1 Samuel Pt. 1

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The Book of 1 Samuel

Background and Introduction

Authorship and setting
Author unknown
Covers period from judges to death of Saul
simultaneous with judgeship of Samson
contended with Philistines
sent to oppress Israel for 40 years Judges 13:11
parallel between Samson and Samuel, both Nazarites born of once-barren mothers.
Early chapters in dark time of judges

Purpose and Theological Theme

YHWH the true KING of Israel raises up the king after His own heart

I. The Final Judge of Israel (1 Samuel 1:1-7:17)

1. The Call of Samuel (1:1-3:21)

A. Birth and Dedication of Samuel (1:1-1:28)

Opens with a drama regarding two Levite families
1 Samuel 1:1–3: “1 Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 Now he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now that man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to Yahweh there.”
Elkanah and two wives, Hannah and Peninnah
polygamy painted negatively
Elkanah of the family of Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:33-38)
Shiloh - where Tabernacle was located
Second levite family - priests Eli, Hophni and Phinehas
Beginning in verse 6, we meet Elkanah and his family at the Tabernacle,
1 Samuel 1:6–10: “6 Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her because Yahweh had closed her womb. 7 And so it would happen year after year, as often as she went up to the house of Yahweh, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh. 10 And she, bitter of soul, prayed to Yahweh and wept despondently.
Reminiscent of Leah and Rachel conflict between wives
Bitterness of soul - marat - tie to Ruth
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Instead of bitterly proclaiming God's sovereign hand over her state of suffering, Hannah turns to the sovereign God in prayer and weeping, vs. 11
1 Samuel 1:11“11 And she made a vow and said, “O Yahweh of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a seed amongst men, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”
Prays knowing who is sovereign over her situation - YHWH of hosts - King of heavenly armies
He has the power to meet her needs - to help her hopelessness
Prays knowing her station - maidservant - humbly servers her KING
Prays with faith - remembers God’s past faithfulness
Look on affliction - act as He did forIsrael afflicted in Egypt
Exodus 3:7: “7 And Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sufferings.”
Remember me - just as He Remembered Rachel
Genesis 30:22: “22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.”
She addresses Yahweh of hosts, cosmic ruler, sovereign of every and all power
assumes that the broken heart, though full of faith, of a relatively obscure woman in the hill country of Ephraim matters to him.”
Key theme in scripture: Remembering God’s faithfulness kindles hope for His future faithfulness
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Meanwhile, the great High Priest of Israel, Eli, has no idea what is going on with this woman praying before the Tabernacle, vs. 12,
1 Samuel 1:12–14: “12 Now it happened, as she multiplied her praying before Yahweh, that Eli was watching her mouth. 13 As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart; only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk.”
The Priest’s blindness - lack of perception - thinks that she is drunk
assumes what he knows as normal - Praying in the Temple should have been an everyday occurrence. Sadly, what Eli likely saw more often was the bumbling, incoherent ramblings of the inebriated
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But in verse 19, we see Hannah's prayer answered, ‌
1 Samuel 1:19–20:“19 Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh and turned back and came to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her. 20 Now it happened in due time that Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh.”
YHWH remembered her
This language brings the idea of placing particular thought and care upon a person, placing Hannah in the forefront of His mind
First seen with Noah
Genesis 8:1“1 Then God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.”
used for Abraham (Genesis 19:29),
Israel in Egypt (Exodus 2:24)
Recognizes this reality in naming her son
Samuel - “God hears” - Because I have asked YHWH -
God remembered, her heard her ask, He answered
Important lesson here
“God’s tendency is to make our total inability his starting point. Our hopelessness and our helplessness are no barrier to his work.
This is how God works - When his people are without strength, without resources, without hope—then He loves to stretch forth his hand from heaven.
If you feel like a helpless sheep, have hope, the Good Shepherd is your help and strength

