FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Continued

For the text of the Bible Study below please scroll down to another post

CHAPTER   8 – 10

The following Chapters in First Samuel are most interesting. For they proclaim the story of the anointing of the first king of Israel – Saul – by the great Judge ( seer, prophet, judge ) Samuel.

And yet there is a marked contrast between Chapters 8 and 9. In Chapter 8 it is the People of Israel who demand ‘ a king, like all the other nations.’ Samuel presents this to God and a king is given. And yet with this king there are a multitude of warnings and prophecies of what will happen.

This is compared to Chapter 9. This is quite a ‘ different ‘ version. Here God states – in verse 16  "Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the affliction of my people, because their cry has come to me."

Many theologians and spiritual writers see in this two versions or two truths of how Saul became king. We even note the different ways in which Saul is chosen – in one ‘ version ’ Saul meets Samuel by the journey to find his father’s donkeys while in chapter 10 verse 7 Saul is chosen by lots ( the roll of the dice)

I find this most interesting in that this, the Word of God, speaks of two versions of the kingship of King Saul. Each in their own way, with their own ‘ truth’ speaks differing messages of faith of the same event.

The Israelites had pressed their leaders for a king at least twice in their past history.

The first time was during Gideon's judgeship (Judg. 8:22), and the second was during

Abimelech's conspiracy (Judg. 9:2). Now in Samuel's judgeship they demanded one

again.

CHAPTER 8 

Verse 1

Just as Eli’s two sons, Jewish priests became corrupt, we here see that Samuel’s two sons Joel and Abiah likewise becoming corrupt and sinful ( poor parents in the Bible eh )

Verse 2

They were judges in Beer-sheba

Beersheba means "well of the oath". The southern limit of the Holy Land, as in "from Dan to Beersheba" comprehends the whole. Called so from the oath of peace between Abraham and Abimelech, king of the Philistines (Genesis 21:31), else from the seven (sheba' ) ewe lambs slain there: indeed sheba', an oath, is from the custom of binding one's self by seven things, as Abraham made the seven ewe lambs a pledge of his covenant with Abimelech.

It is this special place of the oath that the two sons ruled.

Verse 5

The People of Israel cry out to Samuel not only for a king but ‘ a king like all of the other nations.’ They did not even seek to desire a king UNLIKE the other pagan nations.

Verse 7

God ALLOWS the People’s desire. He reminds Samuel that the People are not rejecting Samuel or even his corrupt sons but they are rejecting God and His Kingdom and Rule.

Verse 8

God states how the People have continually rejected Him from the time they left Egypt until the present when they still did not believe even when God overcame Dagon, the false god of the last chapter.

Verse 10 – 17

The warnings from God, through Samuel, of the hardships that the People will face under a king. The honours to God will be overwhelmed by the forced tribute to the king. Even the tithing of the 10% will first be to the king and not to God. They would ‘take’ their ‘best’. These words are most often repeated. 

Verse 19

Even with these grave warnings the People of Israel still demand a king.

CHAPTER 9

Verse 1

The first king of Israel would come from the Tribe of Benjamin, known as the least amongst the Tribes of Israel. Recall that the Benjamites were the smallest of all the tribes at this time, because of the war that took place against the Benjamites by all the other tribes of Israel. This was discussed in the Book of Judges chapters nineteen and twenty, when the Levite was passing through the Bethlehem-judah with his concubine, and stopped in Gibeah for the night. While in the home of an old man that took them in, the entire population of men from the town came and wanted to sodomize the Levite priest. Instead of giving the Levite to the men of Gibeah, they gave the old man's daughter and the Levites concubine, who had their way with the women, and left the concubine dead on the door step.
When the Levite returned home, he parted the remains of the concubine into twelve parts, and sent those parts to all the tribes of Israel, and this created hatred for the town of Gibeah, to where all Israel went to war against the sodomites of Gibeah. When the rest of the tribe of Benjamin heard of the action taken against their brothers in Gibeah, they sided with the men of Gibeah, and from that war there remained only six hundred men left of the tribe of Benjamin left alive.
It was from this war that the rest of the tribes decided that they would have to rebuild their brother's tribe [the Benjamites], or Benjamin would just not exist any more. There was an annual dance that took place, and the advise to the Benjamites was to lie in the bushes, and when the families came to the dance, the men of Benjamin would jump out of the bushes, take a daughter to themselves, and whisk her off to the land of the Benjamites to be his wife. It was from these six hundred men that the stock of Benjamin grew to the point that it was at the time of Samuel, some four or five generations later.
This is why the tribe of Benjamin was looked at as the least, and why their numbers were so few, as compared to the rest of the tribes. Just as Saul was a Benjamite, so was the Apostle Paul, as recorded in Acts 13:21. It was from the tribe of Benjamin that Israel would have their first king.

