1 Samuel
1 SAMUELDale Ralph Davis9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 15/31/2010 12:04:47 PM
Focus on the Bible Commentary SeriesDeuteronomy: The Commands of a Covenant God - Allan HarmanISBN 978-1-84550-268-3Joshua: No Falling Words - Dale Ralph DavisISBN 978-1-84550-137-2Judges: Such a Great Salvation - Dale Ralph DavisISBN 978-1-84550-138-9Ruth & Esther: God Behind the Seen - A. Boyd Luter/Barry C. DavisISBN 978-1-85792-805-91 Samuel: Looking on the Heart - Dale Ralph DavisISBN 978-1-85792-516-62 Samuel: Out of Every Adversity - Dale Ralph DavisISBN 978-1-84550-270-61 Kings The Wisdom and the Folly - Dale Ralph DavisISBN 978-1-84550-251-52 Kings: The Power and the Glory - Dale Ralph DavisISBN 978-1-84550-096-21 Chronicles: God’s Faithfulness to the People of Judah - Cyril J. BarberISBN 978-1-85792-935-52 Chronicles: God’s Blessing of His Faithful People - Cyril J. BarberISBN 978-1-85792-936-2Psalms 1-89: The Lord Saves - Eric LaneISBN 978-1-84550-180-8Psalms 90-150: The Lord Reigns - Eric LaneISBN 978-1-84550-202-7Proverbs: Everyday Wisdom for Everyone - Eric LaneISBN 978-1-84550-267-6Song of Songs - Richard BrooksISBN 978-1-85792-486-2Isaiah: A Covenant to be Kept for the Sake of the Church - Allan HarmanISBN 978-1-84550-053-5Daniel: A Tale of Two Cities - Robert FyallISBN 978-1-84550-194-5Hosea - Michael EatonISBN 978-1-85792-277-6Jonah, Michah, Nahum, Nahum & Zephaniah - John L. MackayISBN 978-1-85792-392-6Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi: God’s Restored People - John L. MackayISBN 978-1-85792-067-3Ma hew: Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth - Charles PriceISBN 978-1-85792-285-1Mark: Good News from Jerusalem - Geo rey GroganISBN 978-1-85792-905-8Romans: The Revelation of God’s Righteousness - Paul BarneISBN 978-1-84550-269-01 Corinthians: Holiness and Hope of a Rescued People - Paul BarneISBN 978-1-85792-598-22 Corinthians: The Glories & Responsibilities of Christian Service - Geo rey GroganISBN 978-1-84550-252-2Ephesians: Encouragement and Joy in Christ - Paul GardnerISBN 978-1-84550-264-51 & 2 Thessalonians: Triumphs and Trials of a Consecrated Church - Richard MayhueISBN 978-1-85792-452-7James: Wisdom for the Community - Christopher Morgan/Dale EllenburgISBN 978-1-84550-335-21 Peter - Derek CleaveISBN 978-1-85792-337-72 Peter & Jude - Paul GardnerISBN 978-1-85792-338-41, 2 & 3 John - Michael EatonISBN 978-1-85792-152-6Revelation: The Compassion and Protection of Christ - Paul GardnerISBN 978-1-85792-329-29781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 25/31/2010 12:05:46 PM
1 SAMUELLooking on the Heart‘The best expository commentary I have read in years.’Eric AlexanderDale Ralph Davis9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 35/31/2010 12:05:47 PM
Dale Ralph Davis is pastor of Woodland Presbyterian Church,Ha iesburg, Mississippi. Previously he taught Old Testamentat Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi. He hasalso wri en commentaries on:Joshua (ISBN 978-1-84550-137-2)Judges (ISBN 978-1-84550-138-9)2 Samuel (ISBN 978-1-84550-270-6)1 Kings (ISBN 978-1-84550-251-5)2 Kings (ISBN 978-1-84550-096-2).Unless otherwise cited, Scripture citations are the author’s own translations.Copyright Dale Ralph DavisISBN 978-1-85792-516-610 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1This edition published in 2000,reprinted in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010in theFocus on the Bible Commentary SeriesbyChristian Focus Publications Ltd.,Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire,IV20 1TW, Great Britainwww.christianfocus.comPreviously published in 1988 and 1996 byBaker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49516-6287.Cover design by Alister MacInnesPrinted by Bell & Bain, GlasgowMixed SourcesProduct group fr om well-managedforests and other controlled sourceswww.fsc.org Cert no. TT-COC-002769 1996 Forest Stewardship CouncilAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system, or transmi ed, in any form, by any means, elec-tronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisheror a license permi ing restricted copying. In the U.K. such licenses are issued bythe Copyright Licensing Agency, Sa ron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London, EC1 8TSwww.cla.co.uk.9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 45/31/2010 12:05:48 PM
