{"title":"David Firth","description":"\u003cp\u003eDavid Firth’s works offer insightful introductions and detailed study guides focused on biblical texts. His writing is accessible yet thorough, making complex scriptural themes approachable for students and readers seeking a deeper understanding of religious texts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect carefully crafted educational resources that combine scholarly rigour with practical guidance. Ideal for both personal study and academic use, his books enrich the reader’s engagement with foundational biblical narratives and theology.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"1-2-samuel-an-introduction-and-study-guide-by-david-firth-9781350008953","title":"1 \u0026 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Study Guide","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScholarly study of \u003cem\u003eSamuel\u003c\/em\u003e continues to wrestle with how we interpret this pivotal text. Even such basic matters as the question of what kind of literature it is remain unresolved, while older questions such as the nature of its text and sources are debated anew in the light of material from Qumran and of current approaches to Hebrew narrative. Recognising the importance of questions such as these, David Firth explores and introduces fresh ways of reading \u003cem\u003eSamuel\u003c\/em\u003e as a unified and yet complex text, which displays high levels both of literary artistry and of theological commitment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough some stories in the books of \u003cem\u003eSamuel\u003c\/em\u003e are well known, and in the case of David and Goliath even proverbial, much of the content of these books is strange to modern readers. It is a story about a woman wanting a child, for example, that relates to the beginnings of monarchy within Israel. Even the question of the monarchy is problematic, for we are introduced to not one royal family but two—those of Saul and David. David is ultimately shown to be the king chosen by God, yet by the end of the book he is only just managing to hold on to the kingdom as it is nearly torn from him by rivalries within his family. These arresting stories are perplexing, for \u003cem\u003eSamuel\u003c\/em\u003e’s writers seldom tell us how to read and interpret them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFirth presents these complex and fascinating stories as part of a bigger picture, enabling students to chart their way through the literary and historical issues of the \u003cem\u003eSamuel\u003c\/em\u003e narrative. Firth addresses issues of historicity, sources, date and authorship, as well as—crucially—appreciating the text as a literary whole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47595389026540,"sku":"9781350008953","price":99.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781350008953-1-2-samuel-an-introduction-and-study-guide.jpg?v=1777895624"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/david-firth.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}