B. Hannah’s Song (2:1-10)

Hannah bursts into a theologically rich song
Paradigm for understanding the theme and narrative of 1&2 Samuel
It is divided into three stanzas, beginning with verses 1-3,
1 Samuel 2:1–3: “1 Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in Yahweh; My horn is exalted in Yahweh; My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I am glad in Your salvation. 2 “There is no one holy like Yahweh; Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3 “Do not multiply speaking so very proudly; Let arrogance not come out of your mouth; For Yahweh is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.”
rejoices in heart (seat of emotion) and horn (ram’s horn symbol of strength)
exults not in self but in YHWH with her entire personhood
Derides enemies - exulting in the Lord repudiates what Peninnah trusted in: her own might
Her Rock - source of strength and the foundation in Whom she can trust.
Hannah knows the Word, and knows the Lord of the Word
This phrase is a direct reference to the Song of Moses, Deuteronomy 32,
Deuteronomy 32:30–31: “30 “How could one pursue one thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And Yahweh had handed them over? 31 “Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this.”
Don’t Multiply speech - literally tall, tall speech - anticipates arrogance of tall characters
height, might encourage human autonomy - contrast to the true strength of the Rock
God of knowledge -
Man might look at height or strength
knows the hearts of men
​
Hannah then looks beyond her situation of Divine reversal to sing about how God will accomplish this work throughout His creation vs. 4,
1 Samuel 2:4–6: “4 “The bows of the mighty are shattered, But those who stumble gird on strength. 5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to hunger. Even the barren gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes. 6 “Yahweh puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.”
Reversal
Hamilton notes that this is the foundational verse of 1 Samuel.
God break down the mighty and the strong and raise the feeble and lowly.
mighty shattered/stumbling strengthened
well-fed starve/starving fed
Why Proud stumble and grace to the humble? YHWH is the Reverser,
He has all the authority
Kingly authority over life and death
This reference again is a reference to the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32,
Deuteronomy 32:39: “39 ‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.”
seed of resurrection theology here
He has the Divine power to reverse even death itself
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parallel stanza compared to the previous three verses in verses 7-10.
repetition of God's authority to reverse.
But this stanza concludes with something different, with a future looking - eschatological statement about the King, verse 7
1 Samuel 2:7–10: “7 “Yahweh makes poor and rich; He brings low; He also exalts. 8 “He raises the poor from the dust; He exalts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of glory; For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s, And He set the world on them.
Who has the authority to make one poor or rich? The KING.
Who has the power to raise the poor and exalt the needy to a position of glory? The KING.
What is the basis for His authority and power? He is the God who created the universe.
foundations of the earth belong to who? The KING.
He's the One who made it all, and so He is the One who rules it all.
Verses 9-10 shift to look forward to God's ultimate reversal, vs. 9,
1 Samuel 2:9–10: “9 “He keeps the feet of His holy ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness, For not by power shall a man prevail. 10 “Those who contend with Yahweh will be dismayed; Against them He will thunder in the heavens; Yahweh will render justice to the ends of the earth, And He will give strength to His king, And He will exalt the horn of His anointed.”
accomplish the salvation of His set-apart ones - keep feet from stumbling
have victory over the wicked - shut up in utter darkness
Why? It is not by their power that men prevail.
Those who trust in their strength will be brought down.
Those who trust in the Lord will be preserved
In the end justice will be accomplished throughout all the earth
YHWH will empower His King
exalt His anointed - His Messiah.
This mention of YHWH's Messiah is the first in Scripture. He is the King who will accomplish the salvation of YHWH's holy ones and establish justice throughout YHWH's creation
Dale Davis, “Hannah’s relief is a sample of the way Yahweh works (vv. 4–8) and of the way he will work when he brings his kingdom in its fullness (vv. 9–10). The saving help Yahweh gave Hannah is a foretaste, a scale-model demonstration of how Yahweh will do it when he does it in grand style.
Each one of Christ’s flock should ingest this point into his or her thinking. Every time God lifts you out of the miry bog and sets your feet upon a rock is a sample of the coming of the kingdom of God, a down payment of the full deliverance, the macro-salvation that will be yours at last

