Bloomsbury Disempowered King: Monarchy in Jewish Literature

Explore the complex history of royal authority with Disempowered King: Monarchy in Classical Jewish Literature. This scholarly work examines how kingship was understood, its status, and its powers within Talmudic literature. By placing these discussions in context, the book compares Jewish views on monarchy with the political landscape of the Roman Empire and different perspectives found in Biblical literature. The text investigates three distinct approaches to kingship found in the Bible. It looks at the rejection of the king as a legitimate political institution because God is viewed as the true political king. It also examines royal theology where the king is seen as divine or sacral, alongside views where God is not considered a political king. This book is an essential resource for those studying the evolution of political thought and religious authority in ancient Jewish texts.