1ST / 2ND SAMUEL
The Establishment of the Kingdom
Introductory Observations:
The books of 1st and 2nd Samuel are profound books, whether one views them from the forest or tree perspective.
[The Book of Samuel] records the beginning of an endless dynasty (forest view) and the life of a man about whom more is known than any other individual in the Old Testament (tree view). ~ Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa, Talk Thru the Bible
Contribution to the grand story of Scripture:
The Davidic Covenant (2nd Samuel 7:12 – 16..."When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took {it} away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."'" (NASB)) is the most important theological truth in these two books. It brings a much needed close to the chaos of Judges and, at the same time, establishes the eternal Throne of the Son of David. The impact of the Davidic Covenant on the course of Sacred History cannot be overstated.
Application (one of many)
Saul as a literary foil for David ¡Points of comparison and contrast.
Comparison – plagued by power
Both had humble beginnings, were talented, good looking, powerful men; were anointed king; were prone to pride, rage, and paranoia; committed grievous sins.
Contrast – response to sin
Saul had a wicked and impenitent heart, while David had a broken and contrite heart. (e.g. attitude toward sacrifice – Luke 18:9 – 14..."And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." (NASB)).
The books of 1st and 2nd Samuel are profound books, whether one views them from the forest or tree perspective.
[The Book of Samuel] records the beginning of an endless dynasty (forest view) and the life of a man about whom more is known than any other individual in the Old Testament (tree view). ~ Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa, Talk Thru the Bible
Contribution to the grand story of Scripture:
The Davidic Covenant (2nd Samuel 7:12 – 16..."When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took {it} away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."'" (NASB)) is the most important theological truth in these two books. It brings a much needed close to the chaos of Judges and, at the same time, establishes the eternal Throne of the Son of David. The impact of the Davidic Covenant on the course of Sacred History cannot be overstated.
Application (one of many)
Saul as a literary foil for David ¡Points of comparison and contrast.
Comparison – plagued by power
Both had humble beginnings, were talented, good looking, powerful men; were anointed king; were prone to pride, rage, and paranoia; committed grievous sins.
Contrast – response to sin
Saul had a wicked and impenitent heart, while David had a broken and contrite heart. (e.g. attitude toward sacrifice – Luke 18:9 – 14..."And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." (NASB)).
The Names
The Hebrew title, Shemuel, and the English, Samuel, are the same, named obviously for the great man of God by that name. The Septuagint groups 1st and 2nd Samuel / 1st and 2nd Kings together as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Kingdoms.
The Authorship
The authorship of both 1st and 2nd Samuel remain anonymous, though one can hardly doubt that Samuel himself may have written or supplied information for 1st Samuel 1:1 – 25:1, all of which describes his life and career up to and including his death.
The Date
The date of composition of the books cannot be determined with any degree of precision. There is no hint that the author(s) knew anything about The Fall of Samaria in 722 B.C., and yet he (or one of the authors) clearly lived in The Post Solomonic Era, after the division of the kingdom between Israel and Judah 931 B.C.
The Setting
The events described in 1st and 2nd Samuel center about the lives of three important figures – Samuel, Saul, and David. The entire period consists of about 150 years.
The Period of Time Covered
1st Samuel covers the history of Israel from the birth of Samuel, the last of the Judges (a scholarly guessimation around 1100 B.C.), through the death of Saul (around 1010 B.C.). Written possibly between 1100 – 1010 B.C.
2nd Samuel concludes with a story of royal succession in which David on his deathbed made provision for his son Solomon to follow him on the throne which occurred about 971 B.C. Written possibly between 1010 – 971 B.C.
Since Samuel died apparently a few years before King Saul’s suicide, if Samuel is indeed the author, 1st Samuel 1 – 24 would have been written shortly before Samuel’s death, which many scholars say would have been around 1015 B.C. Suggestions for the date of composition of 1st Samuel 25 – 31 and 2nd Samuel vary widely, ranging from some time after David’s death (971 B.C.) to as late as 730 B.C.
2nd Samuel concludes with a story of royal succession in which David on his deathbed made provision for his son Solomon to follow him on the throne which occurred about 971 B.C. Written possibly between 1010 – 971 B.C.
