publication:
02 Apr 2024
Hardback
Availability:
Published
ISBN:
978-90-04-69076-9
Publication:
03 Apr 2024
Cover Prophet, Intermediary, King

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Julie B. Deluty, Ph.D. (2018), New York University, is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Joseph’s University. Her research lies at the nexus between ancient history and biblical literature. She has published articles in Religion Compass and ARC: The Journal of the Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University.
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations

Introduction
 1 The Social and Political Landscape of Prophecy
 2 Prophecy at Mari and the Intermediary between Prophets and Kings
 3 Biblical Narratives about Prophecy for Kings
 4 Biblical and Near Eastern Prophecy in Social Context
 5 The Plan of This Book

Part 1 The Politics of Mediation in the Mari Epistolary Corpus



1 Reporting Prophecy to the King from Afar
 1 Introduction
 2 A Fractured Network: Rejection of the Intermediary in ARM 26 194 and ARM 26 414
 3 Delineating Two Categories of Intermediaries: wardū rabûtum and wēdûtum

2 Mediation in the Mari District and the Role of Royal Women
 1 Introduction
 2 Mediation by Elite Women of the Mari Palace
 3 From Queen Mother to Royal Spouse: Addu-duri and Šibtu
 4 Priestess Inib-šina and the Storm God, Addu
 5 The House of Sammetar and the Downfall of Mari
 6 Epilogue: Shifting the Paradigm of Prophecy

Part 2 The Mediation of Biblical Prophecy



3 Mediation between Prophets and Kings in 1 Kings 11–2 Kings 20
 1 Introduction
 2 1 Kings 14 and Jeroboam’s Wife
 3 Royal Injury or Illness
 4 Injury to a Royal Official or Member of the Elite
 5 The Role of Individual Intermediaries in a Monarchy

4 At the Nexus of Power: Royal Intermediary Groups in 2 Kings 19 and 2 Kings 22
 1 Introduction
 2 Royal Delegations in the Hebrew Bible
 3 Hezekiah and Isaiah in 2 Kings 19
 4 Josiah and Huldah in 2 Kings 22
 5 Between King and Prophet

5 Episodes of Mediation in the Prophetic Books
 1 Introduction to the Prophetic Books
 2 Amos 7 and the Encounter with Amaziah, Priest of Bethel
 3 Navigating between Prophet and Baruch, the Scribe, in Jeremiah 36
 4 Open Access to King Ahaz of Judah in Isaiah 7
 5 Epilogue: Reconsidering the Communication of Prophecy

Conclusion: Reevaluating Mediation and Mediated Prophecy

Bibliography
Index
Biblical scholars, Assyriologists, theologians, historians, and all persons interested in the social phenomenon of prophecy in the Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East.
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Publisher:
Brill
Language:
English
Pages:
xvi, 252 pp.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004690776

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