Pharaoh’s Daughter,Solomon’s Palace,and the Temple: Another Look at the Structure of 1 Kings 1-11

Abstract

In an earlier issue of this journal (JSOT 86 [1999], pp. 49-66), David Williams sought to bring some methodological rigour to the debate on the structure of the Solomon narrative (1 Kgs 1-11). In the present article, those arguments are examined and a further proposal made that more adequately takes account of features of the narrative overlooked by him: (1) references to Pharaoh’s daughter and to Solomon’s house; (2) the structure of 6.38-7.12; (3) the language and content of the words of YHWH to Solomon (two ‘appearances’ and two ‘sayings’), David’s words to Solomon and YHWH’s to Jeroboam; and (4) parallels noted by previous writers. The proposed structure has three intertwining chiasms, with the centre being 7.1-12, framed by the construction and dedication of the temple. The outer frames, chs. 1-2 and 11.14-43, also have parallels. The significance of the structure for readers in the exile is considered, with a relativizing of the temple and of Solomon, and emphasis upon ‘walking in YHWH’s ways’.