ContentsPreface . 7Abbreviations . 9Introduction . 111.2.3.4.5.6.PART 1 – A Prophet from God’s GraceCradle and Kingdom (1 Samuel 1:1–2:10) .15Judgment Begins at the House of God (1 Samuel 2:11-36) .29Prophets Profit (1 Samuel 3:1–4:1a) .41Rabbit-Foot Theology (1 Samuel 4:1b-22) .51Arkeological Discoveries (1 Samuel 5:1–7:1) .59New Mercies (1 Samuel 7:2-17) .717.8.9.10.11.12.13.PART 2 – A King in God’s PlaceThe King Thing (1 Samuel 8) .83Lost and Found (1 Samuel 9:1–10:16) .93A Lost King? (1 Samuel 10:17-27) .105A Hopeful Beginning (1 Samuel 11) .115Covenant—Accusing and Assuring (1 Samuel 12) .123Tarnish on the Crown (1 Samuel 13).133Sad Success (1 Samuel 14) 9.PART 3 – A Man after God’s HeartRejecting the Chosen (1 Samuel 15) .153Looking on the Heart (1 Samuel 16) .167Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth—Thud! (1 Samuel 17) . 179The Shadow of the Almighty (1 Samuel 18–19) .193How Do You Spell Security? (1 Samuel 20) .203Desperation (1 Samuel 21:1–22:5).215Even Now Many Antichrists Have Come (1 Samuel 22:6-23).225The God Who Provides (1 Samuel 23).235This Is the Day! Or Is It? (1 Samuel 24) .245Preventive Providence (1 Samuel 25) .255The Spear Makes the Point (1 Samuel 26) .267What Can a God-less Text Teach Us? (1 Samuel 27:1–28:2) .279And It Was Night (1 Samuel 28:3-25).289Accepting the Philistines as Your Personal Savior (1 Samuel 29) . 301When the Bo om Drops Out (1 Samuel 30) .309The End? (1 Samuel 31) .323Persons Index .331Bible Character Index .333Subject Index .3359781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 55/31/2010 12:05:50 PM
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PrefaceWriting a commentary on the Books of Samuel, 1 Samuelin particular, is like facing Goliath: such a massive bulkof questions and dilemmas stand in one’s way. For example,one can’t help but be intimidated by the spate of recent studies,both articles and monographs. One can hardly read everythingand write something. Then there are numerous textualdi culties and an ongoing discussion over the corruptionof the traditional Hebrew text and whether the fragments ofCave 4 Qumran show a more excellent way. Or how is one toevaluate supposed sources and complexes (Shiloh traditions,the Ark Narrative, the Saul Cycle, the History of David’s Rise)?How many tentacles does the Deuteronomistic octopus—thatubiquitous mascot of current Old Testament studies—havewrapped around the Samuel materials? And how ought one toevaluate historical issues like the rise of kingship in Israel andthe seemingly conflicting a itudes toward it? Maybe Goliathhas swiped David’s stones and is pelting students with them!However, I feel compelled to ignore direct and extendeddiscussion of these ma ers. Not because I am ignorant ofthem or want to demean scholarship. (In fact, I used to becomeexasperated with students who refused to wrestle with suchproblems.) But I have my reasons: 1 Samuel is a long bookand I do not want to bog down in such details; the reader canfind discussion of critical issues in the introductions of many79781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 75/31/2010 12:05:52 PM
