1 & 2 Samuel: Miscellaneous Musings

David
Poet-Warrior
King of Judah and Israel
Father of Solomon
Forbear of Israel's Final David--Jesus

A few reflections on 1 and 2 Samuel.

I Samuel: notes and musings, notably, in connection with the covenant of grace and the Davidic institution.

Author. The author is not identified. The name Samuel is invoked because of his connection and mediation of the royal monarch in Israel, specifically, Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. Samuel is an old man in 8.1 and has died by 25.1. In fact, he probably died before many narrated events occurred. 1 Chon. 29.29 attaches Samuel’s name with successors, Nathan and Gad, and written portions may have come from Samuel’s speeches and work.

Date and occasion. Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings narrate events contemporaneous to the writer.

The latter half of the 11th century B.C., ancient Near East nations were involved in their own internal matters; in this context, Israel’s monarchy emerges. Israel had been a loosely confederated band of tribes; Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) John Bright frequently uses the term amphichtyonic league. A monarchy was a new stage in Israel’s national, religious and covenantal life. Kingship had been known to Israelites before Saul (Jg. 3.12; 4.2; 8.5). Why had they resisted kingship for so long? Judges 8.23 expresses the sentiment of resistance: “ But Gideon told them, `I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.’” A fundamental tenet of Israel’s theology was Jehovah’s Kingship (8.7; 12.12; Num. 23.21; Ps. 5.2; Mal. 1.14). Yet, the Kingship idea predated Israel’s monarchy (Gen. 49.10; Num. 24.7, 17-19; cf. Gen. 17.6, 16; 35.11). Moses anticipated it also (Dt. 17.14-20). As an aside, Moses decreed that Israel’s future kings were to be men of the “book,” reading from it all the days of their lives.

By the opening of 1 Samuel, the day of the kingship had arrived.

The reigns of David and Saul are worked by backdating from Kings. There is a broad consensus that David consolidated his rule over Judah and Israel by 1000 BC; or, over Judah by 1010 B.C. and Israel by 1003 B.C. David’s life: 1040—970 B.C. Samuel may have been born about 1100 B.C.

Some characteristics and themes.

• Historical emergence of the Israelite monarchy under Saul and David

• Kingship mediated through a Prophet

• Kingship itself is a Prophetic moment

• Saul’s rise and fall in this innovative period for Israel

• At bar: how does Kingship work in the covenantal arrangement between God and His people? Also, what is the relationship of the Davidic kingship and covenant with the gracious covenant with Adam, Abraham and Moses (said to include the Sinaitic covenant)?

• Hannah’s prayer: wonderful themes of God’s sovereignty, holiness, reversal of reverses, deliverance and futility of reliance on human strength. We’ve long pondered this wonderful piece. Did she write it? Did she have an amanuensis? How did Samuel get this piece? Or, the author of 1 Samuel?

• The Ark narrative (4.1—7.1). This may have addressed Israel’s tendency to view the Ark as a talisman, the perennial temptation to control God. But, the Ark makes a tour de force exhibit in a devastating tour through the pagan cities of Philistia. The pagans are all too happy to be done with the Ark.

• Saul the disappointment. Initially, he was impressive; initially, Samuel said Saul would rule Israel in the name of the LORD (9.26—10.1). He led a victory over the Ammonites. But, he failed: (1) to wait for Saul and proceeded to offer an unauthorized sacrifice on his own (13.8-14) and (2) failed to totally annihilate the Amalekites. Rather, again, on his own, he spared the Amalekite king and took animals. Samuel killed the Amalekite king. The kingdom would be transferred to another King (15.28; 28.17).

• The fall of Saul was co-incident with the rise of David. David had his own vices and wickednesses, but God mercifully established the Davidic covenant with him (2 Sam. 7). Jealousy and fear gripped Saul because David was a “taller blade of grass,” the usual signs of a leader with an inferiority complex (e.g. REC’s Laud Leo). Saul falls in a disastrous battle with the pagan Philistines at Gilboa.

