1 Samuel Samuel Saul David Background

1 Samuel: Samuel, Saul, David

Background • Samuel is last judge of Israel and serves as transition to Monarchy • 1 st and 2 nd Samuel were originally 1 book but broken into two in 400 AD during the translation into Greek (Septuagint) • Originally began with Hannah’s song (1 Sam. 2: 1 -11) and ended with David’s Song of Praise (2 Sam. 22)/David’s Last words (2 Sam. 23: 1 -7) • Author is unknown but must have had access to records of Samuel, Saul and David. • Sometime after the divided monarchy (931 B. C. ) but before the fall of Samaria (722/21 B. C. ). • Symmetry of the entire document is uncanny and purposeful. Almost cyclical as apostasy in judges

Outline • I. Birth and Rule of Samuel (1 Sam. 1 --7) • II. Saul’s Reign, Failure, and Rejection by God (1 Sam. 8 --15) • III. David in Saul’s Court (1 Sam. 16 --20) • IV. David as a Political Fugitive (1 Sam. 21 --31) • V. David as King over Israel and His Kindness to Saul’s Family (2 Sam. 1 --8) • VI. David’s Failure and its Dreadful Consequences (2 Sam. 9 --20) • VII. David’s Final Years and Solomon’s Accession (2 Sam. 21 --1 Kings 2)

Samuel Cycle • Demise of leader: Eli (1 Sam 1 -2) • Hannah’s problem—rival, dumb husband (1: 8) • Hannah’s vow 1: 11 • Why did Eli jump on her case? (1: 13 f) • Samuel -- God listened (1: 20, 28) • What does Samuel mean? • “Name of God” or “God has heard” • Another song from a woman in Ch. 2: 1 -11 • God is Rock

Eli’s sons • Hophni and Phineas • Problems: • Riping off meat (2: 14) • Messing with women (2: 22) • Tried to warn sons but was not harsh enough • Samuel contrast (2: 25, 26) • How was Eli as a father? • weak man --> weak father --> bad sons

Call of Samuel • Samuel’s night call (3: 4 ff) • Rule of threes? • Samuel’s sobering info to pass along (3: 12 -13) • Eli’s response (3: 18) • “…let Him do what he seems good to Him” • Labeled a prophet

Demise of Old Leader • Capturing the ark: 1 Sam 4 -6 • Lost 4, 000 against Philistines and called for ark • Brought the ark and shouted • How did Philistines receive this message? (4: 6 -10) • Problem: God in a box mentality • How could be negative at times? • Death: Eli’s sons – Eli 4: 18 • Birth of Ichabod: 4: 21 • The Glory of the Lord has departed

Philistine Plain

Philistines and the Ark • Five Philistine cities (Ashdod, Askelon, Gath, Gaza, Ekron)— Pentapolis • Ashdod- Dagon (fertility, half fish, half man/father of Baal? ) 5: 5 • Falling on face with arms off • Tumors (bubonic plague? ) • Not ready to return yet • Gath • Great confusion and tumors • Ekron • More tumors despite the fear • Message had gotten around • Devised a plan to return • Guilt offering (golden mice and tumors? ) • Still able recall Egypt’s hardened hearts (6: 6) • How will they send it away? What is the purpose of this sending off? (6: 7 -9)

Samuel’s victory • Samuel’s calling (7: 3) • What 3 things do the Israelites have to do in order to be delivered? • Has Yahweh's criteria changed? • How did Israelites respond (7: 4 -6) • God shows up to help Israel despite their of Philistines • Another stone as a memorial: Ebenezer fear

On Fathers and Sons • +Eli (godly) ==> -sons (not obedient) • +Samuel (godly) ==> - sons (not obedient) (8: 3) • -Saul (ungodly) ==> +son (obedient) • +David (godly) ==> +son (obedient: Solomon) and - son (no obedient: Absolom) • What does it all mean?

We Want a King • Was it wrong for Israel to ask for a king “like the other nations”? (8: 4 f) • How does God see this? (8: 7) • An ominous start with lots of foreshadowing • Kingship warning: taxes 10%/ bureaucracy /slavery 8: 11 -18 • Theocracy --> Monarchy (major shift)

Saul Chosen: Private • Private anointing: chasing donkeys • Focus on Saul’s appearance. Why? Has appearance ever been mentioned before? (9: 2) • http: //claudemariottini. com/2012/03/02/the-beautiful-peopleof-the-bible/ • Was Saul initially humble? (9: 21) • But I am just a Benjamite? • Spirit on Saul and began to prophesy (10: 10) • Helped his campaign quite a bit • What does this tell us about Yahweh’s hand in it all despite being rejected?

