The Function of Place Naming in 2 Samuel 5–6: A Study in Collective Memory *

Abstract

This article examines the function of place naming narratives in 2 Samuel 5–6 in light of collective memory theory. It investigates the interaction between the physical landscape and the text in Israel's memory of the consolidation of David's kingdom. Firstly, the function of the narratives as a ‘site of memory’ in the text is analysed. Place namings capture memories by using a concrete image to convey the abstract meaning of the surrounding text. Secondly, the site of memory in the text is a means of rehearsal for the site of memory in the physical landscape around Jerusalem, and vice versa. Finally, the place namings are written according to a ‘template’, which connects their meaning with other memories in Ancient Israel.