Skip to document
Welcome to StudocuSign in to access the best study resources
Guest user
0followers
HomeMy LibraryAsk AI
  • You don't have any recent items yet.
My Library
  • You don't have any courses yet.
  • You don't have any books yet.
  • You don't have any Studylists yet.

07 1Sam 16-17 Sum - Lecture 7

Lecture 7
Course

I And II Samuel (UBBL 310)

24 Documents
Students shared 24 documents in this course
Academic year: 2019/2020
Uploaded by:
AH
Alyssa Hamilton
Azusa Pacific University
0followers
28Uploads
1upvotes

Comments

Please sign in or register to post comments.

Students also viewed

Related documents

Preview text

Unit 7: The Rise of David (1 Samuel I. Literary Structure 1. Chapter 16 begins the second of three called the History of Rise (1 Samuel Samuel 5). This narrative begins with the anointing of David Samuel in 1 Samuel 16 and ends with conquest of Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 5. 2. The History of Rise takes on the form of an apology. This does not mean that David is apologizing for anything. The is a wellknown literary genre in the Ancient Near East. What scholars mean is that the stories are mainly told to inform the reader that David did not become king over Saul through avarice or a coup In fact, David went out of his way not to harm Saul, whom he regarded as anointed and the legitimate king on the throne. Samuel: 1 Sam Saul: 1 Sam David: 2 Sam Rise of Hannah and fall of Peninna h: 1:12:11 s disob edien ce: rise to power: Rise of Samu el and fall of Eli: 2:127:17 Trans ition from judge s to kings: Rise of David and fall of Saul: Anointing and exaltation of David deliveranc e of David from Saul Taking the last resort Dynasti c success ion: 920 Additio nal materia l related to reign: 3. As we have learned, Samuel can be divided into three parts (see chart above). The first part in green (1 Sam emphasizes the life and ministry of Samuel. The second part in purple (1 Sam stresses the reign of Saul, first king. Although the two incidents of disobedience (the first in chapter 13 and the second in chapter 15) will lead to dismissal, he will nevertheless continue to rule until the time of his death in 1 Sam 31. 4. Meanwhile, we learn about the rise of a new leader, David, who is anointed Samuel in 1 Sam 16. The parallel history of rise and the fall of Saul are detailed over 16 chapters (1 Sam Clearly, a lot of attention is given to this theme of rise and decline. 5. Part of the reason for this attention is that throughout these 16 chapters David and Saul are compared (see chart on the second lecture of this unit). Through this contrast the reader is shown why David is chosen to replace Saul: David has a heart after God and is dependent upon Yahweh. Saul does not have a heart after God and depends on natural strength. The first of the three (1 Sam stresses the anointing and exaltation of David. We will study the remaining two subunits next week. We will then conclude this course with the third part in yellow which emphasizes reign over Israel (2 Sam 6. son Jonathan is also included in these stories (1 Sam however, his role is not to magnify character as much as it is to serve as the key figure in an pattern. Just as Jonathan emerged in chapters as the natural heir to the throne successfully fighting battles against the Philistines 14:115), so every reference to Jonathan in chapters serves to emphasize his identification with David. The implication is that David is replacing Jonathan as rightful successor. This is developed as follows: a. Jonathan is the heir of Saul b. Jonathan identifies with David (18:3) c. Jonathan gives up his portion to David (18:4) d. Saul confirms the replacement (18:2, 5) e. Jonathan passes on the kingship to David, since Saul is unable to do so II. Commentary: The anointing and exaltation of David A. The Anointing of David 1. 1 Sam 16 is a major transition in the narrative. Having rejected Saul, Samuel and Yahweh turn elsewhere for a new king. They go to a most unlikely place to find one the insignificant village of Bethlehem in the southern tribe of Judah (see map below). 4. The choice is also interesting because Jesse made seven sons pass before Samuel. Seven is the number of completion in the Bible. An ancient reader would have expected God to finally settle on the seventh son. But this is not the case. We suddenly learn that there is an eighth son (representing an unexpected climax to the story). He is the youngest who is out in the fields tending the flocks. Other biblical writers play on this pattern as well, since it effectively emphasizes how God does not always work within the context of expectations! 5. In chapter 15 you will recall how the biblical writer built the story of Saul fighting the Amalekites around the key words: word, Now, when the narrative shifts from the rejection of Saul (chapter 15) to the selection of David (chapter 16) the writer also changes the keyword from listen to see. After failure, Samuel must learn how to see the one truly fit to be king. 6. In 1 Sam 16:1, the verb translated as for (NRSV) or (NIV) is (literally, see This is not the usual verb which is Why? The reason is didactic: Samuel must learn how to from perspective. Notice how in 16:6, Samuel looks upon the oldest son Eliab and thinks, anointed is now before But then in v. 7 God tells Samuel not to look at appearance (Hebrew, a noun based on the same key word for God has rejected him (Hebrew, the same word applied to rejection of Saul). In other words, Samuel had earlier anointed Saul who stood head and shoulders above ordinary men (10:23). Now he almost made the same mistake with Eliab (16:6)! Perhaps a bit like all of us, Samuel mistakenly considers handsomeness to be criteria, so God instructs him telling him (16:7): not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected for Yahweh does not see as mortals they look on the outside appearance, but Yahweh looks on the Arnold elaborates on this on pp. of NIVAC. 