The field of Biblical Studies has long accepted that biblical texts contain poetic elements. What is new, however, is that in recent decades biblical texts have started to become seen as works of literature. This represents a complete ‘genre change’ for the research approach to such texts. From being documents of faith they have become literary and aesthetic objects. In this volume the text and literary concepts favored by leading researchers are explained. Thereafter the study focuses on the David-Bathsheba narrative (2 Sam 11f.), which is often used in so-called literary approaches as a proof text. Based on practical interpretations of the narrative, the differences between historical and literary interpretations are illustrated and the benefits and limits of different approaches to biblical narratives revealed.

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