8Prefacecommentaries, in books on Old Testament introduction, or inarticles in standard Bible encyclopedias—no need to repeat itall here; and since I have had to spend so much time in the pastfocusing on historical and critical questions, I have the rightto have some fun. That is, this time I want to eat the cake, notlook at the raw eggs. Hence Looking on the Heart concentrateson the literary quality of the narrative and, especially, on thetheological witness of the text.I might say that I regard the work as a theological (or, ifyou prefer, an expositional) commentary. It is not a devotionalor a homiletical commentary. I have cast the expositionin homiletical form because I think it helps digestion andcoherence. But these expositions are not sermons even thoughillustration, application, and exhortation appear. I believe thecommentator, no less than the preacher, has the right and theduty to do something with the truth and life claims of thetext. I will plead guilty to having preached many 1 Samuelpassages, but that was often done in a di erent form thanappears in this commentary. I am grateful for the encouragingresponse to my previous volumes on Joshua and Judges—I have discovered that the Lord’s people from Idaho to NewZealand delight in his word!I assume the reader will have Bible in hand as he or sheuses this commentary. I have made use of a number of Englishversions; if no version is specified, the translation of the biblicaltext is my own.This volume must be dedicated to our three sons, Luke,Seth, and Joel, with thanks for the entertainment and educationthey have given me and in prayer that they press on in thefaith each has professed. You then, my sons, keep on beingstrong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1).Advent 19929781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 85/31/2010 12:05:53 PM
ebnivnjbnjpsnkjvrsvTDOTtevTWOTZPEBBrown, Driver, and Briggs, Hebrew and EnglishLexiconInterpreter’s Dictionary of the BibleInterpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible/ SupplementaryVolumeInternational Standard Bible EncyclopediaJerusalem BibleJournal for the Study of the Old TestamentKing James VersionThe SeptuagintModern Language Bible (New Berkeley Version)Masoretic TextNew American Standard BibleNew English BibleNew International VersionNew Jerusalem BibleTanakh: A New Translation of the Holy Scriptures according to the Traditional Hebrew Text(1985)New King James VersionRevised Standard VersionTheological Dictionary of the Old TestamentToday’s English VersionTheological Wordbook of the Old TestamentZondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible99781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 95/31/2010 12:05:54 PM
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IntroductionWhere Shall We Cause Division?It was a whole chicken; and it was in the early years of ourmarriage. My wife was an excellent cook and had frequentlybaked or fried chicken, but always chicken that had alreadybeen chopped into its respective pieces. She was perplexed.Was there an orthodox way, known to those in the know, bywhich a chicken ought to be dismembered? So Barbara leftthe Presbyterian manse to inquire of our Baptist neighbornext door. Mrs. Jenny was a delightful soul, a veteran of manyseasons on the farm. Her tear ducts worked overtime, so thatshe seemed to be crying even when not sad. And she was notsad but highly amused that a neophyte cook would seriouslyinquire about the proper way to hack up a whole chicken.But biblical materials ma er more than chickens, and if abiblical writer (or editor) cuts his materials at particular points orjoints, we should note and respect that. Although our focus is on1 Samuel, we must, momentarily, look at the “whole chicken,”1–2 Samuel, since all this material was originally one book.The author or editor of 1–2 Samuel has placed four summarysections throughout this massive amount of material. Thesesummaries are his division markers, the indicators for theoverall structure of 1–2 Samuel.11. I have not been able to trace the recognition of these summaries back