1 Chronicles 6:27 identifies Jeroham, Samuels paternal grandfather, as a Levite. Subsequent details reveal his diminished capacities and casual attitude, indicating a chronic lack of care for his priestly duties. The ancient designation of the two books of Samuel does not indicate that he is the author (in fact, his death is related in 1 Samuel 25) or the hero of the books; indeed, it is difficult to deduce what the title was intended to mean. WebThe boy Samuel grew up in the service of the LORD. Then Eli called Samuel, and said Samuel, my son. On the other hand, Elkanahs worthy portion offering to Hannah seems to be a principal source of the dramatic tension between Hannah and Peninnah, discussed above, and between Elkanah and Hannah that is expressed in Elkanahs first direct speech, discussed below. The king is chosen not by divine election but by lot, implying that no special qualities were required, and the bashful candidate has to be summoned from a hiding place. Eli and sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are mentioned in the initial exposition of the story (1:3), signaling that they will play a key but as yet undefined role in the account of Samuels succession.53 As the drama unfolds, the serious abuses of their priestly positiongluttony of the ritual offering and sexual immoralitybecome the efficient cause of the Lords rejection of Elis house. Following Hannahs song, the narrator begins his detailed condemnation of Elis sons with the epithet: Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial, implying a scathing equivalence of Eli and Belial.52 Further, the narrator observes with biting irony that Elis sons knew not the Lord, even though they are introduced as priests of the Lord (1:3). 65. 69. Characterization. Not in Heaven: Coherence and Complexity in Biblical Narrative (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991); and Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary (New York: W.W. Norton, 2004), ixxlviii, among many others. The story of the birth and vocation of Samuel at the beginning of 1 Samuel is regarded by critics as legendary because of a number of obviously unhistorical features. Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. God gifted Samson with incredible strength, but he lost his strength when Delilah betrayed him to the Philistines, who blinded and enslaved him. Its content not only indicates the overthrow of the priestly authority of the house of Eli and the implicit move to a different sort of authority to be embodied by the prophet Samuel, but it also adumbrates the rather dour and dire role that Samuel will play as leader, in relation to both Israel and to Saul. Alter, Ancient Israel, 256 nn. 24. His novels include The Adventures And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 5:52829. are dependent on the manipulation of a fixed constellation of predetermined motifs. The institution of the monarchy and the election of the king occur according to the will of Yahweh as revealed to Samuel. In contrast to the use of shakab (lie with) in the account of the promiscuity of Elis sons, discussed above, in the account of Samuels divine call, Eli instructs the lad repeatedly to shakab (lie down). See Alter, Art, 8386, for an insightful discussion of this interchange between Hannah and Eli. While paqad implies Gods continuing special favor of and care for Hannah in accordance with the priests final blessing, the verb does not usually have the strong covenant connotations of zakhor (remember).59. Polzin, Samuel, 39, contrasts the rather neutral narrative language of the beginning of the Samuel story with the highly judgmental language on this middle portion, preparing readers for the curse of the house of Eli and corresponding rise of Samuel. As part of her poignant vow, Hannah promises that if the Lord will give her a man child, then she will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life. In both instances, the verb give is translated from the Hebrew nathan. Her first direct speech, for example, expresses her private but poignant vow to God, which defines her lifes purpose and sacred identity: O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look upon the afflictions of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.28 All of her subsequent speeches and actions align with and strengthen her devotional character (see 1:2028; 2:110, 1921). Perhaps embarrassed by his hasty action and complete misjudgment, Eli quickly reverses himself and offers Hannah a blanket blessing, while remaining seemingly unaware of the specific purpose of her supplication.26. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. We learn of what God says to him only by what he, in turn, says to Eli. WebBiography. So, it may be that 1Samuel 13 both influenced and was influenced by the crafting of other biblical stories. The story of Samuels birth and calling is one of many contributions to this core ideological focus of the Hebrew Bible. What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good. Hannahs heartfelt vow begins with the plea to God, look on the affliction of thy handmaid. Although the priest marked her mouth as Hannahs lips moved, Eli does not hear her prayer and grossly misjudges her spiritual intent and therefore her character. 6. 62. Collectively, the expressive elements of a text are called literary conventions, in part because they distinguish the writings of a given author, community, time period, or culture, and in part because they express the ways that groups of readers commonly interpret received texts. Hannah gave Samuel to the priest, Eli, so he could be taught to serve the Lord. While the transition details the woes of Elis house, it also contains five separate references to Samuels progressively faithful service to the Lordat the beginning and end of the transition and periodically throughout (2:11, 18, 21, 26; 3:1a). In their first encounter, Eli accuses Hannah of wanton drunkenness, which she respectfully denies with the plea, Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial (1:16). (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1980), 4:70, hereafter TDOT. 56. QUICK FACTS. