Life, Land, and Elijah in the Book of Kings
Society for Old Testament Study Monographs Series

In this book, Daniel J. D. Stulac brings a canonical-agrarian approach to the Elijah narratives and demonstrates the rhetorical and theological contribution of these texts to the Book of Kings. This unique perspective yields insights into Elijah's iconographical character (1 Kings 17-19), which is contrasted sharply against the Omride dynasty (1 Kings 20-2 Kings 1). It also serves as a template for Elisha's activities in chapters to follow (2 Kings 2-8). Under circumstances that foreshadow the removal of both monarchy and temple, the book's middle third (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 8) proclaims Yhwh's enduring care for Israel's land and people through various portraits of resurrection, even in a world where Israel's sacred institutions have been stripped away. Elijah emerges as the archetypal ancestor of a royal-prophetic remnant with which the reader is encouraged to identify.

Introduction; Book overview; 1. Solving for pattern; 2. The body and the Earth (1 Kings 17-19); 3. A native hill (1 Kings 20-22); 4. Life is a miracle (2 Kings 1-8); 5. The long-legged house; Conclusion; Bibliography; Indexes

Daniel J. D. Stulac is Visiting Professor of Old Testament at Duke University's Divinity School.