beyondThenius; see C. F. D. Erdmann, The Books of Samuel, Lange’s Commentary onthe Holy Scriptures, in vol. 3, Samuel–Kings (1877; reprint ed.; Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 1960), 18–20. Brevard S. Childs (Introduction to the Old Testament asScripture [Philadelphia: Fortress, 1979], 267, 271–72) recognizes something of theirstructural importance, but H. M. Wolf (“Samuel, 1 and 2,” ZPEB, 5:254–64) is theonly one I have found who allows this structure to govern his use of the material.There are, incidentally, some nice correspondences in 1–2 Samuel as a whole; e.g.,the house of God at Shiloh at the beginning (1 Sam. 1) matched by the future site ofthe house of God in Jerusalem at the end (2 Sam. 24; cf. 1 Chron. 21:1–22:1); and119781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 115/31/2010 12:05:55 PM
12IntroductionTextual Block1 Samuel 1–71 Samuel 8–141 Samuel 15–2 Samuel 82 Samuel 9–202 Samuel 21–24Primary FocusSamuelSaulDavid/IDavid/IIKingdomSummary Section1 Sam. 7:15-171 Sam. 14:47-522 Sam. 8:15-182 Sam. 20:23-26Hence, in the case of 1 Samuel, our major divisions come at theend of chapters 7 and 14. Following these divisions I proposea general outline for the book:I.II.III.A Prophet from God’s Grace, 1–7A King in God’s Place, 8–14A Man after God’s Heart, 15–31Enough of chickens, summaries, and outlines. There’s a woman weeping in Shiloh. We need to get there and find out whatthat’s all about.2a weighty kingdom passage near the beginning (1 Sam. 2:1-10) and near the end(2 Sam. 23:1-7).2. We know neither the date nor author(s) of 1 and 2 Samuel. Some scholars holdto a very complex compositional history that places anything like the present form ofthe text into the Babylonian exile or beyond (see Georg Fohrer, Introduction to the OldTestament [Nashville: Abingdon, 1968], 217–26). Others would hold that, exceptingminor alterations (like the note of 1 Sam. 27:6b?), “the books seem to date close tothe end of David’s reign” (William Sanford LaSor, David Allan Hubbard, and FredericWilliam Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of theOld Testament [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982], 229). See also Wolf, “Samuel,1 and 2,” 261.9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 125/31/2010 12:05:56 PM
Part 1A Prophet from God’s Grace1 Samuel 1–79781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 135/31/2010 12:05:56 PM
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1Cradle and Kingdom(1 Samuel 1:1-2:10)It was the last straw. True, it happened every year. But thetime comes when the spirit snaps. The festive mood ofthe religious celebration only depressed her all the more.Suddenly, she was gone. We find her at the tabernacle entrance;we watch but don’t intrude. Obviously Hannah wants to pray,which she might do if the great, heaving sobs subside.In one sense Hannah had almost everything an 1100 b.c.Israelite woman could want. She had Elkanah, a husband ofsocial standing (note how his roots are spelled out in 1:1),moderate wealth (else he could not have supported twowives, v. 2), genuine a ection (vv. 5, 8), and faithful piety(v. 3a; the antics of the priests, Hophni and Phinehas [v. 3b],severely tested piety, but then all Israel had to put up withthem). The problem was that though Hannah had Elkanah,she didn’t have him. She shared him. With Peninnah, an overlyfertile, mouthy, thorn in the flesh (vv. 2, 6-7). We may wonderwhether this domestic conflict can have anything to do withthe kingdom of God. We will simply have to dive in and see.The Beginning of God’s Work (1:1-8)The problem in the home in Zuphite Ramah1 was not entirelynew. Hannah had no children (v. 2b); Yahweh had closed1. The name is Ramathaim-zophim in the traditional Hebrew text (v. 1). “Ramathaim” means “Double Heights”; many think that the difficult “zophim” should be159781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 155/31/2010 12:05:57 PM
