Date

5-20-2026

Degree

Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MA)

Chair

Sutherland, Dawn Lewis

Keywords

ḥērem, divine command, Amalek, Samuel, Saul, Old Testament ethics, holy war, Hebrew Bible, Exodus, Deuteronomy, destruction, biblical theology, judgment narratives, warfare texts, moral theology, ancient Near Eastern context, covenant theology, violence in Scripture, ethical interpretation, Old Testament theology, biblical exegesis, hermeneutics

Disciplines

Ethics in Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

This thesis argues that ḥērem in 1 Samuel 15 is not a relic of ancient warfare but a sacred act of covenantal devotion that reveals the tension between divine holiness, human obedience, and Israel’s identity as a people set apart for YHWH. Through historical, philological, narrative, and canonical analysis, the study demonstrates that ḥērem functions as a ritualized declaration of divine sovereignty in which destruction becomes consecration and obedience becomes worship. Saul’s partial compliance is therefore not strategic misjudgment but a rupture in covenant fidelity that exposes the costliness of holiness and the danger of selective obedience. Yet the canon refuses to let ḥērem stand alone, as Jeremiah’s vision of divine responsiveness, Jonah’s mercy toward enemies, and the lament of Psalm 137 complicate and enrich the theological landscape by revealing a God whose justice and compassion remain dynamically intertwined. Together, these texts frame ḥērem as a theological crucible that demands reverent wrestling, interpretive humility, and canonical imagination. The study concludes that ḥērem discloses a God whose holiness is uncompromising, whose mercy is steadfast, and whose covenant faithfulness summons His people to obedience marked by discernment, awe, and trust.

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