Verse 2

To human eyes Saul truly looks like a king. He towers over all the People, is handsome and goodly ( versus godly ) “Saul” translates as “Asked of God”.

Verse 3

Saul was a keeper of donkeys. Although an important animal it was not the cleanest. Compare this to King David, the keeper of Sheep. We see Saul wandering around the countryside looking for the lost donkeys and cannot easily find them. Is this the kind of king you want ?

T o his credit – Saul's concern for his father's peace of mind was commendable. It shows a sensitivity that would have been an asset in a king (verse 5). Likewise his desire to give Samuel a present for his help was praiseworthy (verse 7; cf. 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Kings 8:8-9). Saul had some

appreciation for social propriety. He was also humble enough to ask directions from a

woman (verses 11-14). Years later, at the end of the story of Saul's reign, the king asked directions from another women, but she was a forbidden witch (ch. 28).

Verse 6 – 10

The meeting of Saul and Samuel. Take note that it is the SERVANT who appears to be more knowledgeable of the Seer of Judge Samuel. It is the Servant that suggests to see Samuel. The Servant and not Saul knows the faith of such a Seer.

Verse 11 – 14

God sets up the meeting of Samuel and Saul. As Judge Samuel had to travel through all the lands of Israel. It was a ‘coincidence’ that Samuel was in the Land of Zuph and this city when Saul was searching.

Verse 15

Samuel knew that God had set up the meeting with Saul.

Verse 16 – 24

Saul is invited to dine with Samuel. During the meal the choicest portion is set before Saul. There is a lot said in this verse that must be understood. The portion that is left for the Levitical priest, and their families portion is the shoulder of the animal, and a brisket. This is the rightful portion for the priest is the portion that Samuel saved for Saul to eat. In this statement that Samuel is showing these leaders of the community, is that the Judgeship is passing on from the priest to the next king of Israel. Israel is about to enter into a monarchy, and Saul will be the first king of all Israel. Saul will be the next Judge of Israel once his is made king. The one thing is Saul's favour is that Saul would always listen to Samuel and try to keep him happy.

CHAPTER 10

Verse 1

Samuel anoints Saul as the first King of Israel.

Anointing with oil was a symbolic act in Israel that pictured consecration to service. The

only things anointed with oil before this anointing were the priests and the tabernacle.

The oil symbolized God's Spirit, and anointing with oil represented endowment with that

Spirit for enablement (cf. 1 John 2:27). In the ancient Near East, a representative of a

nation's god customarily anointed the king, whom the people viewed from then on as the

representative of that god on earth. Thus Saul would have understood that Samuel was

setting him apart as God's vice-regent and endowing him with God's power to serve

effectively. Beginning with Saul, kings were similar to priests in Israel as far as

representing God and experiencing divine enablement. Samuel's kiss was a sign of

affection and respect since now Saul was God's special representative on the earth.

Samuel reminded Saul that the Israelites were the Lord's inheritance, another comment

that Saul unfortunately did not take to heart ( Verse 9:13).

