Old Testament

Week 15: Solomon, the divided kingdom, Elijah & Elisha

1 Kings & 2 Kings

10 February 2022

• Michael S. Heiser, “Sanctified Dirt,” Bible Study Magazine Blog, last modified 8 September 2014. After Naaman the Syrian was healed, he wished to load two mules with dirt to take back with him. Dr. Heiser explains this odd request.

• Fred E. Woods, “Elisha and the Children: The Question of Accepting Prophetic Succession,” BYU Studies 32, no. 3 (Summer 1992): 47–58. How do we put the difficult story about Elisha and the bears in 2 Kings 2:23–24 into context?

Works by and about Margaret Barker:

• Barker, “What Did King Josiah Reform?”, address given at Brigham Young University, 6 May 2003 (or download MP3 audio).

• Barker, “Joseph Smith and Preexilic Israelite Religion,” BYU Studies 44, no. 4 (2005): 69–82. Barker’s address at the 2005 “Worlds of Joseph Smith” conference held at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

• Kevin Christensen, “Prophets and Kings in Lehi’s Jerusalem and Margaret Barker’s Temple Theology,” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 4 (2013): 177–93. Christensen, a Latter-day Saint scholar, argues for Barker’s interpretation of Josiah.

• William J. Hamblin, “Vindicating Josiah,” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 4 (2013): 165–76. Hamblin, an LDS scholar and BYU professor, argues against Barker’s view of Josiah.