16Cradle and Kingdomher womb (v. 5b). The fact was enough; the aggravation wasworse, especially when she was worshiping at Shiloh.Though it would not comfort Hannah, it helps us toremember that Hannah is not the first barren woman noted inScripture. We remember Sarai/Sarah and how Genesis 11:30(“Now Sarai continued barren; she had no child”) hangslike a dark cloud over the next ten chapters of Genesis. Themathematics of Genesis 25 (vv. 20-21, 26b) show that Rebekahhad no children for the first twenty years of marriage, andGenesis 29:31–30:24 details the soap-opera turmoil swirlingaround the barrenness of Rachel. Yahweh raised up mightySamson from the fruitless womb of Manoah’s wife ( Judg. 13).And who would have guessed that old, childless Elizabethwould give birth to John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25)?2 Barrenwomen seem to be God’s instruments in raising up keyfigures in the history of redemption, whether the promisedseed (Isaac), the father of Israel (Jacob), saviors or preserversof Israel (Joseph, Samson, Samuel), or the forerunner of thegreat King (John the Baptist).3Hannah, therefore, shares in a fellowship of barrenness.And it is frequently in this fellowship that new chapters inYahweh’s history with his people begin—begin with nothing.God’s tendency is to make our total inability his starting point.Our hopelessness and our helplessness are no barrier to hiswork. Indeed our u er incapacity is often the prop he delightsto use for his next act. This ma er goes beyond the particularsituations of biblical barren women. We are facing one of theprinciples of Yahweh’s modus operandi. When his people arewithout strength, without resources, without hope, withouthuman gimmicks—then he loves to stretch forth his handfrom heaven. Once we see where God often begins we willunderstand how we may be encouraged.slightly altered to read Zuphite(s), which element would distinguish Elkanah’s Ramahfrom that in Benjamin. Hence it is dubbed the Zuphite Ramah. Some would locate thesite at Rentis, about nine miles northeast of Lydda in the western slopes of the hillcountry of Ephraim. See W. H. Morton, “Ramah,” IDB, 4:8.2. We might add the story of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:8-37) to this tally.3. The virgin conception and birth of Jesus should be added to this series. Thoughdifferent in kind, it is similar in “difficulty.” Gabriel urged the improbability of Elizabeth’spregnancy as an incentive for Mary’s faith (Luke 1:36) and alluded to Sarah’s case(Luke 1:37 reflects Gen. 18:14) for additional support. The virgin birth then is no meredogma but also a sign that salvation is wholly God’s impossible deed!9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 165/31/2010 12:05:57 PM
1 Samuel 1:1–2:1017Yahweh’s work, however, began not only in barrennessbut also in distress (esp. vv. 6-7). Childlessness was stigmaenough for Hannah, but having it rubbed in was intolerable.Peninnah apparently used special worship occasions (vv. 3-4)for ge ing Hannah’s goat. Peninnah herself likely chafedunder Elkanah’s obvious a ection for Hannah (v. 5).4We can imagine how it must have been.“Now do all you children have your food? Dear me, thereare so many of you, it’s hard to keep track.”“Mommy, Miss Hannah doesn’t have any children.”“What did you say, dear?”“I said, Miss Hannah doesn’t have any children.”“Miss Hannah? Oh, yes, that’s right—she doesn’t have anychildren.”“Doesn’t she want children?”“Oh, yes, she wants children very, very much! Wouldn’tyou say so, Hannah? [In a low aside] Don’t you wish you hadchildren too?”“Doesn’t Daddy want Miss Hannah to have kids?”“Oh, certainly he does—but Miss Hannah keepsdisappointing him; she just can’t have kids.”“Why not?”“Why, because God won’t let her.”“Does God not like Miss Hannah?”