Were Biblical Kings Considered Gods?

[David Bokovoy]

In another context, suggestions that I have made in my audio presentations concerning Israelite kings as divine figures has raised some questions.

Knowing that some here share an interest in the subject, I thought I would share the following response.

In reality, the evidence for divinized kings in ancient Israel is really quite compelling. Without this perspective, I find it nearly impossible to make any sense of the later New Testament tradition which indicates that the faithful in Christ will become divinely enthroned kings (see Rev. 1:6; 5:10).

From the Revelator's perspective, "To him that overcometh," Christ will grant the opportunity "to sit with [him] in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Rev. 3:21).

And surely, with this view, Joseph's interpretation of the Egyptian drama in Facsimile no. 3 in the context of Pharaoh inviting Abraham to share in his glory by sitting upon the divine throne, doesn't seem quite so silly.

Hopefully at this point, youâ??ve begun getting your hands dirty with some theological German.

If so, I would highly recommend taking the time to explore Kay Weissflogâ??s â??Der K

[J Green]

David,

Good stuff, as always. Isn't this exactly what we are seeing in the Gattung of enthronement Psalms? The shout 'Yahweh has become king' (Yaweh malakh) in 93:1, 97:1, (and others) echoes the cries of 'Absalom has become king' (2 Sam 15:10) or 'Jehu has become king' (2 Kgs 9:13). This is the context of Solomon sitting on the throne of Yahweh as king (2 Chron 29). It is a reflection of the wider autumnal New Year enthronement festival (Akitu) where the king who has been ruling is enthroned anew.

Regards,

Joey Green

[phaedrus ut]

Psalm 45:6 specifically addresses the King as god "Your throne, O god, will last for ever and ever".

There is strong evidence that royal ideology around the Israelite kings that at least identified them as divine. I even recall reading about the David King representing a Second Adam, the human son of god. I've always considered their position as being divine almost gods yet second tier ones.

Phaedrus

//one thought came to me as typing this. The portrayal of the Davidic King as a quasi-god like Second Adam[Psalm 8] indirectly implies that First Adam was god like. hmm

[maklelan]

One classic illustration of this biblical trend includes Psalm 2, which refers to the Judahite king as a deified ruler:

â??I, [God], created my king upon my holy hill of Zionâ?¦ You are my Son, I begat you this dayâ? (Psalm 2:6-7).

Y'know, I did a post on my blog a little while ago (here) that addresses Psalm 2:6. It's always seemed to me the idea of formation was being conveyed, but nobody here at BYU liked the idea.

[Ron Beron]

Was there also a process for commoners to be also deified in some way?

[Bill Hamblin]

David,

Good stuff, as always. Isn't this exactly what we are seeing in the Gattung of enthronement Psalms? The shout 'Yahweh has become king' (Yaweh malakh) in 93:1, 97:1, (and others) echoes the cries of 'Absalom has become king' (2 Sam 15:10) or 'Jehu has become king' (2 Kgs 9:13). This is the context of Solomon sitting on the throne of Yahweh as king (2 Chron 29). It is a reflection of the wider autumnal New Year enthronement festival (Akitu) where the king who has been ruling is enthroned anew.

Regards,

Joey Green

Welcome home, Major Green!! I had dinner with your parents tonight.

[e=mc2]

Welcome home, Major Green!! I had dinner with your parents tonight.

Welllllllll, some of us then are "Green" with envy..... No offense brother Green. If Bill eats with your parents, they have to be terrific people, because Bill only eats with terrific people.... which reminds me, I owe you a dinner now don't I.......ayiyi, has it already been over 2 years?!

[Ron Beron]

I am curious about a book I recently purchased which I believe might have been mentioned here. It is entitled, "Sacral Kingship in Ancient Israel" by Johnson. David, are you aware of such a book?

[Bill Hamblin]

Welllllllll, some of us then are "Green" with envy..... No offense brother Green. If Bill eats with your parents, they have to be terrific people, because Bill only eats with terrific people.... which reminds me, I owe you a dinner now don't I.......ayiyi, has it already been over 2 years?!

If I'd known how much you eat I would never have bought you dinner!!!

[David Bokovoy]

Hey Ron,

I am curious about a book I recently purchased which I believe might have been mentioned here. It is entitled, "Sacral Kingship in Ancient Israel" by Johnson. David, are you aware of such a book?

Yes, I'm familiar with the book, but alas, I have not yet read it. Did you get the 1955 or the the 1967 edition? Also, I'm curious, does she interpret the kings as merely "sacral" figures or does she go so far as to recognize that they were in fact divine?

[David Bokovoy]

Was there also a process for commoners to be also deified in some way?

No, not that I'm aware of, however, as I explore in the exchange with Heiser, I believe that the Bible presents Adam as a divine king and that humanity who is created in the tselem of God share in that divine/royal nature.

[David Bokovoy]

Hey Mak,

Y'know, I did a post on my blog a little while ago (here) that addresses Psalm 2:6. It's always seemed to me the idea of formation was being conveyed, but nobody here at BYU liked the idea.

Thanks for pointing out your blog. I wasn't aware of it. Great stuff. I suppose if we're just going to go with what we like, I would prefer to interpret the word as "anoint," but of course that's not what the Hebrew implies. I think we have to go with Tigay and take it as "to form," however in many ways, I think the most interesting word is yld.

best,

--DB

[David Bokovoy]

Psalm 45:6 specifically addresses the King as god "Your throne, O god, will last for ever and ever". There is strong evidence that royal ideology around the Israelite kings that at least identified them as divine. I even recall reading about the David King representing a Second Adam, the human son of god. I've always considered their position as being divine almost gods yet second tier ones.Phaedrus//one thought came to me as typing this. The portrayal of the Davidic King as a quasi-god like Second Adam(Psalm indirectly implies that First Adam was god like. hmmm

Indeed, go Brigham!