QUESTIONS

1. The People of Israel wanted a king like all other nations. Why ?
      What did they think they would ' gain '?  What did they think that they would ' lose ' ?
      With our choices as to the Kingship of God in our lives when we choose Him what do we gain ?
      When we fail to choose Him what do we lose ?

2. Okay this is a tricky question or not ! What is the role of the separation of ' church and state' ?
    Do these chapters speak to this question ?
    On one side the 'portion' is passed on from Samuel the Judge fully to Saul the King
    The dinner scene states this. On the other side spiritual and temporal disaster awaits .

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL   THE BIBLE READING

Continued

CHAPTERS  8 – 10

 1 Samuel Chapter 8

[1] When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

[2] The name of his first-born son was Jo'el, and the name of his second, Abi'jah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.
[3] Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.
[4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,

[5] and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations."
[6] But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
[7] And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
[8] According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
[9] Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."
[10] So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking a king from him.

[11] He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots;
[12] and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. [13] He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. [14] He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. [15] He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. [16] He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best of your cattle and your asses, and put them to his work. [17] He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. [18] And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day."
[19] But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No! but we will have a king over us, [20] that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."
[21] And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD.
[22] And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to their voice, and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."

---

1 Samuel Verse 9

[1] There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abi'el, son of Zeror, son of Beco'rath, son of Aphi'ah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth;

[2] and he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
[3] Now the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the asses."

[4] And they passed through the hill country of E'phraim and passed through the land of Shal'ishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Sha'alim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.
[5] When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the asses and become anxious about us."

[6] But he said to him, "Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he says comes true. Let us go there; perhaps he can tell us about the journey on which we have set out."
[7] Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What have we?"
[8] The servant answered Saul again, "Here, I have with me the fourth part of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God, to tell us our way."
[9] (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)
[10] And Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
[11] As they went up the hill to the city, they met young maidens coming out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"

[12] They answered, "He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Make haste; he has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.
[13] As soon as you enter the city, you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those eat who are invited. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately."
[14] So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

[15] Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel:

[16] "Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the affliction of my people, because their cry has come to me."
[17] When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall rule over my people."
[18] Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"
[19] Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer; go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.
[20] As for your asses that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?"
[21] Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?"
[22] Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons.

[23] And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, `Put it aside.'" [24] So the cook took up the leg and the upper portion and set them before Saul; and Samuel said, "See, what was kept is set before you. Eat; because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

[25] And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul upon the roof, and he lay down to sleep. [26] Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul upon the roof, "Up, that I may send you on your way." So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.
[27] As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God."

---

1 Samuel Verse 10

[1] Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said, "Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their enemies round about. And this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.

I am always interested in the translation of Biblical Names
Check out here
the names of the five Philstine cities
to which the Ark of The Covenant passed through
http://lent2013.blogspot.ca/

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL CHAPTER 5 – 6

Continued

CHAPTER 5

The spiritual and temporal message of Chapter 4 continues. God alone is acting in this chapter. Essentially He does not NEED people to accomplish what He must do. In Him alone is all power, strength and trust.

Verse 2

What is Dagon? This is the pagan god of the Philistines. The word translates as ‘fish’. They believed that god was a great fish and was depicted as a man with the head of a fish. Perhaps this was their tie to the sea.

Verse 3

During the night Dagon falls on his face to the Ark. This not only exhibited the power of God to ‘push’ the false god to the ground but it is significant that Dagon fell flat on his face before God. The statue of the false god loses his arms ( thus symbolized that he has no power ) and then loses his head ( he has no thought or bearing ) The Philistines see and are fearful. Again God alone is doing this.

Verse 6

God then afflicts the Philistines with ‘emerods’. This can be translated as ‘tumours’ or ‘haemorrhoids’.  I must admit that I like the translation ‘haemorrhoids’ because within the Ark of the Covenant is also the Seat of Mercy ( of God ) I smile when I compare the Seat of Mercy to the seat of the Philistines now inflicted with haemorrhoids. Seriously though these proved deadly to the people. They also thought that mice were the means that God made the emerods spread.