C. Eli’s Sons (2:11-36)

The narrative shifts to focusing on the second Levitical family of Eli and his sons, vs. 12,
1 Samuel 2:12–13: “12 Now the sons of Eli were vile men; they did not know Yahweh. 13 And this was the legal judgment for the priests with the people: when any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s young man would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.”
Priests who did not know YHWH
Vile men - lit. Sons of Bilial - seeds of the serpent
Violated God’s sacrifice
Take the sacrificial meal from the pot (vs. 14), consume the fat of the sacrifice (which belonged to God) (vs 16), threaten the offerers with violence (vs 16)
Contrasted with Samuel’s work in the Temple, vs 21
1 Samuel 2:18: “18 Now Samuel was ministering before Yahweh, as a young boy girded with a linen ephod.”
Ministered - the work of the Priest before God
Exodus 28:1“1 “Now as for you, bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priests to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.”
Ephod - clothed as a priest
Samuel continues to grow before YHWH and Hannah’s reversal continues, vs 26
1 Samuel 2:21: “21 Yahweh indeed visited Hannah; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the young boy Samuel grew before Yahweh.”
Interjection about Samuel surrounded with report of sins of Eli’s sons, vs 22
1 Samuel 2:22–23: “22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things, the evil things that I hear from all these people?”
Lay with virgin women serving at Tabernacle
One son’s namesake Phineas righteously impaled an Israelite fornicating with Moabite woman in front of the Tabernacle (Num 25:1-9)
Eli hears of this sin and just asks why?
As Eli’s sons grow in their wickedness, Samuel continues to grow before YHWH and the people, vs 26,
1 Samuel 2:26: “26 Now the young boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with Yahweh and with men.”
On the heels of a miraculous birth, a theological prayer of praise of the mother, and a scene in the House of God, we have this statement, “growing in stature and in favor both with Yahweh and with men”
​
After this interjection about Samuel, a prophet enters the scene to reveal God’s word regarding the priesthood of Eli and his descendants, vs 30
1 Samuel 2:30–34: “30 “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever’; but now Yahweh declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be cursed. 31 ‘Behold, the days are coming, and I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s house so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 ‘And you will look upon the distress of My habitation, in spite of all the good that I do for Israel; and an old man will not be in your house all the days. 33 ‘Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will be put to death in the prime of life. 34 ‘Now this will be the sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will be put to death.”
The priestly line of Aaron split in two branches - Eleazar and Ithamar
Eli descendant from Ithamar - ultimately removed by Solomon (1 Kings 2:26-27)

D. God’s Call (3:1-21)

After this prophecy the narrative shifts focus back onto Samuel in chapter 3. Verse 1,
1 Samuel 3:1–3: “1 Now the young boy Samuel was ministering to Yahweh before Eli. And word from Yahweh was rare in those days; visions were infrequent. 2 And it happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to fade, and he could not see well), 3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of Yahweh where the ark of God was,”
As we saw at the end of chapter 2, God's word no longer came to or through Eli. Here, we see that it was rare, visions were infrequent, and the light that is God's revelation seemed to be dimming as fast as Eli's eyesight.
Samuel, taking the place of ministering to YHWH from Eli’s sons
Light not gone out
Symbolic of the dimming of the Eli’s ability
Demonstrating Eli’s failure - He was to keep the Lamp burning continuously but he’s asleep in his own house
Samuel, doing the job, residing in God’s house
It is there that God calls Samuel, vs 4,
1 Samuel 3:4–5: “4 that Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; go back, lie down.” So he went and lay down.”
Samuel hears YHWH’s call
Eli doesn’t see until after YHWH calls Samuel 2 more times.
After receiving instruction from Eli on what he should do when YHWH calls, Samuel goes back and waits for YWHW, vs 10,
1 Samuel 3:10: “10 Then Yahweh came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
Here we have the double call of God to His slave
Moses, Moses - burning bush (Ex 3:4) who is called the “servant of YWHW” (Deut 34:5)
Raising up of a prophet like Moses (Deut 18:15)
Gives message for Eli that fulfillment of prophet from chapter 2 is coming
Eli is indifferent to his message, vs 18,
1 Samuel 3:18: “18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is Yahweh; let Him do what seems good in His eyes.”
Not a pious accepting statement - no repentance, no desire to intercede as priest for his sons like Moses did for Israel
Samuel is recognized from this point forward as the prophet of the Lord, vs 20
1 Samuel 3:20–21: “20 So all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of Yahweh. 21 And Yahweh appeared again at Shiloh, because Yahweh revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.”
From this beginning, it is evident that the ruler of Israel is not man, not Eli the priest, but YHWH who reverses the situation of Hannah and raises up his prophet Samuel

