Elijah in the Book of Kings

This course will lead students in a close examination of the Elijah narratives (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2) and their rhetorical contribution to the books of 1 and 2 Kings. Class sessions will consist of lectures, close-reading exercises, and round-table discussions in conversation with the required reading. The last day of the course—and the course assignments—will give special attention to how the Elijah narratives could be interpreted and preached in a church context in a way that does justice to both the Old Testament text and the Christian theological tradition.