Saul chosen: Public • Anointed and specific instructions of how he will be greeted (10: 1 -8) • Umim and Thumim used. Why? (10: 20) • Hiding in the baggage (10: 22) • Delivers Jabesh Gilead from victory) (ch. 11) Ammonites (first • Rallies 330, 000 troops with a broken yoke. • What did this symbolize? • 3 rd time: Covenant renewal at Gilgal (11: 14 f) • Samuel’s defense • Covering his basis and foreshadowing defects of a king

Saul’s mistake • Begins to rule at 30? 1 year? 2 years? 10 years? 40 years? Translation differences. • Fear of Philistines at Gilgal (13: 7 f) • Improper sacrifice (13: 9) • Pious cover up (13: 12) • Samuel’s rebuke (13: 13) –”if” you had • Foreshadowing of David (13: 14)

Story of Jonathan • Takes matters into his own hands while father is relaxing under a ‘pomegranate tree’ (14: 2) • Faith but also very courageous and hungry for battle: ‘perhaps’ (1 Sam. 14: 6 f) • Puts stipulations in place just in case (1 Sam. 14: 9 -14) • Struck fear in Philistines by this little skirmish (1 Sam. 14: 15) • Saul is still busy twiddling his thumbs: “Withdraw your hand” (1 Sam. 14: 19) • Great confusion again (1 Sam. 14: 20) • Philistines defeated—Hebrew mercenaries mixed in (14: 21) • Saul’s last resort altar and God’s silence (14: 37) • Saul plays the Jephthah card but this time people intervene (1 Sam. 14: 40 -45

God and Saul and Amalekites • What does this tell us about Yahweh? (15: 11, 35) • Made a monument for himself after victory (15: 12) • Pious cover up yet again (15: 14 -21) • Right motives ==> wrong actions • Long as your heart is right! Right? ? ? Not • God’s desire: (15: 22 -23) • God and does not make vows he cannot keep (15: 29) • But shouldn’t he reward a repentant heart?

David • Does God concoct a lie? (16: 2) • Isn’t this the whole pious excuse Saul got in trouble for? • God’s focus on the heart: 16: 7 • Spirit leaves Saul (16: 13 f) • Does God really send evil spirits on people (16: 14)? • The new king (David) ironically is needed to expel evil spirit when it arises

David’s Victory • David’s righteous anger (17: 26) • Sibling jealousy: (17: 28) • Attribution of wrong motives • On defeating giants (17: 42 -47) • Women’s troublesome song & Saul’s insecurity (18: 7)

Demise of Old leader • Saul’s attempts to kill David • Michal betrothal foreskins (18: 20 f, 23, 25) • Spearing chucking (19: 9, 11) Michal’s idol protection (19: 13) • Jonathan warns David: that’s what friends are for (ch. 18: 3 f; 20: 9, 17, 33, 41 f)

Judah-Heartland

David’s fleeing • Nob: (ch. 21) -- sword, food, 85 priests slain; Doeg the Edomite (ch. 22) • Suspecting a conspiracy so begins slaughtering anyone who is attached • Keilah deliverance (ch. 23: 9 ff; ) • Does God know things that never happen? (cf. 13: 13 if Saul had. . . ) ephod: Urim/Thumim

Nabal and Abigail • The story line and description of Abigail (1 Sam 25: 3, 10, 22) • On role of woman and foolish men (v. 24 ff) • David goes to Philistine city of Ziklag (27: 6 f)—note date of statement

David’s sparing Saul • 1 Sam 24: 3 f dropping pants in cave • 1 Sam 26: 9 stealing spear while sleeping • David’s respect: don’t touch the LORD’s anointed 24: 5; 26: 9

Witch of Endor & Saul’s demise • Story line: Final Battle in Jezreel Valley • Can witches really bring people back from the dead? • Are dead people aware of what is going on in this life? (28: 15 ff) • Implications—multi-generational reflections