Difficult Texts: 1 Samuel 2.25

Abstract

The history of biblical interpretation suggests that in recent years more compassionate models of a ‘loving God’ have tended – at least in Western thought – to displace traditional understandings of God as a vindictive judge. In dialogue with Eric Siebert, this brief article focuses on one Old Testament ‘difficult text’ to suggest that serious biblical studies in general and pastoral studies in particular must take the ‘dark side’ of God far more seriously.