School of Ministry The Former Prophets (Old Testament 2) Unit 4 1 Samuel 1-12: Samuel & the Beginnings of the Monarchy

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1 The purpose of these supplementary notes are first to provide an outline of key points from the PTC Course Notes, and second to provide some extra information that may fill out your understanding of the subject in question. View the 1 Samuel summary compiled by The Bible Project. The Books of Samuel In our Bibles the book of Samuel appears in two volumes first and second Samuel. Originally, they were one scroll and it is thought were divided at an early point in Christian history perhaps at the time the LXX was created. They document Israel s move toward establishing a monarchy. Together, they focus on the way Yahweh brought the first two kings, Saul and then David into power. It is the death of King Saul that marks the division between 1 and 2 Samuel. Reflection: What are the pro s and con s of having a monarchy today? How do they or should they relate to God? It is thought that Samuel is the author (with some help from other writers like the prophet Nathan 1 Chr 29:29). Samuel (c. 1050BC) was perhaps the greatest OT figure since Moses 1 Samuel Ch 1-3 Samuel established as a Prophet Ch 4-7 Samuel established as a Judge Ch 8-12 Transition from Judgeship to Kingship Ch Saul s reign to death Ken D Noakes 1 of 6

2 The Theology of 1 Samuel Read 1 Samuel 2:1-11 Hannah s Song. What appears to be the key concerns (themes) that Hannah sings about? 14 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us, 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, You are not to go back that way again. 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. 18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. (Deut 17:14-20) Ken D Noakes 2 of 6

3 Read 1 Samuel 12. Given what was said about Israel s king back in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, what strikes you about Samuel farewell speech in 1 Samuel 12? Chapters 1-3 Samuel established as a Priest/Prophet Chapters 4-6 The Ark Narrative (Philistines capture the Ark then return it) Chapter 7 Samuel installed as Judge Samuel as Prophet (Chapters 1-3) Samuel birth narratives (Chapter 1) Because I asked the Lord for him Samuel vs. Eli and his Sons (Chapters 2-3) Shiloh Ken D Noakes 3 of 6

4 Samuel as Judge (Chapters 4-7) Exit Eli (Chapter 4) the glory has departed Israel The Ark goes cross country (Chapter 5) Samuel leadership in war and peacetime administration (Chapter 7) Parallels with the Exodus? Sovereignty of God? Ken D Noakes 4 of 6

5 Samuel as King Maker (Chapters 8-12) Read 1 Samuel 8 In what way/s is Samuel at fault? In what way/s is Israel (in general) at fault? Why do you think the Lord answered Listen to them and give them a king (8:22)? What does it say about his grace and justice? The Appointment of Saul a. The Lord s decision (9:17) b. Private anointing (10:1) c. Public declaration (10:24-25) d. Public confirmation (11:12-15) e. Formal Handover (12:2-25) Ken D Noakes 5 of 6

6 Leader (c.f. King ) Three Confirmatory Signs a. travelers (10:2-4) b. procession of prophets (10:5) c. Spirit of the Lord (10:6) Anointing vs. Empowerment Anointing To do with the authority to act To Saul once Permanent Links to Kingship (Royalty are anointed not appointed) Empowerment To do with power to act To Saul repeated (10:10; 11:6) Given occasionally (depending on need) Links to old form of leadership (such as with the Judges) Confirmation of Saul s Kingship By next Week: Read the Moore Distance Old Testament 2 - Unit 4 Notes Read the 1 Samuel References (for possible further reading) Lasor, Hubbard, Bush (eds.) Birth of the Monarchy in Old Testament Survey (Grand Rapids: Eerdmanns Publishing, 1996, 2 nd Ed.), Ken D Noakes 6 of 6