2 Samuel: additional musings

• Like 1 Samuel, an anonymous author, but warrantably, with materials from Samuel. 2 Samuel contains events that post-date Samuel’s life (the poor chap who, himself, like Eli, had corrupted sons)

• 1 Samuel conjoined with 2 Samuel. Many suppose, without proof to our satisfaction, that the edition was issued during the Exile

• Saul has died, falling on his sword in a bloody scene at Mt. Gilboa (1 Sam. 31)

• David’s ascendancy to the throne in 2 stages: (1) First, the south, Judah and (2) Second, all of Israel. The first was bloodless while the second involved bloodshed, although David is viewed as guiltless with respect to the deaths of Saul, Jonathan (Saul’s son), Abner (Saul’s General) and Ishboseth (Saul’s surviving son)

• There are political and theological developments. Politically, David captures Jerusalem and roundly defeats the Philistines. Further, he transfers the sign, symbol and seal of the gracious covenant, the ark that is, to Jerusalem. The sign and seal of God’s everlasting promises to his covenant children and their children…as many as the LORD God shall call (Acts 2.38-40). David offers to build His Majesty a Temple; instead, God promises David an everlasting throne, a Lamp or Light in Israel forever; this would be a challenged and troubled promise, but would receive it’s final, formal, official and everlasting fulfillment in the birth of David’s ultimate Offspring, that is, Jesus, Son of David, the Saviour, and Emmanuel. The “Seed-theology” of Gen. 3.15; 12.1ff; 15; 17; 18; 22; Num.23; Dt. 18 through many more prophets, down to Gal. 3.16, inter alia, is given further clarification with the Messianic hope pinned to the house of David.

Psalm 89. 1-4 (among many, many others): 

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever:
with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever:
thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
I have made a covenant with my chosen,
I have sworn unto David my servant,
thy seed will I establish for ever,
and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah

• Then, David becomes a scalawag-dawg and scumbag with Bathsheba. Felonious and criminal actions: corrupted heart and mind, formation of the intent to commit adultery, adultery, efforts at a cover-up, conspiracy to commit murder as a principle, homicide 1, theft and false witness. In short, David was an idolater of himself. This wickedness was as the sin of witchcraft and rebellion, to use Samuel’s words for Saul. 2 rebellions occur in the Davidic house: Absalom’s and Sheba. This wicked scalawag-dawg repents, Psalm 51, over the earnest confrontation with a prophet, Nathan. Nevertheless, the Davidic promise will stand although, as promised, chastisements will befall this manifold and wicked sinner. Jesus alone will be the sinless and perfect Davidide establishing the everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7 and 9).

• 2 Samuel 21-24 forms an epilogue of sorts: (1) a wonderful Psalm of praise (22), (2) David’s final words (23.1-7), (3) further developments of Davidic agents who’ll be foundational for Solomon’s accession (23.8-39) and the (4) stopping of a further plague.

1 Samuel: Desultory Notes & Musings

Samuel and Saul

I Samuel: notes and musings, notably, in connection with the covenant of grace and the Davidic institution.

Author. The author is not identified. The name Samuel is invoked because of his connection and mediation of the royal monarchy in Israel, specifically, Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. Samuel is an old man in 8.1 and has died by 25.1. In fact, he probably died before many of the narrated events in 1 Samuel occurred. 1 Chon. 29.29 attaches Samuel’s name with successors, Nathan and Gad, and written portions may have come from Samuel’s speeches and work with students in the college of prophets.

Date and occasion. Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings narrate events contemporaneous to the writer.

In the latter half of the 11th century B.C., ancient Near East nations were involved in their own internal matters; in this context, Israel’s monarchy emerges. Israel had been a loosely confederated band of tribes; Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) John Bright frequently uses the term amphichtyonic league. A royal monarchy was a new stage in Israel’s national, religious and covenantal life. Kingship had been known to Israelites before Saul (Jg. 3.12; 4.2; 8.5). Why had they resisted kingship for so long? Judges 8.23 expresses the sentiment of resistance: “ But Gideon told them, `I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.’” A fundamental tenet of Israel’s theology was Jehovah’s Kingship (8.7; 12.12; Num. 23.21; Ps. 5.2; Mal. 1.14). Yet, the Kingship idea predated Israel’s monarchy (Gen. 49.10; Num. 24.7, 17-19; cf. Gen. 17.6, 16; 35.11). Moses anticipated it also (Dt. 17.14-20). As an aside, Moses decreed that Israel’s future kings were to be men of the “book,” reading from it all the days of their lives (a standing order for all leaders, really, to "be men of the book"). The Davidic Sonship and Kingship is essential to NT doctrine, worship, hymns and prayers. (We are reminded of Mr. Hengstenberg's injunction, to wit, "If you want to be a NT theologian, you must be an OT theologian.) The advent of the royal monarchy is a big deal in OT history.