David,Good stuff, as always. Isn't this exactly what we are seeing in the Gattung of enthronement Psalms? The shout 'Yahweh has become king' (Yaweh malakh) in 93:1, 97:1, (and others) echoes the cries of 'Absalom has become king' (2 Sam 15:10) or 'Jehu has become king' (2 Kgs 9:13). This is the context of Solomon sitting on the throne of Yahweh as king (2 Chron 29). It is a reflection of the wider autumnal New Year enthronement festival (Akitu) where the king who has been ruling is enthroned anew.Regards,Joey Green

Thanks, Joey. This is a extremely valid and helpful point in the discussion. best,-DB

P.S.

Now that I think about it, Wyatt makes this same observation in his essay. Very cool, indeed.

[David Bokovoy]

Welcome home, Major Green!! I had dinner with your parents tonight.

Does this mean that Joey is related to a former BYU professor?

[Ron Beron]

Hey Ron,Yes, I'm familiar with the book, but alas, I have not yet read it. Did you get the 1955 or the the 1967 edition? Also, I'm curious, does she interpret the kings as merely "sacral" figures or does she go so far as to recognize that they were in fact divine?

I have the 1967 edition. She focuses her attention to the Book of Psalms and the content you have brought up. I have just started it so I'll have to give you an update as to the divinity issue. It's a short tome so it shouldn't take long. BTW, there are some copies available online via Ebay on a good price.

No, not that I'm aware of, however, as I explore in the exchange with Heiser, I believe that the Bible presents Adam as a divine king and that humanity who is created in the tselem of God share in that divine/royal nature.

I have read somewhere that Medieval Judaism taught something of the sort. I'll have to track it down.

[J Green]

Welcome home, Major Green!! I had dinner with your parents tonight.

Thanks, Bill. It's good to be back. I'm quickly getting used to the novel concept of plumbing, dining, and sleeping in the same building. (If only I could add "working" to that group!) Did the dinner turn into a convention on the Hamblin line of their recent Family History efforts?

[J Green]

//one thought came to me as typing this. The portrayal of the Davidic King as a quasi-god like Second Adam(Psalm indirectly implies that First Adam was god like. hmmm

Barker has a good section on this in "Gate of Heaven." She posits a democratization in the current Genesis Eden story away from the Divinic King concept toward accountability of all men at a time when law was coming to the fore. But she still sees traces of the older faith in certain passages, such as Adam being made "in the image" of God. She points to Philo and Paul's use of the same phrasing about Jehovah/Christ in "image of the invisible God" terminology. Adam was the first divine king, made in his image.

Regards

[J Green]

If I'd known how much you eat I would never have bought you dinner!!!

You just burt my bubble. I thought Kerry was saying he owed ME dinner. I didn't remember why, but I wasn't going to bother with the details.

[J Green]

Does this mean that Joey is related to a former BYU professor?

Almost former. My dad, Arnold Green, retires in July.

[J Green]

Psalm 2 has been referenced several times in this thread, and I think that 89 is important to note as well. Against the backdrop of covenat renewal among the sons of the mighty juxtaposed with the victory over the Chaos monster Rahab and the raging of the seas, you have the annointing of the exalted Davidic king who will "beat down his foes" in similar fashion as the Lord of Hosts and will cry "Thou art my father, my God" and in return will become the firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth, etc. It enlarges upon the "this day have I begotten thee" theme from the coronation in Psalm 2.

Regards

[David Bokovoy]

Almost former. My dad, Arnold Green, retires in July.

Well that explains a lot, Brother. Unfortunately, I only took one class with your Dad and it was at the end of my program. It was fantastic (in fact one of the best courses I took as a History Major). I've always regretted that I didn't get a chance to take a couple more.

[J Green]

Well that explains a lot, Brother. Unfortunately, I only took one class with your Dad and it was at the end of my program. It was fantastic (in fact one of the best courses I took as a History Major). I've always regretted that I didn't get a chance to take a couple more.

I have this memory of coming home from school in the fourth grade with an "essay" assignment. Licking his chops, my dad sat down with me and helped me flesh out an introduction and thesis statement, followed by supporting paragraphs and a conclusion. I just wanted to go outside and play basketball. Almost every time I've tackled a writing project since then, I have a flashback. Fathers are great, but I wouldn't trade mine for the world.

[Daniel Peterson]

Let me just add a brief parenthetic endorsement of Major Green's parents, both mother and father.

Two of my wife's and my very favorite people on the planet. We've known them since we first arrived in Cairo, newly-married and entirely clueless, in the fall of 1978. Arnold Green was the branch president. Lani Green was . . . well, anybody who knows her can easily imagine how helpful and welcoming she was.

Great, great people.

Amusingly, I had already met Major Green's grandparents while they and I were living in Jerusalem during the first half of 1978.

[J Green]

Amusingly, I had already met Major Green's grandparents while they and I were living in Jerusalem during the first half of 1978.

Ah, the truth comes out. While you were there, did you assist them in producing the audio tapes that according to Egyptian Intelligence had encoded messages about Zionism?

[Daniel Peterson]

Ah, the truth comes out. While you were there, did you assist them in producing the audio tapes that according to Egyptian Intelligence had encoded messages about Zionism?

Heh heh. We'll have to talk sometime about your grandmother's take on Zionism and on me.