In November 2015, Dr. Sara Koenig’s article, “Make War Not Love: The Limits of David’s Hegemonic Masculinity in 2 Samuel 10-12” was published in the journal Biblical Interpretation, Volume 23, Issue 4-5.
The abstract to Dr. Koenig’s article introduces the full discussion by recognizing that “David has been held up as an ideal(ized) man, one against whom other men are to be defined: a hegemonic male. His hegemonic masculinity is clearly visible in 2 Samuel 10–12, which takes place during the Ammonite wars. But hegemony is a social construct, and it gets expressed in social relationships. David’s relationships with three other characters in this pericope – Joab, Bathsheba and Uriah – illustrate how a hegemonic man maintains his hegemony through the trifecta of violence, sex, and race. Ultimately, David’s actions in 2 Samuel 10–12 vis-à-vis these three show the limitations and perils of hegemonic masculinity. Rather than glorifying hegemonic masculinity, this text ends up undermining it, exposing cracks in this image of masculinity.”
If you are interested in reading this article, check in with SPS Librarian Steve Perisho at the SPU library.
For a more comprehensive synopsis of Dr. Koenig’s publications, please visit her faculty profile.
Posted: Tuesday, December 1, 2015