“Well, I don’t know—what do you think? Oh, by the way,Hannah, did I tell you that I’m pregnant again?! You thinkyou’ll ever be pregnant, Hannah?”Year after year it went on—baiting Hannah, irritating her,winding her up until the sobs broke out, goading her to complainagainst God.5 In any case, it drove Hannah to God, drove herto the throne of grace, to the presence of Yahweh, to fervent4. Verse 5 is difficult. We cannot be sure how to take m n h ’ j T ’ PP*y]m.If it means “a double portion,” the verse would be saying that Elkanah gave Hannah“a double portion because he loved Hannah.” If one follows the Septuagint (LXX) theverse states that he would give Hannah “a single portion—yet he loved Hannah.”See S. R. Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography of the Books ofSamuel, 2d ed. (1913; reprint ed., Winona Lake, Ind.: Alpha, 1984), 7–8. More recentdiscussions have added no more certainty.5. For this last, see C. F. D. Erdmann, The Books of Samuel, Lange’s Commentaryon the Holy Scriptures, in vol. 3, Samuel-Kings (1877; reprint ed.; Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 1960), 49.9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 175/31/2010 12:05:58 PM
18Cradle and Kingdomsupplication, from which, eventually, came Samuel. Let us notplay down the heavy grief of Hannah’s—or our own—bleakcircumstances, but let us moderate our despair by realizing itmay be but another prelude to a mighty work of God.The Freedom of God’s Presence (1:9-18)The sacrificial meal (see Lev. 7:11-18; Deut. 12:5-14) was over;abruptly Hannah rushed away to the tabernacle entrance orcourt. She was oblivious to the peering, suspicious eyes ofold Eli (v. 9b). Bi er in soul, she began to pray to Yahwehwith many, many tears (v. 10). Sometimes tears themselvesapparently constitute prayer, for the Lord hears “the sound of[our] weeping” (Ps. 6:8).There was nowhere else to turn. She had to flee Peninnah’scruel mockery; she found no solace in Elkanah’s well-meant butinadequate sympathy (v. 8); not even the clergy understood her.Old Eli, who had learned to indulge his wicked sons (2:22-25,29-30), could yet get riled over an inebriated woman (vv. 12b-14).Hannah could only turn to “Yahweh of hosts” (v. 11), theGod whose universal rule “encompasses every force or army,heavenly, cosmic and earthly,”6 the God with the total resourcesof the universe at his command. This God, Hannah’s God, isclearly no provincial, ethnic mascot, no deity emeritus of anIsraelite ghe o. “Yahweh of hosts”—his very title calls our faithto stretch all its imagination to catch up to such omnipotence.Hannah’s petition is rather amazing (v. 11):Yahweh of hosts, if you will surely look upon the a iction ofyour maidservant and so remember me and not forget yourmaidservant, but give your maidservant a male seed, then I shallgive him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will nevertouch his head.7She addresses Yahweh of hosts, cosmic ruler, sovereign ofevery and all power, and assumes that the broken heart of6. John E. Hartley, TWOT, 2:750. See also Walther Eichrodt, Theology of the OldTestament, Old Testament Library (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1961), 1:192–94.7. “No razor”—is this child to be viewed as a new Samson? Compare Judges 13:3-5and my discussion in Judges: Such a Great Salvation(rpt. Fearn: Christian Focus,2000), 173n.9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 185/31/2010 12:05:59 PM
