United Monarchy as Theological Construct in Light of the Contemporary Archaeological Research on Iron Age IIA
Abstract
Article presents six theories which deal either positively or negatively with issue of United Monarchy [UM] in the Iron Age IIA as existing or non-existing territorial entity (maximalistic, UM in limited extent, no UM, i.e. minimalistic, only Judah, only Israel, UM as reality only of late 9th century BCE). After this, theological reflexion follows in which analysis of the nature of texts is recognized as determining.
The author critically evaluates use of these texts in archaeology and calls for nuanced approached to this issue. Thought the author does not deny that extraction of historical data to a certain point is possible and that also semihistoricity of texts provides with some limited clues to history, he emphasizes cultural, theological and ideological nature of UM narrative/construct that resists to convey 'hard core' facts if this quest is conducted without respect to the primary character of these texts.