2. The Ark of God (4:1-7:17)

A. The Ark Captured (4:1-5:12)

However in the next 3 chapters, Samuel fades into the background
Israel’s conflict with the Philistines sets the background for this episode in Samuel
Samuel’s absence in 4-6 is intentional
Shows what happened when God’s prophet was not yet leading and God’s Word was not yet listened to
Two battles surround the inner-narrative of the Ark of God in Philistia
Battle of Aphek is recounted, vs 1
1 Samuel 4:1–2“1 Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines arranged themselves to meet Israel. Then the battle spread, and Israel was defeated before the Philistines who struck down about 4,000 men on the battlefield.”
Aphek in region of Shiloh
Philistines heading for the Tabernacle - source of Israel’s identity
Victory at House of God would demonstrate superiority of their gods over Israel’s God
Israel was promptly defeated by the Philistines - struck down - literally smitten by them
This causes Israel to ponder their defeat, vs 3
1 Samuel 4:3a: “3 Then the people came into the camp, and the elders of Israel said, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines?
Rightly concluded that it was YHWH who defeated them
Instead of answering their question, instead of realizing it was for their corruption and idolatry, they come to a foolish conclusion, 3b,
1 Samuel 4:3b-4:“Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.”
Wrongly conclude that God is a lucky rabbit’s foot who they forgot to bring along
YHWH will be forced to grant them victory to protect his honor - To have God’s furniture is to have God’s power
Davis, “When we, whether Israelites or Christians, operate this way, our concern is not to seek God but to control him, not to submit to God but to use him. So we prefer religious magic to spiritual holiness; we are interested in success, not repentance”
Ark of covenant of YHWH of hosts
Contrast with Hannah who humbly pleaded with YHWH of Hosts to look on her affliction
Cursed sons of Eli carry the ark to battle…
Presence of the Ark causes Philistines to fear, vs 7
1 Samuel 4:7–8“7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8 “Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.”
contrast Israel’s irreverence with Philistine’s fear in the presence of YHWH
Woe as they remember the plagues of the Exodus
But Israel’s foolish plan fails, vs 10,
1 Samuel 4:10–11: “10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel 30,000 foot soldiers. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.”
Israel planned to bring the ark as a key to victory, YHWH uses is to cary out his purpose of bringing Hophni and Phineas to death
News of Ark capture causes Eli to go into shock, fall of his chair and break his neck
Eli the failed priest and judge is dethroned - The Lord brings low, and topples those who are full and fat
In one fell swoop God has cleaned out the house of Eli
Scene ends with the birth of Eli’s grandson, vs 21,
1 Samuel 4:21: “21 And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.”
Ichabod - literally “where is the glory” or “the glory has been exiled”
Ark was the Throne of the Lord, His glory descended upon it
Capture of the ark meant the exile of YHWH’s glory
Commentator James Jordan notes that “the Mosaic tabernacle, once destroyed, was never put back together again. During David’s reign, the Mosaic tabernacle was set up at Gibeon (1 Chr. 16:37–39), but the ark was never put back inside.” The Tabernacle without the Ark was merely a beautiful tent.
As a foreshadow of Israel’s future, God brings covenant curses on Israel and deploys His Philistine hosts against His rebellious people - destroying the Tabernacle in the process