By the opening of 1 Samuel, the day of the kingship had arrived.

The reigns of David and Saul are worked by backdating from Kings (more on that later). There is a broad consensus that David consolidated his rule over Judah and Israel by 1000 BC; or, over Judah by 1010 B.C. and Israel by 1003 B.C. David’s life: 1040—970 B.C. Samuel may have been born about 1100 B.C.

Some characteristics and themes.

• Historical emergence of the Israelite monarchy under Saul and David

• Kingship mediated through a Prophet

• Kingship itself is a Prophetic moment

• Saul’s rise and fall in this innovative period for Israel

• At bar: how does Kingship work in the covenantal arrangement between God and His people? Also, what is the relationship of the Davidic kingship and covenant with the gracious covenant with Adam, Abraham and Moses (said to include the Sinaitic covenant)?

• Hannah’s prayer: wonderful themes of God’s sovereignty, holiness, reversal of reverses, deliverance and futility of reliance on human strength. We’ve long pondered this wonderful piece. Did she write it? Did she have an amanuensis? How did Samuel get this piece? Or, the author of 1 Samuel?

• The Ark narrative (4.1—7.1). This may have addressed Israel’s tendency to view the Ark as a talisman, the perennial temptation to control God (e.g. gimmicks, amulets, and more). But, the Ark makes a tour de force exhibit in a devastating tour through the pagan cities of Philistia. The pagans are all too happy to be done with the Ark.

• Saul the disappointment. Initially, he was impressive; initially, Samuel said Saul would rule Israel in the name of the LORD (9.26—10.1). He led a victory over the Ammonites. But, he failed: (1) to wait for Saul and proceeded to offer an unauthorized sacrifice on his own (13.8-14) and (2) failed to totally annihilate the Amalekites. Rather, again, on his own, he spared the Amalekite king and took animals. Samuel killed the Amalekite king. The kingdom would be transferred to another King (15.28; 28.17).

• The fall of Saul was co-incident with the rise of David. David had his own vices and wickednesses, but God mercifully established the Davidic covenant with him (2 Sam. 7). Jealousy and fear gripped Saul because David was a “taller blade of grass,” the usual signs of a leader with an inferiority complex (e.g. REC’s Laud Leo doffing "Doctored and Reformed Professors" in his weakness, fear and jealousy). Saul falls in a disastrous battle with the pagan Philistines at Gilboa.

Shiloh, Israel: Photos, Storyline, Judges, Samuel, Leviticus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.jidaily.com/oMcn/e

 

Shiloh, Israel's Capital for 400 Years, Being Uncovered

Archaeologists and volunteers are digging up the site of Shiloh, where the Sanctuary once stood.

 

By Gil Ronen

First Publish: 7/28/2010, 10:03 PM / Last Update: 7/28/2010, 9:53 PM

 

Shiloh

 

As Israel's enemies attempt to deny the nation's connection to its homeland, archaeologists keep digging at the facts.


In Shiloh, north of Beit El, excavations are currently being carried out under the auspices of the Archaeological Staff Officer for Judea and Samaria in the IDF Civilian Administration Antiquities Unit and the Binyamin local authority.


Shiloh was where the Holy Sanctuary – precursor to the Holy Temple – stood for about 400 years during the era of the Judges. It is first mentioned in the Book of Joshua, which also states that the Holy Sanctuary was built there. In the Book of Samuel, Shiloh is mentioned as a religious center, where Elkana and his family go to give sacrifices to G-d. During that pilgrimage, Elkana's wife, Hana, asks G-d to give her a son – and eventually gives birth to Samuel the Prophet.


Shiloh is believed by researchers to have fallen into ruin after the Israelites' unsuccessful war with the Philistines, in which the enemy took the Holy Ark captive. The Ark was soon returned to Israel, but was never brought back to Shiloh. Instead, it was taken to Kiryat Yearim until King David had it delivered to Jerusalem.


