Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship:

Putting Down the Priests: A Note on Royal Evaluations, (wĕ)hišbît, and Priestly Purges in 2 Kings 23:5 and Mosiah 11:5

Read Now
  • Details
  • Description
Published by:
Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
Published:
4/22/2022
Specs:
Digest / 5.25" x 8.25"
16 pages Saddle-stitched
Category:
Religion
Tags:
Book of Mormon, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, idolatry, Josiah, King Noah, lds, Mormonism, priests

Abstract: The historian who wrote 2 Kings 23:5 and Mormon, who wrote Mosiah 11:5, used identical expressions to describe King Josiah’s and King Noah’s purges of the priests previously ordained and installed by their fathers. These purges came to define their respective kingships. The biblical writer used this language to positively evaluate Josiah’s kingship (“And he put down [wĕhišbît] the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained”), whereas Mormon levies a negative evaluation against Noah (“For he put down [cf. Hebrew (wĕ)hišbît] all the priests that had been consecrated by his father”). Mormon employs additional “Deuteronomistic” language in evaluating Mosiah, Noah, and other dynastic Book of Mormon leaders, suggesting that the evident contrast between King Noah and King Josiah is deliberately made.

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Puttin...


This site uses cookies. Continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings means that you consent to those cookies.

Learn more How to turn off cookies
OKAY, GOT IT