{"product_id":"king-david-steven-l-mckenzie-9780195132731","title":"King David: A Biography","description":"One of the most important and complex characters in the Bible, King David has been the subject of innumerable portraits, both artistic and literary. Michaelangelo's magnificent sculpture of him is perhaps the single best known work of art in the world, and the story of the humble shepherd who slew Goliath and became king has assumed a powerful mythological status. But was David a real person--and if so what \u003cem\u003ekind\u003c\/em\u003e of person was he?\u003cbr\u003eThrough a close and critical reading of biblical texts, ancient history, and recent archeological discoveries, Steven L. McKenzie concludes that David was indeed a real person. This David, however, was no hero but a usurper, adulterer, and murderer--a Middle Eastern despot of a familiar type. McKenzie shows that the story of humble beginnings is utterly misleading: \"shepherd\" is a metaphor for \"king,\" and David came from a wealthy, upper-class background. Similarly, McKenzie reveals how David's ascent to power, traditionally attributed to popularity and divine blessing, in fact resulted from a campaign of terror and assassination. While instituting a full-blown Middle Eastern monarchy, David was an aggressive leader, a devious politician, and a ruthless war chief. Throughout his scandalous reign, important figures who stood in his way died at convenient times, under questionable circumstances. Even his own sons were not spared. David's story, writes McKenzie, \"reads like a modern soap opera, with plenty of sex, violence, and struggles for power.\" \u003cbr\u003e Carefully researched and vividly written, \u003cem\u003eKing David: An Unauthorized Biography\u003c\/em\u003e offers a provocative reappraisal of the life of one of the Bible's most compelling figures.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Steven L. McKenzie\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0195132734\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780195132731\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/27\/2000\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 248\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.13lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.48h x 6.49w x 0.85d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/01\/2000 pg. 286\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/27\/2000 pg. 76\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/15\/2000 pg. 1295\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2000 pg. 106\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/18\/2000 pg. 11\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/03\/2000 pg. 80\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/15\/2000","brand":"Steven L. McKenzie","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":49096660287743,"sku":"9780195132731","price":96.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/king-david-steven-l-mckenzie-9780195132731","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}