HONR 1015 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Oligarchy, Aristocracy
Document Summary
Hebrew bible: first stirring of government that we see. Not simply a collection of individuals, so if the government fell apart, they have groups to fall back on. This is similar to the us government. If the central government blew up, the us wouldn"t go into complete chaos because we still have state/local governments: organized around god"s law. Is there a spiritual center in the us: god commands moses to take a census. Important to know people"s names, to know people. But the people wanted a monarchy, wanted a king, and got it. It"s not because of god that the king serves. Having a king is useful and practical, but nothing more. Very different from the divine right of kings. King comes from the people, not from god: kings 1. Prophet tells the arameans that they"re going to be destroyed. The king lets them go and the prophet condemns the king.