7. Ironically, in 1 Sam Samuel is earlier called a (Hebrew, another term for a but usually understood as one with clairvoyant abilities. As the participle of the verb Samuel is literally called a seer one who sees or at least should see! The problem is that despite the title of Samuel is looking at Eliab from a human perspective, rather than from perspective. In the end, after passing through other seven sons, Samuel happens upon the eighth and youngest son, David, who is described having This pointed reference is not accidental. The author wants to remind us about seeing from perspective. Thus, Yahweh tells Samuel, and anoint for this is the 8. How common was the practice of anointing kings in the Ancient Near East? Arnold provides an answer on p. 231 of NIVAC. Arnold also discusses the practice of anointing and its messianic implications. You will recall that in Unit 5 we learned that the verb is mashakh, and from this verb we get the noun, mashiakh, which means The Hebrew expression later becomes yesus christos in Greek and (the) in English. See what Arnold says about anointing and deliverance on p. 180 and about the relationship between messianism and Jesus on pp. something sent God. In this regard it might be helpful to recall the references to God the heart of in Exodus. In these verses is an interplay between Pharaoh hardening his heart through his arrogance and stubbornness, and desire to use that stubbornness to prove himself to the Egyptians and the disbelieving Israelites. In fact, God specifically states this as his motive in Ex Perhaps something similar is going on here: God is exploiting a condition or attitude in Saul to bring greater glorify to David as the one whose heart is truly after God. Other views on how to interpret this problem of an spirit from this appear at the end of this lecture. 3. In hopes of calming his troubled mind, Saul tells his servants to for me someone who can play well, and bring him to The word in the NRSV is the same verb that we earlier encountered as a word theme in anointing of David. One of the young men answers that have seen a son of Jesse the Again, this is no accident. Through this word play, the narrator wants us to realize that the one God has chosen (literally, is the same one Saul is now seeking to sooth his moods. So David is brought to Saul and is hired as court musician. Skilled on the lyre (a type of harp), David comforted Saul, and Saul came to love him. The episode probably takes place in house, which also served as royal palace in his hometown of Gibeah. Some scholars have estimated that David was between years old at the time and that Samuel was around 90! C. David and Goliath and the exaltation of David in the eyes of Israel 1. It is not accident that the battle of David and Goliath follows closely on the heels of his anointing Samuel. This battle will serve the same function for David after his anointing as did first battle against the Ammonites in 1 Sam 11 after anointing! Interestingly, the narrative introduces David again in v. 12, even though David is already from the preceding chapter. And in vv. 56, 58 Saul know David, even though David was already in service playing the lyre for him in This has led some scholars to speculate that the story of David and Goliath may have circulated independently as one of mighty acts, before being incorporated later into the book of Samuel as we know it today. 4. Daily their champion warrior Goliath taunted the Israelites, trying to goad them into a fight. None of the Israelites took up the challenge until when David came one day. According to the narrative, David had been commissioned his father Jesse to bring food from Bethlehem to his brothers who were serving with Saul in the Elah Valley. The road that David would have taken from Bethlehem to the Elah Valley is indicated on the map above. David was astounded that none of the Israelites had the courage to face Goliath, so he immediately volunteered himself. Armed with only a slingshot and stones, he faced Goliath in single combat. While a sling might seem like a fairly innocuous weapon, it was extremely lethal. In the right hands, a sling stone can travel as fast as 140 miles per hour! His first shot struck Goliath smack in the forehead. David then ran over to him and cut off his head. This threw the Philistine troops into a panic, and the Israelites drove the Philistines away. David was successful in everything Saul gave him to do, and thus was given a high rank in the army. David was loved everyone. 5. The method of warfare described in the narrative was that practiced the ancient Mycenaean Greeks. The two armies would first face off against one another with a large field between them. Two would then come out in the middle and engage in a duel of combat before full battle took place between the two sides. This is why Goliath kept coming out every day and asking for someone to fight him. Since the Philistines came from the Aegean, possibly the island of Crete, SLINGSTONE AND SLING. The stone in the photograph is slightly smaller than a tennis ball. The pouch and thongs are modern replicas patterned after slings depicted in ancient art. The stone was placed in the pouch, and then suspended the two thongs which were held in one hand and whirled rapidly about the head (see the relief of Assyrian slingers below). When one thong was released the stone left the pouch and hurtled toward its target. Bedouin shepherds in Israel have been known to hit a tin can with a sling stone from as far as 250 ft (75 m) away. ASSYRIAN WARRIORS HURLING SLING STONES. The soldiers carry extra ammunition in their left hands. This relief made on slabs of alabaster stone came from the walls of the palace of Sennacherib at Nineveh (early 7th century BC). These reliefs can be seen today in the British Museum in London. The stones in the hand of the APU student above are from the Valley of Elah streambed, which is the same streambed that David crossed and picked up stones in order to attack Goliath. David and Goliath Caravaggio 6. In 1 Chronicles 20:5 (part of the required reading in 1 Chron we read that Lahmi the brother of Goliath is killed one Elhanan ben Yair. Most scholars believe that the Chronicler is harmonizing two different claims found in Samuel. Remember that the Chronicler is writing in the time of the Balonian exile and using as his primary source. In 1 Sam 17:50 David kills Goliath of Gath (cf. 17:4), but in 2 Sam 21:19 Elhanan kills Goliath the Gittite. means one from Gath). Thus, having Elhanan kill the brother of Goliath, and not Goliath himself, the Chronicler accommodates both claims. 