Hebrew Bible: 1 Samuel

First Samuel

10/10/11

Structure

• the book was originally of the same book as 2 Samuel
• 1 and 2 Samuel were probably conjoined with 1 and 2 Kings as well
• old material was edited (D) and redacted (R)
• Chapter Topics
• chap 1-4:  Samuel's rise to fame.  Samuel is the transition between judges and kings
• 4-6:  Ark of the Covenant movement and Philistines (discussion on Friday)
• 7-15:  Birth of Monarchy/Saul's rise to power (two versions)
• 16-2 Sam 5:  Rise of David (possibly an independent book)

Key questions:

     Who wrote the book?  When was it written?  Where was it written?  What is the genre?  To whom was it written for?  What is the ideology behind the book?

The role of the Deuteronomist

• (D) put the book together between 586-621 BCE--Babylonian Exile
• Evidence of two (D) strands--pro-Monarchy (before exile) and Monarchy-suspicious (sometime during the exile)
• Ideologies
• centralization (Josiah's reform)
• obedience to the Law

Review of timeline

• 922 BCE--Israel splits into Northern and Southern Kingdoms
• 722--Assyria exiles the Northern Kingdom
• 621--King Josiah's reform in Southern Kingdom (Judah)
• 586--Babylon exiles Judah

King Saul

1. 1 Samuel 13--Saul offers sacrifice
1. the turning point of Saul's reign
2. he did not wait for Samuel for the sacrifice 
3. God rejected him
2. 1 Samuel 15--Saul violates Harem ("to destroy completely")
1. Samuel told Saul to take over the Amalekites following harem
2. however, Saul leaves the king and takes the animals for sacrifice
3. Samuel asserts that "obedience is better than sacrifice"

Saul verses Samuel

Clearly, disobedience was Saul's downfall according to (D).  These passages show a conflict between God's prophet Samuel and tradition and the king Saul and pragmatism.  This reflects a changing society.  Samuel is supported by (D).

Shiloh--centralized cultic center (north of Jerusalem)

Samuel--a nazarite, dedicated by his mom Hannah, who prayed for a son.  This prayer is similar to the virgin Mary's Magnifica.

Views on the Monarchy

1. Fall of Judges led to a rejection of God (ex. 1 Samuel 8)
1. God ought to be king
2. judges and priests govern
3. monarchy was a bad idea
2. God appointed Saul as king to rescue people (ex. 1 Samuel 9)
1. probably a different (D) author
2. in favor the king as God's "son"
3. A "Mashiach" is yet to come; that is, Messiah (anointed one; 1 Samuel 10)

David--also in two stories

1. chap 15-16:13:  the Lord sends Samuel to anoint David as king
2. 16:14-23:  David's musician skills leads David to come onto the scene to sooth Saul's dementia

David can also be seen as a mercenary and traitor, like when Nabal died and David acquired his wife.

Witch of Endor--1 Samuel 28

• witch can contact/conjure the dead
• (D) may show to be fearful of witchcraft powers
• "elohim" out of the ground
• divining apparently works
• afterlife evidence in "sleeping soul"