Through The Bible

Session #10 – 1^st Samuel

February 20, 2002

The books of 1^st & 2^nd Samuel are really one book. The Septuagint (Greek text of the Hebrew Scriptures) first separated out this rather long unified book into two parts.

• The split was made right after the death of Saul in 1^st Samuel 31.
• Even the name 1^st & 2^nd Samuel is often questioned because Samuel dies in 1^st Samuel 25!
• The Septuagint titles these books 1^st & 2^nd Reigns/Kingdoms.
• Traditional scholarship has credited 1^st and 2^nd Samuel to Samuel, Nathan, and Gad (see 1 Chronicles 29:29).

1^st Samuel begins a new period in the history of Israel’s national life – the period of the early monarchy (this would be the phrase to remember about 1^st Samuel). Some aspects that served as a catalyst for its development...

• Hebrews settled in Canaan around 1200 BC.
• Leadership was tribal or by clan chieftains.
• Over next 2 centuries, when needs arose, God raised up ‘judges,’ or charismatic leaders to rally the people against oppression. No consistency in leadership.
• Nationally, the only thing binding the different tribes or clans was their faith in Yahweh. The link was tenuous at best. There was no political or military glue for the 12 tribes.

People grew unsettled...

• Oppression continued. Philistines (west), Ammonites (south), Amalekites (east).
• Good map on p. 435 of HarperCollins Study Bible that shows territory and direction of international pressure.
• Once David becomes king, the Philistine threat is squashed and Israel is in a position to expand the empire:

Babylon is weak and would remain so for 500 more years.

Assyrians were a politically obscure nation under Tiglath Pileser I (1100)

Egypt was quiet except for brief resurgence while Solomon king.

The transition figure – Samuel

• Bridge between the period of the Judges & the Monarchy.
• Serves as judge, priest, prophet, and kingmaker.

Two competing perspectives on the development of the monarchy emerge:

1. Israel’s desire for a king is a betrayal of God – the people reject Yahweh and want to be like other nations and become so, often in the worst possible sense.
2. Favorable vantage point – sees monarchy as the “Lord’s Anointed.”
3. Key question to keep in mind: “What are the potential problems with having a visible, earthly king and what are the advantages of a monarchy?”

One conclusion from both perspectives: Israel could do no worse than Saul and no better than David.

· Became unfit for kingship. Briefly had the Spirit of God then it left him.

· David became all Saul was not.

· Saul = wreaked havoc; David = won hearts.

· Once we get to 2^nd Samuel, we’ll see that David’s empire now stretched from Egypt to the River Euphrates. Jerusalem was the centralized capital. God’s accomplishments through David were stunning!

Tension in 1^st & 2^nd Samuel

· Who will sit on the throne?

· Who will succeed?

· Will the empire last?

Outline of the Books of 1^st & 2^nd Samuel (from HarperCollins Study Bible, pp. 416-417)

• Story of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1-7:17)
• Advent of Kingship in Israel – the story of Saul (1 Samuel 8:1-15:34)
• David’s rise to power (1 Samuel 15:35-2 Samuel 5:10)
• Reign of King David (2 Samuel 5:11-12:31)
• Unsuccessful revolt of David’s son Absalom (2 Samuel 13:1-20:22)
• Miscellaneous items & David’s poetry (2 Samuel 20:23-24:25)

Catchwords in the book you may want to remember (workbook points these out)

1. Ichabod (4.21) – “Where is the glory?”
2. Ebenezer (7:12) – “My stone of help.”
3. “Long live the king!” (10:24).
4. “The word of the Lord was rare...” (3:1) – many of the central figures in the book earnestly and passionately searched after God’s guidance. When they became impatient and acted on their own, the kingdom suffered.

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Saul – A Story of Confliction

Saul – one of the more internally & externally conflicted characters of the Bible.

How should we see his service to God?

God tells Samuel that Saul would come to him (9.16). Saul has been looking for his donkeys (9.3-14).

• It seems God has a plan for Saul to save Israel from the Philistines (9.16).
• Saul begins in very humble ways (9.21).
• Saul receives the thigh portion of the meat which was usually reserved for the priests (9.24).

Samuel anoints Saul (10.1).

• One of the signs of Saul’s anointing is a prophetic frenzy (10.6). What does this mean? It’s thought that this was some kind of ecstasy where Saul was able to see and do things ordinarily not a part of his make up. God turned him into a different man. The Spirit of God also came upon the judges in perhaps similar ways.

The proclamation of Saul as King is seen as a rejection of God (10.19).

• Saul hides himself among the baggage when he is chosen as king (10.22).

Saul rises up to save Jabesh-gilead (11.1-11).

• Gouging out right eye rendered the person unable to fight...or so they thought.
• Saul defeats the Ammonites soundly.

Saul gets ready to fight the Philistines at Michmash (13.1-22)

• Israel was afraid of the size of the Philistine’s army (13.5).
• Saul waited for Samuel to come so the fight could begin but Samuel didn’t come. Israel was slipping away and going home (13.8).
• Saul offers the sacrifice himself (13.9).
• The beginning of the end for Saul (13.13-14).

Saul’s error in leading the people (14.24-46).

• Saul said anyone who eats before the battle is over will be killed (14.24).
• Jonathan eats of the honeycomb (14.27).
• Saul uses the Urim and Thummim to cast lots and Jonathan is chosen (14.43).
• The people plead for Jonathan and he is saved (14.45).

Saul’s error in sparing the king of Amalek (15.1-35)

• The command was to destroy all (15.3).
• They kept king Agag and the best of the livestock (15.9).
• Once Samuel confronts Saul, Saul seeks to pass the blame (15.24).
• Saul tries to get Samuel to go to the people with him (15.25).
• Saul tears Samuel’s robe, Samuel says so will the kingdom be torn from Saul (15.28).
• It says the Lord was sorry Saul was made king (15.35). Did God make a mistake here?

Saul becomes disturbed

• The spirit left Saul (16.14).
• David comes to play for Saul to soothe him (16.19).
• David becomes Saul’s armor bearer (16.21).
• Saul becomes jealous of David (18.8).
• An evil spirit from God overtakes Saul and he tries to kill David (18.10). The wording here is awkward and most likely means that Saul was not in his right mind.
• Saul tries to have David killed by the Philistines. David’s motivation for moving into battle was the giving of Saul’s daughter Michal to David (18.21-30).
• Saul vacillates between adoring David and hating him.
• Saul has the priests who helped David killed by Doeg the Edomite (22.6-23).
• David spares the life of Saul twice (24 and 26).
• Saul consults a witch (28.1-25).
• Saul kills himself (31.4).