7. In the Summer of 2008 on the Israelite side of the hill ridge overlooking the site of David and battle, archaeologists found the remains of a buried fortress dating to the time when David ruled as king in Jerusalem. Inside the fortress was found a piece of pottery with writing on it. Scholars call such a written find an ostracon. This particular ostracon contains the oldest Hebrew writing yet discovered in ancient Israel. Prior to this discovery in 2008, the oldest text came from the time of Solomon, so you can imagine the importance of this finding. 8. This ostracon was deciphered in 2009 Professor Gershom Galil of Haifa University. Among the Hebrew words contained in the text is the word melekh which is the title applied to both Saul and David as early rulers, as well as the other kings of Israel that followed them. You can see a picture of the ostracon and its handwritten transcription below. 9. Professor translation of the Hebrew ostracon reads as follows. The words in brackets are not legible and are supplied as the most likely words the translator. (Keep in mind that this is the oldest surviving text of biblical Hebrew yet discovered): 1. You shall not do but worship the 2. Judge the slave and the widow Judge the orphan 3. the stranger. Plead for the infant plead for the poor and 4. the widow. Rehabilitate the poor at the hands of the king. 5. Protect the poor and the slave support the stranger. If you would like to read more about the significance of this important discovery, see the optional article under Doc Sharing, ancient Hebrew biblical inscription Theological Issues A. Evil spirit from the LORD 1. When God withdrew his Spirit from Saul, the king no longer had the empowering of God to lead Israel. Furthermore, the Lord sent an evil spirit to afflict Saul The removal of spirit from Saul and the sending of an evil spirit to torment Saul determined the course of his life. This statement presents a theological problem: In what sense can an evil spirit come from the Lord? 2. The expression spirit from the has been understood biblical scholars in the following ways: o This statement and similar ones in Scripture indicate that evil spirits are subject to control and operate only within divinely determined boundaries (see Judges 1 King Job 2:6). disobedience continued to be punished the assaults of an evil spirit 19:9). o God may have intended the evil spirit to serve a redemptive function. If the spirit caused Saul to realize his helplessness to lead Israel without enabling Spirit, the king might turn back to God. o o o More clearly, God used the evil spirit for another introduce David to the royal court. servants suggested the king hire a court musician to play soothing music to ease mind when the evil spirit troubled him. David had already established his reputation as a skilled musician (16:18), and consequently received this appointment. purposes thus continued to move forward. God used the evil spirit that afflicted Saul to test heart. increasing tendencies to despondency, jealousy, and violence were no doubt occasioned his knowledge of his rejection as king (see and his awareness of growing popularity. But an evil spirit was also involved in these psychological aberrations (see Reliance on the Lord was essential for the true theocratic king. The mad king Saul put David through many and circumstances, but David trusted the Lord and proved his heart was genuinely after the Lord. Thus, the means of an evil spirit on Saul, God fulfilled his purposes for David. The sending of an evil spirit on Saul God as part of his judgment upon Saul suggests that ancient Israel viewed all of reality as under control. In ancient Israel, one accepted the mystery of evil allowing God the freedom to act in ways that we understand (Job B. David and Goliath How was it possible that a mere youth killed a giant warrior? The reasons are found in heart: 1. David was concerned about honor (17:26, 36, David was not willing to allow Goliath to get away with taunting the armies of the living God, which was dishonoring to God. David anticipated not only a victory over Goliath, but also the demonstration of the existence and power of God to the whole world (17:46). 2. David remembered past faithfulness in his life, and used that as a basis for taking more steps of faith. David had the courage and faith to IV. The History 1. It is with the account of the killing of Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 paralleled in 1 Chronicles that we get our first correspondence with the Book of Chronicles. For this reason, I am introducing this quick review of the Book of Chronicles. At certain points throughout the remainder of Samuel, I will make occasional references to differences between an account presented in Samuel and that presented in Chronicles. In most cases these differences add to our understanding of the parallel stories. 2. In Unit 2 we learned that there were two great histories of Israel: the Deuteronomistic History (Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings) and the History Chronicles). 3. The Deuteronomistic History was largely written from sources and records contemporary with the time of the events. Chronicles, on the other hand, was written entirely in Balonian Exile using as its primary source. When there are parallel stories between these two great histories, sometimes the Chronicler repeats them verbatim. Sometimes the details are different. Sometimes the Chronicler supplements new information from sources not utilized the authors of 4. For those interested in the parallels between and Chronicles, see the chart below. (You will not be held responsible for any information on this chart. It is posted here for your interest only. I have also posted it as a JPEG file under Doc Sharing for those who would like to have a copy for future reference.)

