Functional Yahwism and social control in the early Israelite monarchy

Abstract

"The ever-increasing application of modern social-science concepts to the OT text is directly responsible for this paper on the development of the early Israelite monarchy. Unquestionably, such approaches to the development of ancient Israel's political and religious life have made significant contributions to our understanding of the OT milieu.' In addition the utilization of contemporary anthropological, economic and socio-political models in the analysis of the OT has demonstrated clearly the merits of interdisciplinary research. In this same manner the present study not only affords a new perspective on the complexities related to the emergence of the monarchy on the stage of Israelite history but also seeks to further interdisciplinary research on the early monarchy by outlining its growth from a management functions perspective, yielding a nearly complete management paradigm dating back three millennia"