1. 1 Samuel: Samuel, Saul, David

2. Background
Samuel is last judge of Israel and serves as transition to Monarchy
1st and 2nd 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

3. Outline I. Birth and Rule of Samuel (1 Sam. 1--7)
II. Saul’s Reign, Failure, and Rejection by God (1 Sam )
III. David in Saul’s Court (1 Sam )
IV. David as a Political Fugitive (1 Sam )
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 )
VII. David’s Final Years and Solomon’s Accession (2 Sam Kings 2)

4. 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? (1:13f)
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

5. 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

6. Call of Samuel Samuel’s night call (3:4ff)
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

7. 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

8. Philistine Plain

9. 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)

10. 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 fear of Philistines
Another stone as a memorial: Ebenezer

11. 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?

12. We Want a King
Was it wrong for Israel to ask for a king “like the other nations”? (8:4f)
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)

13. Saul Chosen: Private Private anointing: chasing donkeys
Focus on Saul’s appearance. Why? Has appearance ever been mentioned before? (9:2)
of-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?

14. 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 Ammonites (first victory) (ch. 11)
Rallies 330,000 troops with a broken yoke.
What did this symbolize?
3rd time: Covenant renewal at Gilgal (11:14f)
Samuel’s defense
Covering his basis and foreshadowing defects of a king

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

16. 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. 14:6f)
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

17. 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?

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

19. 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)

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

21. Judah-Heartland

22. 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. 23:9ff;)
Does God know things that never happen? (cf. 13:13 if Saul had...) ephod: Urim/Thumim

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

24. David’s sparing Saul 1 Sam 24:3f 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

25. 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? (28:15ff)
Implications—multi-generational reflections