Subversive Scribes and the Solomonic Narrative

<em>Subversive Scribes and the Solomonic Narrative</em> considers 1 Kgs <br/>1-11 through the optics of propaganda and subversion with primary attention <br/>given to subversive readings of portions of the Solomonic narrative. Seibert <br/>explores the social context in which scribal subversion was not only possible <br/>but perhaps even necessary and examines texts that covertly undermine the <br/>legitimacy or the legacy of Solomon. <br/> <br/> The book is divided into two parts. In the first Seibert develops <br/>definitions of propaganda and subversion and notes other studies which have <br/>understood certain biblical texts to function in these ways. Primary <br/>consideration is given to developing a theory of subversive scribal activity in <br/>this section of the book. An important distinction is made between submissive <br/>scribes individuals who wrote what they were told and subversive scribes <br/>individuals who did otherwise. Since many scribes were writing for the very <br/>people who paid them those wanting to engage in subversive literary activity <br/>had to do so carefully and to a certain extent covertly lest they be detected <br/>and exposed. Yet their critique could not be so obscure that none could detect <br/>it. There needed to be enough clues to allow like-minded scribes to read the <br/>text and appreciate the critique but not so many that opponents could charge <br/>such scribes with sedition. <br/> <br/> In the second part of the book Seibert applies this theory of scribal <br/>subversion to various passages in 1 Kgs 1-11. An extended discussion is given <br/>to 1 Kgs 1-2 with the remainder of the Solomonic narrative being treated more <br/>episodically. The focus is on passages which look suspiciously like the work of <br/>a subversive scribe and/or which have subversive potential. It is argued that <br/>scribes could-and sometimes did-intentionally encode a critique of the <br/>king/kingship in the text and that one of the most effective ways they <br/>accomplished this was by cloaking scribal subversion in the guise of propaganda.