Chapter 14: 1+2 Samuel

What was a "Seer"?

official title for a prophet

1+2 Samuel was originally what?

one book

Saul was unable to do what 2 major tasks?

Unable to unify diverse tribes and defeat the Philistines

How does 2 Samuel end ?

With an appendix reflecting on the events in David's life that could be inferred to be failures because of apparent action of God against him

What happens in 2 Samuel 7?

Yahweh establishes the throne of David

What did the Ark of the covenant represent?

Yahweh's presence in the midst of the people

Because the Israelites want a king so bad, what does God say the kings of Israel will all end up doing? How many times is this found?

- "He will take" - Said 6 times in 8 different verses of 1 Samuel

What impact did the covenant have on the rest of Israelite history?

- Allowing Solomon to remain on the throne for all his days fulfilled the promise made to David - As an act of grace, God promised to leave one tribe under the control of David's line

What does 2 Samuel 9-20 cover?

records the demise of many of his hopes and aspirations and the struggles in his own family

There were not a lot of __________________ for this period of history

sources

Saul's failure was fueled by his lack of ________________________ _________________________

spiritual sensibility

What was God's plan in 1+2 Samuel

to have an earthly king who would give a good example of what God's kingship was like

What was the function of the King?

to maintain justice

The spirit of empowerment from the Lord at the beginning of Saul's kingship was replaced with what?

an evil spirit from the Lord which made him lose his empowerment

From _________________, Samuel was unique and special

birth

During this time there was no _____________________ place of worship

centralized

What does 2 Samuel 1-8 cover?

documents David's rise to power in an expansive Israel

Who were the "Sons of the Prophets"?

- Apprentices of the prophets - The beginning of the formalized "office" of the prophets

what are the major themes of 1+2 Samuel?

- Ark of the Covenant - Kingship - Davidic Covenant - Assessment of Saul - Assessment of David

What was Saul's character before he was king compared to when he was king?

- Before: likeable, sincere, and even shy - After: tormented by jealousy and paranoia

What were some of David's successes as King?

- His conquests - Establishment of Jerusalem as the new capital city - Bringing the ark of the covenant out of exile and placing it back in operation - Formation of the Davidic Covenant which was the Charter for the new era

What happens in 2 Samuel 12? Summarize it

- Nathan tells David about his sin with Bathsheba - David's response is basically him cursing himself - Once he realizes he sinned, he immediately responds with "I have sinned" COMPARED TO SAUL : Saul makes it look like he did the right thing (excuses)

What were the errors David committed?

- Not thinking before he did things - Lies : cost lives - Temper: Jeopardized royal destiny - Lust : entangled him in a murderous plot

What happens in 1 Samuel 10:9? Summarize it

- Saul is anointed w oil and Samuel kissed him - The Lord anointed Him as ruler and he would save them from their enemies and - Later, Samuel begins to prophecy

what are some examples of Saul starting conflict with David?

- Saul threw the spear at David - Saul sent men to arrest David during the night - Saul pursued David around the wilderness of Judah

What are some of the characteristics of the "darker" side of King David?

- Scheming - Lustful - Dishonest - Breaking the 10th commandment over and over - Overindulgent father unwilling to correct his children

what are the key ideas of 1+2 Samuel?

- The institution of Kingship - The process toward establishing a covenant with David's line - The importance of divine kingship

What is the David Covenant?

- There's no contract or shaking of hands but blessings - The moment God says I will make you a house and it will be an eternal one

where was God's presence in 1+2 Samuel?

- With David as he battled Goliath - With Davis and his line as appointed kings - Restored to a central position as the ark which is brought to Jerusalem

What are examples of David's Nonaggression?

- his friendship with Jonathan (Saul's Son) - David's marriage to Saul's daughter: "Michal" - David executed the Amalekite who claimed was responsible for killing Saul

when does the Institution of Monarchy begin?

1 Samuel 7

There were ________(1)________occasions in which David could have ___________(2)___________ Saul and wanted to, but he refused and chose not to

1) 2 2) killed

1) David ________________________ Jerusalem 2) What does David do with Jerusalem?

1) Captured 2) - He took territory that didn't belong to any of the tribes and he made it the "capital" - Makes it a new home for the ark

David's ___________(1)__________ made him an instrument of God's plan David's ___________(2)__________ made him an obstacle

1) Character 2) Flaws

________(1)_________ did not cause Saul's failure but rather Saul _______________________(2)______________________ BEFORE ________(1)_________ even came "on the scene"

1) David 2) Disqualified himself 1) David

How is Saul's Lack of Wisdom shown?

1) Displayed in the bad decisions that he made 2) Shown in how he gave in easily to people's demands

1) What is the major theological purpose of 1+2 Samuel? 2) Where is this found?

1) Gives us the history of the establishment of the Davidic Covenant 2) 2 Samuel 7

What were 2 weakness in Saul's life?

1) He covered his selfishness with a religious cloak 2) Often taking matters into his own hands (disobeyed)

what 2 major things were a result of David's failures?

