ebooks The Beginning of Politics: Power in the Biblical Book of Samuel by Moshe Halbertal; Stephen Holmes in History

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Challenging Analysis of the Book of SamuelBy generallysatisfied customerExcellent; well-thought out analysis of one of the Bible's most tantalizing books. All characters; Samuel; Saul and David have serious flaws; yet contribute importantly to our understanding of this period in ancient history.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. For me; this was a new way of looking ...By Jim CulbertsonFor me; this was a new way of looking at the ascension and reigns of Saul; David; and Solomon. A thoughtful and well researched book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This is an engaging and brilliant work on the political lessons gleaned from the Book of SamuelBy MichaelThe Beginning of Politics by authors and NYU law school professors; Moshe Halbertal and Stephen Holmes; is a brilliant analysis of the biblical Book of Samuel; and how the political lessons gleaned from the book are timeless and applicable to different forms of government. Halbertal and Holmes argue that there is a singular author to the Book of Samuel; who was familiar about court politics; although he was likely an outsider. The Book of Samuel is not intended to be an eyewitness account; rather it is based on what Halbertal and Holmes call a faithful skeletal account of historical events supplemented by fictional material; written from the vantage point of an "all knowing" narrator (this was the tradition at the time).What makes the Book of Samuel unique for its time is its unflattering description of its characters. Rather than show a monarch as a god/king as was common in ancient near east/neighboring accounts of tribal monarchs; the author of the Book of Samuel portrays its kings; Saul and David; as men who are subject to the influences and corruptions of power. Halbertal and Holmes argue that the author is trying to convey the following themes when it comes to the influence that political power has on its wielders:1. The instrumentalization of members of one's community: using people as a means-to-an-end to obtain political goals. People become pawns within the power wielder's schemes.2. Politics as a means to maintain power for its own sake: once "in office" the power wielder will strive by any means to hold onto power; including morally unacceptable actions.3. The ruler's obsessive fear of betrayal: due to the ambitious nature of those who surround the ruler - and their ability to control information flow to the ruler - the ruler will constantly question the motives of those closest to him.4. Morally unjustifiable acts of violence that can be taken because they can be plausibly denied; being performed through a anonymous chain of emissaries: the responsibility of heinous acts is defused through the use of others in a government. The excuse is; "I was only following orders."Halbertal and Holmes dissect relevant passages of the Book of Samuel to convey the above themes through analyzing the reigns of Saul and David; and their interactions with subordinates. After reading this book; it's not hard to deduce that the themes/lessons are timeless. One doesn't have to step too far back into history (or step back at all - example; North Korea) to see the corrupting effects of political power on the human condition. Even in less extreme forms of government; power wielders are prone to be influenced/corrupted by the power they hold.The Beginning of Politics is not a long book (roughly 173 pages or so); but it's highly engaging and well-written. Highly recommended!