1 Samuel 1:1–2:1019a relatively obscure woman in the hill country of Ephraimma ers to him. (Believers use some of their best logic inprayer.)It is also instructive to compare Hannah’s petition here toYahweh’s statement in Exodus 3:7, when he assures Moses,“I have certainly seen [looked at] the a iction of my peoplewho are in Egypt.” Hannah assumes that the God who has“certainly seen the a iction” of a corporate people can ascertainly be expected to see the distress of an individualservant. Nor does she ask that her son—should Yahweh granthim—be famous or prominent; all that ma ers is that he willbelong to Yahweh.But perhaps the most outstanding mark of Hannah’spraying is the liberty she enjoys before Yahweh. Look at thescene again. Here is Hannah in such intense anguish. Sheis praying but “speaking in her heart” (v. 13); her lips weremoving but there was no audible sound. So Eli mistook herearnestness for drunkenness. Another soused woman, halfcrocked after the sacrificial meal! But his sharp rebuke wasmet by Hannah’s sad confession: “No sir, I am a woman witha heavy spirit; I have not drunk wine or strong drink; rather, Ihave been pouring out my soul before Yahweh” (v. 15).There is the freedom Hannah knows. She is a woman witha heavy spirit (many of God’s people are) and she has beenpouring out her soul before Yahweh. “I pour out my complaintbefore him, I tell my trouble before him” (Ps. 142:2). In herbi erness of soul, with many tears, out of grief and despair,she pours out her anguish. Yahweh is a God who allows herto do that.Now there is a myth circulating around the church thatoften goes like this: “Believers in the Old Testament perioddidn’t have the freedom and personal approach in prayer thatwe do. Their worship consisted of a very external, formal,cut-and-dried sacrificial procedure in which ritual killed oany spontaneity or intense spirituality.” Hannah would saythat is hogwash. True, Hannah is still in 1 Samuel 1 and notin Hebrews 4; but once you see Hannah in prayer, how canyou doubt that she has found the same throne of grace andknows something of the same boldness with its Occupant?9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 195/31/2010 12:06:00 PM
20Cradle and KingdomChristians then should allow Hannah to be our schoolmistressto lead us to Christ, to instruct us in communion with God.Many Christians need to realize that Yahweh our God allowsus to do this—to pour our griefs and sobs and perplexitiesat his feet. Our Lord can handle our tears; it won’t make himnervous or ill at ease if you unload your distress at his feet.The Dedication of God’s Gift (1:21-28)Eli’s accusation turned to benediction (v. 17) when he finallyunderstood Hannah; Hannah went away se led (v. 18),Yahweh remembered her (v. 19; cf. v. 11), and Samuel arrived(v. 20).The primary concern of verses 21-28 centers on thefulfillment of Hannah’s vow (see v. 11) to give her son toYahweh, that is, for service at his sanctuary. Hannah wants towait until she has weaned Samuel (v. 22), which in the NearEast could easily take three years (cf. 2 Macc. 7:27). Elkanahcautiously consents (v. 23). The year arrives and so doesHannah—with Samuel, three bulls,8 up to a bushel of flour,and a skin of wine (v. 24).We should pay special a ention to Hannah’s words inverses 27-28 as she presents li le Samuel to Eli. Four times sheuses a form of the Hebrew root v’l (to ask), a fact which Englishtranslations obscure because it is di cult to anglicize fluently.If we tolerate a rougher rendering we could read it like this:For this child I prayed, and Yahweh gave me my asking whichI asked from him; and I also have given back what was asked toYahweh; all the days he lives he is one that is asked for Yahweh.98. Most English translations follow LXX and Syriac in verse 24, reading “a threeyear-old bull,” a reading that gathers indirect support from verse 25a, where onlyone bull is explicitly said to have been slaughtered. We can be a bit bullish for the“three bulls” of the traditional Hebrew text. R. Payne Smith pointed out that Hannah’sephah of flour was approximately three times what was required as a cereal offeringfor one bull, according to Numbers 15:9 (I Samuel, The Pulpit Commentary [London:Funk and Wagnalls, n.d.], 13; also G. J. Wenham, The Book of Leviticus, The