Verse 8 – 12

The people decide what must be done. God is so powerful that the Ark must leave their midst. The Philistines army was even afflicted with the emerods and so could not go into battle. Thus they knew they had to pass on the Ark to the other towns. Note on my web site the movement of the Ark through the five towns of the five lords of the Philistines. Each became afflicted.

Verse 11

They knew it was the Hand of God. This image will return time and time again in the Bible.

CHAPTER 6

Verse 1

The Ark was in Philista for seven months. In the Bible seven is an important number. It is an image of fullness or completeness ( as in seven days of creation )  With the seven months God’s glory is now complete. He will now fulfill His Will.

Verse 4

The story of the return of the Ark. Do not take this story at ‘face value’. See what is really happening. The Philistine priests put God to a great test. They took two cows who had just given birth to calves and were still milking. Surely these new mothers would seek their new borns and not go to the region of the Hebrew People. The Philistine priests load it up with gold and if the cows went to the Hebrew People they would know it was of God – but if they did not then they, the Philistine priests would get the gold. At face value it was good odds that the cows would not leave. BUT they did ! To the surprise of the Philistines priests who followed them all the way. They could not manipulate God.  The cows did not even hunger or wish to eat of the fields. God prevails and the cows and cart take the Ark of the Covenant back to the People of Israel.

Note the bountiful scene of the harvest. Indeed God had not abandoned the Israel People for the blessings continued even without the Ark being among them.

Upon the cows were laid golden images of emerods ( tumours or haemorrhoids ) and mice ( who the Philistines thought were spreading the illness )  The Hebrew people of Beth-Shemesh ( see my other notes on town names ) sacrificed the cows and the golden images. But on that day God slew 70 of the town people – or in other translations 70,000. These were the ones who touched the Ark, which was against the law and who offered the golden pagan images.

Verse 20

With all of this NOW the Hebrew People truly understand.

Verse 21

They took the Ark to Kiriath – Jearim where it remained until the time of King David who took it to Jerusalem.  Why did they not take it back to Shiloh? Perhaps in battle the Philistines destroyed Shiloh or perhaps the People of Israel began to understand that God , not the Ark would save them.

QUESTIONS

1. The Ark was lost but God showed in chapters 4 – 7 that HE would return it to the People of Israel. How did He do this? Are you at times lost ? Do you know someone who is lost ? How do you trust that God will return them back ?
2. The Philistines tested God although they had heard of His power in the exodus, seen how He dealt with Dagon; how He dealt the blow of illness upon them. Why did they continue to test God ? What life shaping events in your life helped to establish God as Saviour ? Do you continue to test ? Do you forget sometimes the foundation events in your spiritual life? How can we strength this reliance and reminder ?

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL CHAPTER  4  - 7

Continued

CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4 is seen as an ‘insertion’ in the First Book of Samuel. We know this because there is almost no mention of Samuel in this chapter. Chapter 4 – 7 serves many purposes. Historically it chronologies the movement of the Hebrew People from being under the power and fear of the Philistines to become an independent free People. This chapter tells this historical story. These chapters also contain the fulfillment of the prophecy against Eli and his sons Hophni and Phinehas. Because of their sins and unfaithfulness they were to die and their lineage of being Jewish priests would end. Finally these chapters spiritually tell the message of the singular power of God. He alone is superior over the Philistines and their false gods. He, even without human help can triumph. And yet in the chapters that follow chapter 7 they will continue to cry out for a King like other nations.

Verse 1

The first battle.  The People of Israel are living at Ebenezar. This is another clue that this chapter is an insertion in that Samuel does not name this place until chapter 7 verse 12. Ebenezar or Eb means ‘rock’ while Aphek, the place where the Philistines are, is translated as ‘fortress’. Thus right away we see the balance of power. The People of Israel begin among the rocks while the powerful Philistines are in a fortress.

