With Skilful Hand: The Story Of King David (Mcgill-Queen's Studies in the History of Religion 2.29)

Zadok has always served God. A scribe, codifier, keeper of records in the storerooms of the temple precincts where the tithes, offerings, and temple articles are kept, among his most cherished documents are a bundle of letters, personal journal entries, and fragments of formal records, over six hundred years old and absent from the official record, that belonged to King David. In old age, widowed and alone, and with diminished responsibilities at the temple, he turns to these documents, arranging them chronologically to paint an intimate portrait of Israel's most revered king. In doing so Zadok gains a fuller understanding of this complicated and compelling man - a man who walked with God - and through him an assurance that his own choice to serve God has been worthwhile. With Skilful Hand: The Story of King David......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 WITH SKILFUL HAND......Page 12 Zadok the Scribe Outlines His Project......Page 14 Zadok the Scribe's Commentary......Page 17 1.01 Samuel Anoints David......Page 18 1.02 Samuel Is Surprised by God......Page 20 1.03 David Protects the Sheep......Page 22 1.04 David Goes to the Court of Saul......Page 23 1.05 David and Goliath......Page 24 1.06 A Boy to Watch......Page 26 1.07 David and Jonathan Find a New Friendship......Page 27 1.08 Saul Is Jealous of David......Page 28 1.09 Michal Loves David......Page 29 1.10 David in Danger from Saul......Page 31 1.11 Michal Is Separated from David......Page 32 1.12 David's Meditation: Saul Watches His House......Page 33 1.13 Samuel Fears Saul's Wrath......Page 35 1.14 Jonathan Protects David......Page 36 1.15 David Finds Provisions......Page 37 1.16 David's Meditation: The Treachery of Doeg......Page 38 1.17 David Finds Shelter with the Philistines......Page 39 1.18 David Hides Himself and His Family......Page 40 1.19 Water from Bethlehem's Well......Page 41 1.20 Saul Slays Priests Allied with David......Page 43 1.21 Doeg's Aspirations......Page 45 1.22 David Drives Back the Philistines......Page 46 1.24 David Escapes Saul's Pursuit......Page 48 1.25 David Lets Saul Live......Page 49 1.26 Abner's Complaint......Page 50 1.27 The Death of Samuel......Page 51 1.28 A Restraint Removed......Page 52 1.30 David Meets Nabal and Abigail......Page 53 1.31 David's Family Wonders about Him......Page 55 1.32 David Spares Saul Again......Page 56 1.33 David Makes an Alliance with the Philistines......Page 57 1.34 The Philistines Reject David......Page 58 1.35 David Destroys Foreign Raiders......Page 59 1.36 The Death of Saul......Page 61 1.37 David's Meditation: Lament for Saul and Jonathan......Page 62 Zadok the Scribe's Commentary......Page 64 2.01 David, King of Judah......Page 66 2.02 Civil War after Saul's Death......Page 67 2.03 Abner Is Frustrated......Page 68 2.04 David's Family Expands......Page 69 2.05 Abner Negotiates with David......Page 70 2.06 Abner Anticipates Success......Page 72 2.07 Joab Kills Abner......Page 73 2.09 Assassination of Ishbaal......Page 75 2.10 Rizpah Mourns Abner's Death......Page 77 2.11 David, King of Israel......Page 78 2.12 David Chooses His Capital......Page 80 2.13 Retrieving the Ark......Page 81 2.14 David Is Victorious over the Philistines......Page 82 2.15 Installing the Ark in Jerusalem......Page 83 2.16 Michal Is Barren......Page 85 2.17 David's Meditation: Installation of the Ark......Page 86 2.18 God Establishes David's Reign......Page 88 2.19 David's Meditation: Prayer for the Dynasty......Page 89 Zadok the Scribe's Commentary......Page 91 3.01 David's Initial Victories in Battle......Page 92 3.02 David's Meditation: Celebration of Victory......Page 94 3.03 David Establishes a Government......Page 95 3.04 David and Mephibosheth......Page 96 3.05 War with Ammon......Page 99 3.06 The Death of Uriah......Page 100 3.07 Why Uriah Died......Page 101 3.08 Nathan Rebukes David......Page 102 3.09 David and Bathsheba's Child Dies......Page 104 3.10 David Reacts to the Death of His Child......Page 105 3.11 The Birth of Solomon......Page 106 3.12 David's Meditation: Confession......Page 107 3.13 The Capture of Rabbah......Page 108 3.14 Amnon and Tamar......Page 109 3.15 Tamar's Suffering......Page 111 3.16 Absalom Kills Amnon......Page 112 3.17 Absalom Returns from Exile......Page 113 3.18 David Meets with Absalom......Page 114 3.19 Absalom Conspires against David......Page 115 3.20 David Flees from Absalom......Page 116 3.22 Ziba Assists David......Page 118 3.23 Shimei Curses David......Page 119 3.24 Absalom Receives Conflicting Advice......Page 120 3.25 Joab Kills Absalom......Page 122 3.26 David's Meditation: Lament for Absalom......Page 123 3.27 David in Mourning......Page 124 3.28 David's Return to Jerusalem......Page 125 3.29 Sheba Rebels......Page 127 3.30 Vengeance on Saul's House......Page 128 3.32 David's Meditation: Praise for Victory......Page 130 Zadok the Scribe's Commentary......Page 134 4.01 Census of Warriors......Page 136 4.02 Adonijah Assumes the Throne......Page 138 4.03 Solomon Becomes King......Page 140 4.04 David Instructs Solomon......Page 141 4.05 Civil and Religious Arrangelnents......Page 142 4.06 David's Plans for the Temple......Page 144 4.08 David's Meditation: Dedication of the Temple......Page 145 4.09 David's Meditation: Prayer for the Temple......Page 146 4.10 David's Death......Page 147 Zadok the Scribe's Commentary......Page 149 5.01 Early Experiences......Page 150 5.02 Becoming King......Page 156 5.03 A Long Reign......Page 161 5.04 Establishing a Dynasty......Page 167 5.05 David's Last Song......Page 171 Zadok the Scribe Reflects on His Work......Page 173 APPENDICES......Page 176 1. Names Of People......Page 178 2. Names Of Places......Page 190 3. Sources......Page 194 4. The Contributors......Page 196 5. Guide to Further Reading......Page 201 "In With Skillful Hand, one of the most complex figures of ancient scriptures is brought to life. David Barnard takes biblical stories and the formal recorded history about King David as the basis for a fictional account of the revered king's life. Structured as a series of letters from biblical characters, the book paints a portrait of the king as an elusive and complicated figure whose life challenges readers to recognize the inherent ambiguities of life."--Résumé de l'éditeur "In With Skillful Hand, one of the most complex figures of ancient scriptures is brought to life. David Barnard takes biblical stories and the formal recorded history about King David as the basis for a fictional account of the revered king's life. Structured as a series of letters from biblical characters, the book paints a portrait of the king as an elusive and complicated figure whose life challenges readers to recognize the inherent ambiguities of life."--BOOK JACKET.

In With Skillful Hand, one of the most complex figures of ancient scriptures is brought to life. David Barnard takes biblical stories and the formal recorded history about King David as the basis for a fictional account of the revered king's life. Structured as a series of letters from biblical characters, the book paints a portrait of the king as an elusive and complicated figure whose life challenges readers to recognize the inherent ambiguities of life.