READ IT! - Introduction to 1st Samuel 1-5

Readings for this week

Monday: 2nd Thessalonians 2

Tuesday: 2nd Thessalonians 3

Wednesday: 1st Samuel 1

Thursday: 1st Samuel 2

Friday: 1st Samuel 3

Saturday: 1st Samuel 4

Sunday: 1st Samuel 5

Introduction to 1st Samuel 1-5

Structure of 1st Samuel

1st Sam. 1:1–8:22 – The story of Samuel 

1st Sam. 9:1–15:35 – The story of Samuel and Saul 

1st Sam. 16:1–2nd Sam. 1:27 – The Story of Saul and David 

A continuation of the book of Judges 

Judges is the second book of the Deuteronomistic History. 

1st Samuel is the third book of the Deuteronomistic History. 

Begins with “There was a certain man…” 

Similar to Manoah and Micah in Judges. 

The book of Judges ends in Shiloh. 

1st Samuel begins in Shiloh. 

Chapter 1 

The book opens with the Birth Narrative of Samuel. It starts with Elkanah’s lineage. We don’t know anything about the people in his lineage. However, great prophets are usually introduced by their lineage in the Old Testament. 

We are then introduced to Elkanah’s family. He has two wives: Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah bears children, and her name means “prolific.” Hannah is the favorite wife, but she is barren. Hannah means “favor.” This is similar to previous stories (e.g., Jacob’s wives, Leah and Rachel). In the Old Testament, if a woman is barren and gives birth, something important will happen with that child. 

Peninnah is cruel to Hannah. But Elkanah is clueless, and the best he can do to comfort Hannah is to state that being married to him is a much greater blessing than ever having kids. 

The next part of the story is about Hannah’s vow at the Shiloh shrine. The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament says that Hannah vows to give her son to God as a Nazirite if He would give her a son. Eli the priest hears Hannah praying and thinks she is drunk – ironic since Nazirites don't drink. Hannah then offers her response, saying that she is “not drinking” but “pouring out her soul” – this language sounds like “pouring” a blood sacrifice. Eli then offers his blessing, which contains a note of promise that God has heard Hannah's plea.

After this, the family returns home, and the text says that Elkanah “knows” her, and also that the LORD “remembers” her. She has a son and names him Samuel. “Samuel” means “God heard.” We then read about Hannah’s offering, and we see that Samuel is her offering, which is not traditional sacrifice, but a “living sacrifice.” 

Chapter 2 

This chapter contains Hannah’s Song. It is a very old section of the Old Testament – one of the oldest. The song praises God, and it makes a reference to a barren woman having seven kids. It also contains a reference to a king, which points to the beginnings of monarchy in Israel. 

The New Testament figure of Mary, the mother of Jesus, has very much in common with Hannah. 

The narrative then focuses on Eli’s Sons: Hophni and Phinehas. We learn that they’re no good scoundrels, and the text lays out three indictments against them: 

Inappropriate sacrifice – robbing God 

Sex at the sanctuary 

Becoming fat off the offerings 

A “man of God” condemns Eli’s family, and he chastises Eli for doing nothing about his sons. He also predicts that Eli’s house will be “cut off.” And he predicts a faithful priest will be brought up 

Chapter 3 

This chapter opens with Samuel’s Dream Theophany. We first get to hear about the conditions at Shiloh: That the “The word of the LORD was rare,” and that there were “Not many visions.” We also learn that Eli is going “blind.” 

The text then focuses on Samuel’s dream. We learn that Samuel sleeps near the Ark at night. But God calls to Samuel, not Eli. Samuel goes to Eli, thinking that Eli is calling him. And it takes Eli three times before he realizes what’s going on. It is here when Samuel becomes a prophet. Eli demands to know what the LORD said. And Samuel is honest and faithful to God’s word. God’s Message: I will destroy Eli’s family. And the word of the LORD keeps on appearing to Samuel at Shiloh. 

Chapter 4 

The next section of narratives focus on the Ark. The Philistines go to war with Israel. Israel is camped at Ebenezer, which means “stone of help.” But they receive no help and are defeated by the Philistines. And they ask “why?” The Conclusion: “we didn’t bring the Ark with us so we lost.” We then see Israel attempting to battle the Philistines with the Ark. The Ark has become an idol. And the Ark ends up being captured by Philistines. Eli’s sons are killed in battle, and Eli faints and breaks his neck because he’s so fat. Also, Eli’s daughter-in-law gives birth and dies, names her son “Ichabod,” meaning “The glory has departed.” 

Chapters 5 

We then get to hear about the Ark among the Philistines. The Ark arrives at Ashdod. And the Philistines take the Ark to the temple of their god Dagon. But Dagon lays prostrate in front of Yahweh. And Yahweh humiliates Dagon and eventually decapitates him (opposite of Samson’s story). 

We then read about the complete humiliation of the Philistines. There is a rat infestation at Ashdod because of the presence of the Ark of God. Also, the people begin to develop some sort of tumors or hemorrhoids …we're not exactly sure, but either way, it was a pain in the butt. 

And the Philistines begin to play Hot Potato with the Ark. Ashdod sends the Ark to Gath, and plagues break out at Gath. Gath sends the Ark to Ekron, and plagues break out at Ekron. And the people “cry out” because the “hand of God was heavy” upon them.