The Hebrew Story of David's Throne Wars

Dr. Robert Alter

Start with a 7-day free scholarship!

Start for FREE
The whole David story is one of the greatest narratives of man as a political agent. Prof. Robert Alter

Description

Robert Alter (Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley) is one of the best-known names in Biblical Studies. Among many other works, he has authored The Art of Biblical Narrative and produced a complete translation of the Hebrew Bible. In the words of Dr. Gary A. Rendsburg, the latter represents "a landmark achievement" that should be read by "everyone."

In this conversation with Dr. Yeshaya Gruber of the Israel Bible Center, Dr. Alter analyzes a text from 2 Samuel 3 that describes a key episode in the war for the throne between the house of Saul and the house of David. As Dr. Alter has written, "The story of David is probably the greatest single narrative representation in antiquity of a human life evolving by slow stages through time, shaped and altered by the pressures of political life, public institutions, family, the impulses of body and spirit, the eventual sad decay of the flesh.” 

See also Dr. Alter's Roundtable Talk on "The Rhythm and Emotion of the Hebrew Bible."

 

Guest Scholar

Dr. Robert Alter

Guest Scholar

image
60+ courses

Join for access to:

Over 60 online biblical courses, more than 80 exclusive Roundtable Talks with top scholars, Israel Bible Weekly Magazine, Israel Bible Podcast episodes, and more!

Dive into the world of Hebrew Culture and Context of the Bible with UNLIMITED access!

Start for FREE

Access to 60+ courses

A variety of engaging online courses in Jewish and Biblical studies from Genesis to Revelation and beyond!

80+ Roundtables

Face-to-face conversations with a broad array of experts and scholars from the world’s leading universities

Hebraic Insights

Over 1,000 easy-to-read educational articles and inspirational insights from the Bible‘s original languages

Join Us Today

Start your journey today - only a few spots left!

Offer ends in:
00 00: 00: 00

Monthly Membership

$59 $40 / month
Monthly subscription with on-demand access to courses and all other resources.
START FOR FREE More about free scholarship

What our students are saying:

Janice Baca

5/5
Watch

Elizabeth Joseph

5/5
Watch
image

Suzana Malavasic

5/5

“Your program in Jewish Context and Culture has been a source of enlightenment and has led me to appreciate the radically Jewish nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”
image

Barbara Thomas

5/5

“I look forward every week to my classes. Really appreciate the Jewish background that provides the assumed knowledge of 1st century readership!”
image

June R Massoud

5/5

"I am so happy with my Biblical Studies at Israel Bible Center. I am starting to see the bigger picture as I advance with the several courses I've taken"

Dashboard features to enhance YOUR learning experience

image

Personalized Recommendations

Discover courses tailored to your interests. Our Personalized Recommendations help you find the perfect learning path, ensuring a rewarding and enriching experience

image

Live Comments in Courses

Engage with fellow learners and academic experts. Live Comments allow you to participate in interactive discussions, share insights, and build a vibrant learning community

image

Course Progress Badge

Stay on track with your learning journey. The Course Progress Badge keeps you informed about your advancement in each course, motivating you to achieve your goals