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. Shakab contrasts dramatically with yada and connotes physical, temporary, and profane sexual liaisons, undertaken without spiritual purpose, covenant bond, or sacred devotion.58, Leitwrter: remembered and visited. . And the word of Samuel came to allIsrael.. Elkanahs response, Do what seemeth thee good, dismissively concedes her commitment to care for her firstborn. Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 13264. This issue carries significant economic, psychological, and social costs for the families affected. And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men. Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. Type Scene: Barren Wife. Samuel thus appears as a leader in all Israel; his leadership is exercised in war and law, but his authority is basically religious, mostly prophetic, although with some features of priestly authority. Because of his education he was respected by other slaves, and he was a well known preacher and leader. Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy fathers house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. Only the narrators general spiritual indictment of Israel (3:1) and the summary impact of Samuels call upon all Israel (3:194:1a) are expressed in narrative. While both messengers faithfully deliver their respective messages from the Lord, the man of God accomplishes hismission in total anonymity. WebShe praised God when He answered her prayer and gave her a child. This response is identical to Abrahams willing acceptance of the Lords calling at the patriarchs great test of faith.67. That they were young and active gave Samuel a base of power that was physical as well as moral. . Simon, Prophetic Narratives, 3637, 43, systematically compares the miraculous birth narratives of the Hebrew Bible and summarizes this biblical scene type. There are also two different accounts of the rejection of Saul by Samuel. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The same Hebrew root is translated faithful in the prophecy associated with Gods curse upon Elis house: Iwill raise up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind (2:35), suggesting that the author considers Samuel to be the promised priest, who shall walk before mine anointed forever. See also TDOT, 1:296. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the Lord God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. Elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, gada is used in reference to felling trees, particularly groves devoted to the worship of pagan gods, or more generally to destroying anything of value as a consequence of wickedness and as a sign of Gods displeasure (for example, Deuteronomy 7:5; Judges 21:6; 2 Chronicles 14:3; 31:1; Psalms 75:10; 107:16; Isaiah 9:10; 14:12; 15:2; 22:25; 45:2; Jeremiah 48:25; 50:23; Ezekiel 6:6). As portrayed in the text, Elkanah believes that Hannah should be more consoled by his worthy portion than had she born him ten sons.. God, in turn, gives Hannah a man child according to her supplication, who then becomes a prophet unto all Israel. Thus, God manifests his goodness by fulfilling Hannahs vow in ways that she could not possibly have imagined beforehand or accomplished herself. WebSamuel Slater (June 9, 1768 April 21, 1835) was an early English-American industrialist known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution", a phrase coined by Andrew Jackson, and the "Father of the American Factory System".In the United Kingdom, he was called "Slater the Traitor" and "Sam the Slate" because he brought British textile The present study acknowledges but does not address the numerous historiographical issues related to 1 Samuel 13. For example, is Eli, the father, the chief priest in the hereditary office? Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord revealed unto him. WebSaul, along with three of his sons die in a battle with the Philistines. Zakhor carries strong connotations of spiritual identity and covenant commitment, not simply cognitive awareness.30 Thus, when Hannah pleads to the Lord, remember me, and the narrator acknowledges that the Lord indeed remembered her, the resulting blessing of a man child becomes not only the sign of a divine covenant with an individual Hebrew woman but also a source of spiritual development and deliverance for all Israel.31. . And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? This subtle literary convention repeatedly brings attentive readers back to the central focus of the larger narrative. Type Scene: Female Spiritual Initiative. Structuring Devices: Play of Perspectives. The dynamic interplay in the biblical text between narrow and broad perspectives (narrative and dialogue in Alters terms) comes into focus in the third segment of the Samuel story. 45. Type Scene: Chosen Judge. See Alter, Moses, 77 n.2; 131 nn. 9. These details may explain why the man of God specifically refers to Pharaohs house in his condemnation of the house of Eli (2:27). Throughout her victory song, no phrase is independent of another: all combine into either couplets or triads, creating a complex and meaningful unity of the whole and distinguishing the song from the surrounding prose narrative.46, Structuring Devices: Narrative Bridge. Not yet know the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good 1 Chronicles 6:27 identifies,... Gave her a child of thy handmaid grandfather, as a Levite physical as well as moral called! A fixed constellation of predetermined motifs hannahs vow in ways that she could not possibly have imagined beforehand or herself! 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