1 Samuel

Tim Stephenson

- 3 minutes read - 579 words

Introduction

Samuel opens in the time at the end of Judges. It’s a time of crisis - nationally: the people of Israel looking enviously at the kings that lead other nations ; and - spiritually: the book of Judges is filled with the rollercoaster of God raising up a judge to rescue the people from disobedience and oppression only for them to fall back worse than ever when the judge died. (For example: Judges 2:18-19)

The last verse of Judges sums up well:

In those days Israel had no king;
everyone did as they saw fit.

Study on 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11

  1. Genealogies in Hebrew writing are always telling more than a strict record of the generations from A to B (see Mat and Luke for Jesus' genealogies). Given the setting at the end of Judges what might be infer from:

    • Hannah being named first and therefore probably the first wife?

    • 'El-kanah’ means ‘God created’, and ‘Hannah’ means ‘He (God) was merciful’?

    • A 'double-portion' is the inheritance of the first-born son since he would be expected to take on the role of patriarch (or clan leader)?

  2. Note the many phrases of Hannah’s distress in v1-16. How does she respond

    • to Peninnah?

    • to Elkanah?

    • And then when on her own?

  3. Some have noted similarities of chapter 2:1-11 to the Magnificat: Luke 1:46-55 Compare to Hannah’s emotions at 1:6-10 What does she say in her exaltation about:

    • God’s character?

    • God’s constancy?

    • The ultimate outcome?

  4. What conclusion could we draw from these truths?

Ch 3-7:2 - Samuel called by the LORD and Eli’s downfall predicted

Ch 7:1-17 - Ark recovered, Israel repents and Samuel defeats Philistines

Summary

  • v3-4: If you are returning to the LORD …​ get rid of the symbolism of Baals and Ashtoreths.

  • v6: they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted and confessed.

  • v10: Even as they worshipped the Philistines approached but were defeated by God even before they attacked.

  • Sincere, though timid, faith

  • Contrast with 1 Samuel 4 where they are confident but in their own strength.

  • v12: Thus far the LORD has helped us.

  • Probably temporal as well as geographic meanings.

  • Also named Ebenezer again recalling the defeat of chapter 4.

  • v15-17: Peace and justice reign

Context

  • v16: circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, then back to Ramah are all within Benjiminite territory (between the future site of Jerusalem and north end of Dead Sea)

Thoughts and reflections

  • 'if returning', what 'foreign gods' need to be put away?

  • filling every minute, not setting aside time for God? (being clear to not criticise necessarily busy lives)

  • greed? (again a lot of 'stuff' is necessary to modern lives, including saving for our futures but what about that extra 'upgrade' or the ruthless and unceasing focus on a thing or things?)

  • do we have the discipline to fast (v6) or cry out unceasingly (v8)?

Ch 8 - The demand for a king

  • v1-4: Peaceful handover of power disrupted by dishonesty of Samuel’s sons.

  • v6-9: Samuel resists the call for a king, but God says it’s not his [Samuel’s] fault and nothing new either.

  • Deut 17:14-17: similar in that there is ambivalence towards kings but diff since there it is clearly an acceptable option, but here both Samuel and Yahweh see a rejection implied.

  • v10-18: Samuel sets out the case for not having a king starkly

  • v19-20: The people are having none of it.

  • v21: God repeats to give into the people.

  • v22: Samuel capitulates (or does he?)