A Kingdom for a Stage

Political and Theological Reflection in the Hebrew Bible

by Mark W. Hamilton

Book cover: A Kingdom for a Stage

Extent: 256 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Ancient Near East, Biblical Studies

Series: Forschungen zum Alten Testament

Series volume number: 116

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(March 2018)

ISBN: 9783161555053

6.57 x 9.13 inches

Price: $143.00

In stock

The political rhetoric of ancient Israel took several literary, architectural, and graphic forms. Much of the relevant material concerns kingship, but other loci of authority and submission also drew significant attention. Mark W. Hamilton illustrates how these “texts” interacted with other political rhetorics, especially those of the great Mesopotamian empires. By paying close attention to the argumentation of the Israelite literature as well as their function as epideictic oratory building solidarity with hearers he reveals the complexity of Israelite intellectual activity both during and after the period of the monarchy. By doing this he shows that this body of thought lies at the heart of Western political thought even today.


The political rhetoric of ancient Israel took several literary, architectural, and graphic forms. Much of the relevant material concerns kingship, but other loci of authority and submission also drew significant attention. Mark W. Hamilton illustrates how these “texts” interacted with other political rhetorics, especially those of the great Mesopotamian empires. By paying close attention to the argumentation of the Israelite literature as well as their function as epideictic oratory building solidarity with hearers he reveals the complexity of Israelite intellectual activity both during and after the period of the monarchy. By doing this he shows that this body of thought lies at the heart of Western political thought even today.

  • By (author) Mark W Hamilton