B. The Ark in Philistia (5:1-12)

Ark in Philistia, set before their chief god Dagon - fish-god - as a war trophy
Dagon has defeated YHWH, or so they thought, vs 3,
1 Samuel 5:3: “3 Then the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, and behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.”
As at the first Passover, God defeats the foreign idols at night
Dagon bows before YHWH
So strong and mighty that he needs divine paramedics to help him from his fall,
Dagon didn’t couldn’t stay upright, vs 4
1 Samuel 5:4“4 But they arose early the next morning, and behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.”
head of Dagon - decapitated, their dead idol is dead dead
Allusion to the crushing of the head of the serpent - first of many head wounds
Cuts off hands - Dagon has no strength or ability
God doesn’t need the mighty and strength of Israel’s armies
Not content to crush and dismember their God
Carried out His victory throughout the land of Philistia
YHWH’s exile turned into a victory procession in the land of the enemy
The presence of the Ark brings plagues upon the cities of the Philistines, vs 6
1 Samuel 5:6“6 Now the hand of Yahweh was glorious against the Ashdodites, and He made them desolate and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.”
Who’s hand is powerful? Dagon doesn’t have hands anymore - The glorious hand of YHWH
Tumors mentioned with the boils of the Egyptian plague
Deuteronomy 28:27“27 “Yahweh will strike you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed.”
Send the ark around the country, trying to decrease God’s power as they move him further from Israel,
plague follows God’s presence throughout Philistia
Is there anywhere in Philistia that the KING does not have dominion over?
Philistines come to the conclusion that they need to send the Ark back, vs 11
1 Samuel 5:11“11 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it will not put us and our people to death.” For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very glorious there.”
Israel can’t comprehend or understand or revere God and His glory
Contrast with Philistines fear and understand the glory of the presence of God

C. The Ark Returned (6:1-7:1)

Recalling the Exodus, the Philistine priests warned that the Ark should be returned with treasure, vs 4
1 Samuel 6:3–6 “3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but you shall surely return to Him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not turned away from you.” 4 Then they said, “What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to Him?” And they said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 “So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that bring the land to ruin, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will ease His hand from you, your gods, and your land. 6 “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had abused them, did they not allow the people to go, and they went?”
Guilt offering - understood that they had trespassed against God
According to Leviticus 5-6, the guilt offering was prescribed for trespassing with God’s holy things
They acted thus for they feared the outcome of Egypt.
Instead of hardening hearts like Pharaoh
Give glory to the God of Israel
Contrast this with Israel’s actions
Moses implored Israel to remember God’s mighty hand for them in Egypt - they forgot
Their failure to remember is seen by their incompetence when the ark arrives, vs 15,
1 Samuel 6:14–15: “14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stood there, and a large stone was there; and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to Yahweh. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of Yahweh and the box that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to Yahweh.”
Beth Shemish was a Levitical city given to the family of Aaron (Joshua 21:13-16)
promising place to receive the ark
Violated instructions for burnt offerings by slaughtering female cows instead of males (Lev 1:3)
Took down the ark, put it on a rock, instead of covering it immediately (Num 4:5).
Then they commit the most henious of violations, vs 19,
1 Samuel 6:19“19 Then He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.”
Apparently some of the men there failed to obey the Priestly instructions for handling the ark of Numbers 4,
Numbers 4:20 “20 but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.”
Just as the Philistines struck down Israel, these irreverent Levites were struck down by YHWH
At the beginning, they treat the ark as a talisman, to twist God for their purposes and they get struck down by the Philistines
When the ark comes back they treat it as a spectacle for their entertainment and they get struck down by YHWH
Instead of repenting, the Levites in Beth Shemesh act like the Philistines and try to get rid of the Ark, vs 20,
1 Samuel 6:20–7:1“20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down and take it up to you.”
Who is able to stand before the Holy King? Not dead Dagon, not plagued Philistia, and not irreverent Israel

D. The Judgeship of Samuel (7:2-17)

1. Israel’s Repentance (7:1-4)

As the Ark comes to a resting place with the Levite Eleazar at the Gibeonite city of Kiriath-Jearim, Samuel enters the stage, vs 2
1 Samuel 7:2–4 “2 Now it happened from the day when the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; it was twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh. 3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are to return to Yahweh with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and set your hearts toward Yahweh and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served Yahweh alone.”
After over two decades of preaching and calling Israel to repentance Israel finally hears the message
Israel was lamenting and mourning, Samuel called them to tangible actions of repentance, remove the idols and return to YHWH.

