A Comparative Political History: Israel,Geshur and the ‘Amurrite Age’

Abstract

This article offers a comparative approach to political history in ancient Israel. It focuses on political refugees and prétendants to thrones (kaltū) documented in the cuneiform tablet collection from Mari and demonstrates how the careers of kaltū transpired at the nexus of domestic and international politics. Thereafter, it treats the Absalom narrative and argues that Absalom's political aspirations, which led him to become a political refugee in Geshur, precipitated a waning in the relations between Israel and Geshur. The clearest evidence of the deteriorating relations between Israel and Geshur, it is argued, comes from the narrative concerning Absalom's revolt against David.