Name: Jake Minear Class Time: 8:45 - 9:45

Reading questions for 1 Samuel (OT Lit and History)

1. In 1 Samuel 1-3 what is the picture painted about the tabernacle? Are things going well, are the attendants doing what they are supposed to do? What role will Samuel play in this process. Explain.

In 1 Samuel 1-3 the tabernacle is almost a place where your prayers are granted. It’s as if you pour out your soul in desperation to the Lord and he will grant it. The attendants do seem to be doing their job and seem to be doing what they are supposed to do, although Eli’s sons do start sinning and inappropriately offering sacrifices. Samuel is promised by God a sort of miracle or event which will bring Israel toward him and punish Eli’s sons.

2. Read the narrative carefully in 1 Samuel 9-10. How is Saul portrayed here, positively, negatively, shy, powerful, incompetent? What role does the servant play in the passage? What information does verse 9:9 supply, do you think it was found originally in the story?

In this passage, Saul is portrayed positively. He is just and does not hold himself higher than anyone and, in fact, feels lower at times. Saul is made king over Israel by God, who spoke through Samuel. I don’t think that verse 9:9 was originally found in the story, although it wasn’t added to near where we are now. It was probably a story that, when written down had only been spoken before and because of the gradual shift in culture and language, felt it necessary to explain the wording used.

3. 1 Samuel 12 is an important chapter in biblical history as it marks the end of the period of the judges and the beginning of the period of kingship. How do we see the role of the prophet contrasted with the king in 1 Samuel 12:1-5 and 8:11-18?

Prophets are contrasted by kings with how they decidedly do not take what is not theirs. A king may use your children or your land, but a prophet shouldn’t do so and will most likely not.

4. Read 1 Samuel 13:1. How old is Saul here? Does your Bible provide any notes on this verse? Read 1 Sam 17:4 and then google the height of Goliath. What are the two most common heights given for Goliath? Why are there two different answers?

Saul is 30 and ends his reign at 72. Some texts do not have “30”. And some do not have “40” (the length of his reign). In 1 Samuel, Goliath is described as

approximately 9’9”, but other texts claim him to be only 6’7”. Seeing as he is described as a “man” in the Bible, it’d make more sense for him to be 6’7”. If he were 9’9”, he’d probably be described differently, but then again, these are just conjectures. These two answers exist because, as the relative height of man increases, 6’7” was no longer felt impressive and, as a need to make him seem truly a giant, his height was amended to be 9’9”.

5. In the book of 1 Samuel, Saul become more and more unstable while David starts to rise in power. Read 1 Samuel 21-22. What priest offers David help and what does the priest do? What is Saul’s reaction in 1 Sam 22? One priest named Abiathar will escape; what role does Abiathar play later on (read 1 Kings 1-2)?

Ahimelech helps David by giving him bread and a weapon. Because of this, Saul orders Ahimelech and all other priests to be killed. Abiathar later stays a priest, but is ordered to leave his position and then die.

List two questions that you have after reading the biblical texts:1.

2.