Since Samuel died apparently a few years before King Saul’s suicide, if Samuel is indeed the author, 1st Samuel 1 – 24 would have been written shortly before Samuel’s death, which many scholars say would have been around 1015 B.C. Suggestions for the date of composition of 1st Samuel 25 – 31 and 2nd Samuel vary widely, ranging from some time after David’s death (971 B.C.) to as late as 730 B.C.
The History / Theology
Historically, 1st and 2nd Samuel provide the next segment of Israel’s history as she transitions from being ruled by kings. Theologically, 1st and 2nd Samuel demonstrate the sovereignty, grace, and power of God, who, in spite of the failures of Israel’s leadership (Eli, Saul, and David), continued to move His plan for the nation forward.
Key Themes
The cause-and-effect relationship between obedience and blessing, and between disobedience and cursing...as promised by God in The Deuteronomic Covenant (Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 – 30).
The grace of God.
The sovereignty of God.
The grace of God.
The sovereignty of God.
The Outline (1st Samuel) (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: The Preparations for The Monarchy (1st Sam. 1 – 9)
A) Samuel’s Birth and Childhood (1)
B) Hannah’s Song (2:1 – 10)
C) The Situation at Shiloh (2:11 – 36)
D) Samuel’s Call (3)
E) The Ark (4 – 7)
F) Selection of a King (8 – 9)
Pt 2: The Period of Saul (1st Sam. 10 – 31)
A) Saul’s Ascendancy (10 – 14)
B) Saul’s Rejection (15)
C) Saul and David (16 – 26)
D) Saul’s death (27 – 31)
A) Samuel’s Birth and Childhood (1)
B) Hannah’s Song (2:1 – 10)
C) The Situation at Shiloh (2:11 – 36)
D) Samuel’s Call (3)
E) The Ark (4 – 7)
F) Selection of a King (8 – 9)
Pt 2: The Period of Saul (1st Sam. 10 – 31)
A) Saul’s Ascendancy (10 – 14)
B) Saul’s Rejection (15)
C) Saul and David (16 – 26)
D) Saul’s death (27 – 31)
The Outline (2nd Samuel) (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: David Hebron (2nd Sam. 1 – 4)
A) Lament for Saul and Jonathan (1)
B) Battle between David and Abner (2)
C) Conflict between Joab and Abner (3)
D) Death of Ish-Bosheth (4)
Pt 2: David’s Prosperity (2nd Sam. 5 – 10)
A) The Capital of Jerusalem (5)
B) The Return of The Ark (6)
C) The Davidic Covenant (7)
D) David’s Campaigns (8)
E) David’s kindness of Saul’s Family (9)
F) David’s Ambassadors to Ammon abused (10)
Pt 3: David’s Sin and Domestic Problem (2nd Sam. 11 – 21)
A) David’s Adultery (11)
B) Nathan’s rebuke and David’s punishment (12)
C) Sin and Murder of Amnon (13)
D) Absalom’s Estrangement from David (14)
E) Absalom’s Revolution (15 – 18)
F) David’s Return to Power (19 – 20)
G) Slaughter and Burial of Saul’s sons (21)
Pt 4: David’s Final Years (2nd Sam. 22 – 24)
A) David’s Song (22)
B) David’s Heroes (23)
C) David’s Sin in taking The Census (24)
A) Lament for Saul and Jonathan (1)
B) Battle between David and Abner (2)
C) Conflict between Joab and Abner (3)
D) Death of Ish-Bosheth (4)
Pt 2: David’s Prosperity (2nd Sam. 5 – 10)
A) The Capital of Jerusalem (5)
B) The Return of The Ark (6)
C) The Davidic Covenant (7)
D) David’s Campaigns (8)
E) David’s kindness of Saul’s Family (9)
F) David’s Ambassadors to Ammon abused (10)
Pt 3: David’s Sin and Domestic Problem (2nd Sam. 11 – 21)
A) David’s Adultery (11)
B) Nathan’s rebuke and David’s punishment (12)
C) Sin and Murder of Amnon (13)
D) Absalom’s Estrangement from David (14)
E) Absalom’s Revolution (15 – 18)
F) David’s Return to Power (19 – 20)
G) Slaughter and Burial of Saul’s sons (21)
Pt 4: David’s Final Years (2nd Sam. 22 – 24)
A) David’s Song (22)
B) David’s Heroes (23)
C) David’s Sin in taking The Census (24)