NewInternational Commentary on the Old Testament [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979],79). Three bulls would constitute (almost) an extravagant offering—but not impossibleconsidering Elkanah’s wealth (he could support two wives) and Hannah’s gratitude.9. This is the rendering of Smith, I Samuel, 13, with slight modifications. Smithcommented: “The conjugation translated ‘to give back what was asked’ literally means‘to make to ask,’ and so to give or lend anything asked. The sense here requires the9781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 205/31/2010 12:06:00 PM
1 Samuel 1:1–2:1021Hannah’s words pick up Eli’s blessing in verse 17 (“May theGod of Israel give you the asking [lit.] which you asked fromhim”) as well as her own apparent wordplay when “she calledhis name Samuel, for ‘From Yahweh I asked [v ’ l] him’”(v. 20).10 Hannah’s worship then (back to vv. 27-28) gratefullyrehearses Yahweh’s gift and places that gift fully at Yahweh’sdisposal. “He is made over to Yahweh,” as the New JerusalemBible renders the clause in verse 28.There is a unique element in Samuel’s position. He isdestined to become Yahweh’s prophet who guides Yahweh’speople by Yahweh’s word through a most critical epoch(3:19-20); he will be God’s specially chosen instrument for amajor task in redemptive history. So in one sense Samuel andHannah and Elkanah do not stand on the same level as allbelievers do.And yet we do share some common ground. Any parentswho are living in covenant with the Lord should findthemselves following Ha
Looking on the Heart 1 SAMUEL Dale Ralph Davis ‘The best expository commentary I have read in years.’ Eric Alexander 99781857925166 - 1 Samuel reprint 2010.indd 3781857925166 - 1 Samuel repri
Jan 01, 2018 · 19 Lord of All of or Not at All 1 Samuel 7:3-17 21 Be Careful What You Ask For 1 Samuel 8:1-22 23 Majesty in the Mundane 1 Samuel 9:1 - 10:27 25 The King and Kingmaker 1 Samuel 11:1-15 27 Samuel’s Coronation Address 1 Samuel 12:1-25 29 Saul’s Fear and Impatience
Lesson 1 for July 2020 Memory Verse: "Little Samuel was helping the Lord" (1 Samuel 3:1, TLB). References: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 581, 582. The Message: We are God's little helpers. Samuel Listens to God Little Samuel lives at God's tent. Little Samuel has work to do. He
1 Samuel 10:25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. Book of Samuel the Seer 1 Chronicles 29:29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in th
2 Samuel 7-8 Psalm 27 Proverbs 22 19 2 Samuel 9-10 Proverbs 23 20 2 Samuel 11 Psalm 32 Proverbs 24 21 2 Samuel 12-13 Proverbs 25 22 2 Samuel 14-15 Proverbs 26 23 Psalm 55 2 Sam
MARKETING PRINCIPLES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS Samuel D. Zapata Assistant Professor & Extension Economist 06-30-16. . Free Marketing tools and resources available. Thank you! Samuel D. Zapata samuel.zapata@ag.tamu.edu @SZapataD12. Title: PowerPoint Presentation Author: Samuel Zapata
Table of Contents Existence WEEK 7 Moses Exodus 1-3 Day 1 The God who is Exodus 4-6 Day 2 Peacemakers Exodus 7-9 Day 3 Blessing Exodus 10-12 Day 4 Action Exodus 13-15 Day 5 Set Apart WEEK 8 David 1 Samuel 15 -17 Day 1 Set Apart 1 Samuel 18-20 Day 2 Persecuted 1 Samuel 21-23 Day 3 Blessing 1 Samuel 24-27 Day 4 Action 1 Samuel 28-31 Day 5
Beeli’ada are apparently the same person. Assuming that, Chronicles and Samuel name the same 11 sons while Chronicles adds 2 not found in Samuel.] (2Sa 5:11-16 & 1Ch 14:1-7) David Defeats the Philistines 2 Samuel 5:17-25 & 1 Chronicles 14:8-17 When the Philistines heard tha
The Bible Lesson at a Glance Samuel is a child. he lives with Eli in the tabernacle and helps him. One night while in bed, Samuel hears a voice calling him. he gets up and goes to Eli and asks him what he wants. Eli says he didn’t call Samuel and sends him back to bed. This happens
