Abstract:
The putsch carried out by Jehu is one of the most violent stories in the Hebrew Bible. The text
justifies the violence by portraying the rebellion as a case of retributive justice for the death of
Naboth and as an attempt to purify Yahwism. This article presents a critical reading of the text
as well as an overview of how the interpretation of the text changed after the discovery of the
Tel Dan inscription. The article also presents recent views on the history of Yahwism and
finally presents the story as a (failed) attempt to justify a coup that was probably only about
acquiring power.
Description:
Lerato Mokoena is
participating in the research
project, ‘The justification of
violence in Hebrew narratives
from the Former Prophets’,
directed by Prof. Dr Sias
Meyer, Department of Old
Testament Studies, Faculty of
Theology and Religion,
University of Pretoria.
