Abstract

KEREN, Orly  and  TARAGAN, Hagit. Jonadab Son of Shimeah: A Figure Wrapped in Controversy. Old testam. essays [online]. 2021, vol.34, n.3, pp.696-717. ISSN 2312-3621.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2021/v34n3a4.

Jonadab son of Shimeah was King David's nephew. His character can be evaluated on the basis of the two brief scenes where he appeared in 2 Sam 13:3-5, 30-37. The article surveys four aspects of the controversy that swirls around Jonadab's moral nature: 1. The terms used to describe him, namely, "friend" and "a very smart man," which can be interpreted as "wise in evil counsel" (b. Sanh. 21a) or as "intelligent and perspicacious "; 2. The assessment of his conduct and relations with the other characters-Amnon, Tamar, Absalom, and David; 3. How he fits into the narrative as a whole and whether he is a main or supporting character; 4. How the editor revised the original author's text of this chapter. The first three aspects allow an examination of Jonadab' s moral character, the fourth determining whether his presence is essential to the story.

Keywords : Biblical narrative; Jonadab son of Shimeah; Episode; (Main or supporting) Character; Editor; Author.

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