1) Men acted against him 2) God acted against him

1) What Saul set up for a fall? 2) Why or Why not?

1) No 2) God's knowledge could be causative but He is self-limited meaning that God knows what's going to happen but He still allows us to make a choice

What did the Lord promise to David and how does each promise parallel to Abraham?

1) Promised to make David's name great - Parallel to Abram: God also promised to make A's name great 2) A place where he would plant Israel Parallel to Abraham: promised land 3) He would make the land a place of security Parallel to Abraham: God would curse those who persecuted Abraham (protection over A)

what are the 2 major points in the conflict between Saul and David?

1) Saul's Animosity 2) Davids' Nonagression

what are the 5 main stages of 1+2 Samuel?

1) The Shiloh Traditions 2) The Institution of the Monarchy 3) The Reign of Saul 4) David's Rise to Power 5) David's Failures

1+2 Samuel documents the transition from the ____________________________(1)____________________________ during the time of Joshua and the judges to a strong, ___________________(2)__________________ forged by David and Solomon.

1) loose tribal federation 2) centralized state

what were Samuel's 3 functions?

1) prophet 2) priest 3) judge

The people of Samuel's day saw a king as a way to __________(1)___________ having to wait for the Lord to raise up a deliverer which is what caused the Lord to be ________(2)_________.

1) replace 2) angry

During 1+2 Samuel, Egypt and Mesopotamia were focusing on ____________(1)_____________ and not on ____________(2)_____________so those areas/nations were left to _________________________(3)_________________________.

1) themselves 2) surrounding areas 3) fend for themselves

when was 1 Samuel written?

1050-965

where in 2 Samuel do we see David's success as King?

2 Samuel 5-9

How ling did David rule?

44 years: - 7 years in Hebron - 33 years in Jerusalem

Who were the "Wives of the Sons of the Prophets"

A female prophetic presence among the guild of the "Sons of the prophets"

What happens in 1 Samuel 16-31?

A review of the decline of Saul and the rise of David

What was 1 Samuel 15? Summarize it

A watershed in the history of Israel : - Saul is instructed to demolish and wipe out Amalakites but instead of destroying them, he keeps the best of their goods, doesn't kill the king - God lets Samuel see what happened - God regrets making Saul King - Saul set up a monument for himself in Mt. Carmel - Saul lied to Samuel and says that the best cattle were for sacrifices for the Lord and Saul replies that to obey is better than sacrifice - The Spirit of the Lord LEFT Saul

The death of Saul led ________________ to drive out the Philistines

David

Who is shown to be the legitimate choice of God for King?

David

What happens in 1 Samuel 16:11? Summarize it

David is Anointed with oil from his brothers

What is David asking when he prays, ""Take not your spirit from me"?

David is asking God to not let the same thing that happened to Saul happen to him

What happens in 2 Samuel 21-24?

Displays God taking action against David

What happens in 2 Samuel 13-20?

Displays Human action against David

When were 1+2 Samuel written?

Early part of the 10th Century B.C.

The text establishes that Samuel will not be like who?

Eli's rebellious and evil sons

what timespan do the books cover?

From the transition from the Judges through the establishment of the monarchy (Includes the reigns of Saul and David)

There are kings but _____________ is the one who established and chose the dynasties

God

Who established the Davidic Covenant?

God

What is Divine Fidelity?

God will accomplish his purposes in the midst of human weaknesses

How was David setting a standard when dealing with the Ark?

He establishes that you don't touch the ark or roll it through the city. You CARRY it

The Ark was often treated like what?

Idols

Was the covenant conditional or unconditional?

It is argued that there are no conditions set on the covenant itself but there are conditions placed on how to keep the covenant (aka: rules are set in order to be able to keep the covenant but the covenant itself is not a set of rules)

During this time, Israelite decided to transition into what kind of Government?

Monarchic

What is the primary emphasis of the Succession Narrative?

Not David's bad stuff but the fact that the Bible is looking for someone that will show themselves faithful

What happens in 2 Samuel 6?

Samuel reestablishes the throne of Yahweh

Where was the Ark of the Covenant built?

Sinai under the supervision of Moses

King Solomon was very _________.

Tall

What is the most important religious artifact in Israel?

The Ark of the Covenant

how does the season of the Judges end?

The Ark of the covenant being captured by the Philistines and taken out of the land of Israel

Saul had occasional victories over who?

The Philistines

What does 1 Samuel 16 cover?

The anointing of David

What does the Succession Narrative record?

The battles and victories of David as he extended the boundaries of Israel, and tribute from vassals

What do Chapters 13-15 of 1 Samuel?

The failures of Saul

What idea do chapters 5 and 6 of 1 Samuel shut down?

The idea that bc the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines, their god Dagon was more powerful than the Hebrew God Yahweh

what was the only festival recorded in the books of 1+2 Samuel?

The new moon

What happens in 2 Samuel 10-20?

The succession Narrative

Saul was the __________________ of the problems between him and David

initiator

What was the one thing Samuel was NOT?

king

what is the purpose of 1+2 Samuel?

To tell the story of the establishment of the kingship covenant with David