The Purposes of Ancient Speeches in Texts

Mark Boda notes the speeches in ancient narratives could perform seven different purposes. He applies to prayers in Nehemiah but could be helpful in discusses speeches throughout the Bible.

1. Advance the plot.
2. Express the ideological message
3. Provide another point of view
4. Convey characterization
5. Provide the motivation for a subsequent action
6. Create dramatic effect
7. Provide information

Mark J. Boda, “Prayer as Rhetoric in the Book of Nehemiah,” in New Perspectives on Ezra-Nehemiah: History and Historiography, Text, Literature, and Interpretation, ed. Isaac Kalimi, (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2012), 274-75.