Who are the Philistines ? Although some Philistines have always lived in the region most migrated there in 1,200 B.C. some 100 years before this story. We saw them in Judges 13 -16 when Samson defeated them. They were originally from Greece via Crete. They were tied to the sea and were fierce, smart and powerful people. They would be Israel’s primary enemy lying just west of them.

Verse 2

The Battle. It is important to note that the People of Israel did not first go to Shiloh to seek the guidance of God at the place of the Ark of the Covenant. Although Eli was not the strongest or most faithful Judge and his sons even more corrupt the spirit of God was still with Eli and he still was the Judge. They did not visit the Ark of the Covenant but instead went right into battle. As a mob gathering their own strength they ran into battle and on that day 4,000 were killed ( remember this number for a later chapter ).

Verse 4

In preparation for the second battle the People of Israel go to Shiloh to get the Ark of the Covenant. And yet it is clear that they wish to use the Ark as a talisman or good luck charm in battle. We know this because they touched the Ark which was against the law to do; they moved the Ark from the Tabernacle which was also illegal and immoral to do; they did not really ‘seek’ God’s guidance in prayer or discernment; and finally who would be the ones to lead the Ark with the People – the sinful and corrupt sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas.  And yet still the People of Israel had confidence in the carrying of the Ark into battle even as a ‘good luck charm’.

Verse 5

The Hebrew People are so confident in themselves that they shout out – just as they did when they captured Jericho years beforehand.

Verse 6

The Philistines are now fearful . They knew of the works of God. The exodus experience of the People of Israel appears to be well known. With one voice the Philistines gather their strength.

Verse 7 – 11

The second battle. Israel once again loses and now 40,000 are killed. This is ten times greater than the first battle. It teaches them that they must seek God and His guidance. When one continues to fail to do so the loses can become greater and greater. When one becomes more and more foolish and more and more self reliant disaster can indeed increase.  They also lose the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines.  Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas also die. The prophecy against them is now fulfilled.

Verse 13 – 18  

We see Eli being anxious about the battle. To his credit he was more concerned with the Ark than even his two sons. Eli had done wrong is allowing the Ark to be used as a good luck charm. When he hears of the lose of the Ark and the death of his sons Eli falls back and dies. The prophecy is now complete – they die and their lineage within the Jewish priesthood is lost.

Verse 13 and forward

It is sad that the People of Israel do not here repent. While they mourn the loss of the Ark and the loss of the battle there is no sense of repentance. They do not turn to God to beg for mercy and nor plead for forgiveness. There are no ashes or sackcloth.

Verse  19 - 22

The People of Israel feel that with the loss of the Ark God is no longer with them. This is modelled in the actions of Phinehas’ wife who gives birth but knows it is to no avail. She and the People proclaim that all is lost, the glory of God has now left them . They forget that God promised never to leave them. True the Ark was gone but God was not. This was His promise.

God has a way of taking care of things and people that are His own. He will take care of the Ark and He will take care of His People. He will do this in HIS WAY. He does not need soldiers and battles. He will do it in His way and in the end the enemies will beg for the People of Israel to take back the Ark of the Covenant. Without a single shot being fired !

QUESTIONS

1. The People of Israel rush into battle. They do not seek God’s guidance. Like a mob they rush into battle without thinking. Why did they do this ? Have you ever rushed into battle without thinking, without first seeking God’s guidance ? How can you stop yourself when you get this urge ?
2. God will teach the People to trust. That He will triumph in His own way. The People feel lost as they lost the Ark. Why did they feel this way ? Are you lost or know someone who is likewise ‘lost’ ? How can you trust that God will return them ? Have you seen one who has been ‘ lost ‘ but by the power of God ‘ returned ‘ back to Him and to you ? Offer a prayer of petition and a prayer of thanks.  

NOTES
The text of the Bible passages studied in the two previous posts can be found if you scroll further down.
Feel free to leave any reflection, idea or thought in the Comments section of each posting...Thank you

THE MOVEMENT OF THE ARK IN 1 SAMUEL 4-6