Karrer, Christiane

This article scrutinizes the concept of leadership as it is depicted within the rapport of Nehemiah, Persian governor in Juda. This concept is developed in discussion with the traditional concept of Judean kingship. The governor has the same rights and responsibilities as the former king. However, every attempt to identify Nehemiah as Judean king is strongly rejected, due to his loyalty to the Persian king. His leadership is depicted as ‘better than a king’ by claiming that he avoids the burdens for the community and that he meets the picture of the idealized king in the law of the king better than any former king. Nevertheless, the question remains how the governor can be legitimated on Judean religious grounds considering that he cannot rely on the religious significance of the Davidic kingship. This gap is filled by the authority of Moses respectively his book of Thora. The governor Nehemiah can read the written book and thus act following the will of God as any king should do

Beter than a king?:Leadership in Juda according to the Nehemiah report

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