Was this document helpful?

07 1Sam 16-17 Sum - Lecture 7

Course: I And II Samuel (UBBL 310)

24 Documents
Students shared 24 documents in this course

University: Azusa Pacific University

Was this document helpful?
Unit 7: The Rise of David (1 Samuel 16-17)
I. Literary Structure
1. Chapter 16 begins the second of three mini-histories called the History of
David’s Rise (1 Samuel 16:1-2 Samuel 5). This self-contained narrative
begins with the anointing of David by Samuel in 1 Samuel 16 and ends
with David’s conquest of Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 5.
2. The History of David’s Rise takes on the form of an apology. This does
not mean that David is apologizing for anything. The “apology” is a well-
known literary genre in the Ancient Near East. What scholars mean is
that the stories are mainly told to inform the reader that David did not
become king over Saul through avarice or a coup d’etat. In fact, David
went out of his way not to harm Saul, whom he regarded as God’s
anointed and the legitimate king on the throne.
Samuel: 1 Sam 1-12
Saul: 1 Sam 13-31
David: 2 Sam 1-24
Rise of
Hannah
and fall
of
Peninna
h: 1:1-
2:11
Rise
of
Samu
el and
fall of
Eli:
2:12-
7:17
Trans
ition
from
judge
s to
kings:
8-12
Saul’
s
disob
edien
ce:
13-15
David’s
rise to
power:
1-8
Dynasti
c
success
ion: 9-
20
Additio
nal
materia
l
related
to
David’s
reign:
21-24
Anointing
and
exaltation
of David
16-17
Yahweh’s
deliveranc
e of David
from Saul
18-26
Taking
the last
resort
27-31
3. As we have learned, 1-2 Samuel can be divided into three parts (see
chart above). The first part in green (1 Sam 1-12) emphasizes the life
and ministry of Samuel. The second part in purple (1 Sam 13-31)
stresses the reign of Saul, Israel’s first king. Although the two incidents
of Saul’s disobedience (the first in chapter 13 and the second in chapter
15) will lead to Saul’s dismissal, he will nevertheless continue to rule until
the time of his death in 1 Sam 31.

Students also viewed

Related documents