Archaeological findings indicate that a Jewish presence continued at Shiloh until the year 722 BCE, when the Kingdom of Israel was defeated by Assyria. According to the Book of Judges and the Mishna, unwed Jewish women traditionally went to the vineyards of Shiloh to dance on Tu B'Av.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commemoration of Samuel: August 20

Commemoration of Samuel: August 20

1 Samuel 3 and TBN, Pentecostals, Arminians, Emergents, Church Growthers, Rick Warren, Liberals

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=15995&post=94594&uid=308173344359#post94594

1. I Samuel 3 and TBN, Pentecostals, Arminians, Emergents, Church Growthers, Rick Warren, Liberals and some miscellaneous observations with Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown’s “A Commentary” (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1978), 1-9.

2. This is not a commentary on 1 Samuel 3, but a miscellany of after-thoughts in application to the battle lines.

3. The familiar story of the call of one of Israel’s champions, Samuel, a young lad under Eli’s supervision in the temple. The sacred historian notes that the word of the LORD was rare in those days, to wit, was not widely regarded, feared, embraced, believed or heeded. While Eli was the senior leader of the temple, the corruption entered into his family life and governed his sons without Eli’s discipline. During the early morning hours or the pre-dawn before the lights were trimmed for the day, Samuel heard the call of the LORD, a vision, meaning an internal call, sense, and bidding. This call was sovereign, unilateral, efficaceous, invisible, and mighty. Samuel did not ask for this. He thought it was Eli and petitioned Eli. The context suggests that Eli had a diminished sense of the divine calling and bidding. He’d lost the edge perhaps. Eli did perceive, however, that Samuel was being called and instructs the impressionable lad to go back to bed and await the LORD’s further guidance.

4. The LORD instructs Samuel on some basics re: Eli’s future and divine providence. “Behold I will do a thing which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.” Judgment was to come to Eli, his sons, and their relation to Israel and the divine worship. A purge, judgment and discipline was coming. “I will judge his house” for “the iniquity which he knoweth” and “because he restrained them not.” Samuel is afraid to tell Eli of the vision or internal communication. Under Eli’s compulsion, Samuel tells him the certain future. Judgment and the threatening prospect are met with humble submission and a certain meekness by Eli. Eli appears to have been a godly sort, but he refused to be consistent and he allowed the corruption of worship. He “papered it over” as we might say. "Paper it over?" God will not suffer His honour to be insulted forever and divine providence, as always, in everything, prevails with infinite precision.

5. We get an executive summary of the maturing Samuel without details. Namely, that “the LORD was with him” and that others began to perceive this Presence about him. Need we say more? "The LORD was with him." The LORD’s young prophet was being prepared, the man who would anoint Saul and David in later years. Notice carefully, too, 1 Sam.1-2, to wit, that this elect servant was being prepared. God was making a man of God. The outgrowth and execution of the divine judgments are not mentioned in terms of dates. It may have taken 20 to 30 years for those judgments to unfold? We’re not told. What the sacred historian will tell us later...God did all His good pleasure and His Word was fulfilled.

6. Samuel was applying the Word of God and the Spirit was giving him insight. Eli should have taken God’s holiness and worship more seriously, e.g. Leviticus 10, but he had been dulled. He should have recalled the Law in Leviticus 27 and have been in daily repentance and operating with faith. He was not “honoring God.” Disrespect.

7. God was, again, “pruning” and “shaking off” the drift-wood as he does throughout history. This is a constant dynamic. Repeated over and over and over. The list is long in the Bible.

8. The sacred historian “names names.” That list is long in the Bible too. Talk about being divisive, naming names.

9. Worship corruption in our time? Disrespect for God’s Word like Eli? Tossing the Law and Gospel? TBN, Pentecostals, Arminians, Emergents, Church Growthers, Rick Warren, Liberals?

10. Want this scribe to “give a prophetic Word?” One can simply rely on God’s Word for that. God is not going to be mocked by levity, irreverence, disregard, diminishment, frivolity and other abuses of His name, title, attributes, works, Word and covenantal signs and seals. That ain’t gonna happen. No dates are offered, but the principles obtain. You can count on it.

11. May we read, mark, learn, inwardly digest, fear, believe, obey and apply in our times.

12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGzuUfQD-G4