2. The Battle of Ebenezer (7:5-17)

At Aphek Philistines hear of the Ark and fear
At Ebenezer, Israel was the army to hear and fear, vs 7
1 Samuel 7:7L“7 Then the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah. And the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. Then the sons of Israel heard it and were afraid of the Philistines.”
At Aphek Israel merely summoned the presence of YHWH to ensure their victory
At Ebenezer they ask Samuel to cry out to YHWH their God, vs 8
1 Samuel 7:8 “8 So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to Yahweh our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
At Aphek, Philistines heard, feared and then attacked
At Ebenezer, Israel heard, feared and prayed and God heard and answered, vs 9
1 Samuel 7:9-10: “9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh; and Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel.”
Instead of being struck down by the Philistines, the Philistines were struck down by YHWH’s thunder
Song of Hannah - 1 Samuel 2:10“10 “Those who contend with Yahweh will be dismayed; Against them He will thunder in the heavens; Yahweh will render justice to the ends of the earth, And He will give strength to His king, And He will exalt the horn of His anointed.””
Instead of the glory leaving Israel, Samuel raises up an Ebenezer, vs 12,
1 Samuel 7:12“12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer. And he said, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.”
Ebenezer - the Rock of help
Echo back to the song of his mother - 1 Samuel 2:1–2“1 Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in Yahweh; My horn is exalted in Yahweh; My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I am glad in Your salvation. 2 “There is no one holy like Yahweh; Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”
This victory marked complete reversal of the conquest of the Philistines, vs 13
1 Samuel 7:13–15“13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 Thus Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.”
The outcome of Ebenezer was different because the leadership was different
Aphek happened in the midst of Eli’s failure and his son’s wickedness
Ebenezer happened in the midst of godly grief and true repentance
The result of Samuel’s judgeship: restoration of all that was lost and peace from Philistia

Excursus ‌on a Biblical Theology of Kingship

Adam
Abraham
Judah
Balaam’s prophecy
Moses’ Law
Hannah’s song

II. The Peoples’ King (1 Samuel 8:1-15:35)

1. Transition to the Monarchy (8:1-12)

Theocracy to monarchy, vs. 4,
1 Samuel 8:4–5“4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.””
question: what’s wrong with this request?
Intro to Law of the King, Deuteronomy 17
Deuteronomy 17:14–15: “14 “When you enter the land which Yahweh your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom Yahweh your God chooses, one from among your brothers you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your brother.”
Divinely inspired situation - so why is Samuel grieved? vs 7,
1 Samuel 8:7: “7 Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.”
They have rejected YHWH from being their king - a coup, vs 19
1 Samuel 8:19–20: “19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
Evil desire to have a king to judge and fight, instead of God and His judges - one after their own choosing
Window dressed with language of scripture

2. Saul Made King (9:1-12:25)

A. Saul's Search (9:1-10:27)

And so, God gives them the king they deserve, chapter 9:1
1 Samuel 9:1–2: “1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 2 Now he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.”
illustration of the sons of all-star athletes
Here is the king they want
handsome - GQ Israel’s Man of the Year
Taller than all the people
Is he mighty?
Father’s Lost donkeys - searches all over Israel
they are 100 yards from home
Good or bad tender of livestock - shepherd?
During search, providentially encounters Samuel who anoints him with oil and provides signs of his anointing as king.
All signs come to pass
Samuel assembles Israel to crown their king, Chapter 10:21,
1 Samuel 10:21–22“21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but they looked for him, and he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired further of Yahweh, “Has the man come here yet?” So Yahweh said, “Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.”
Can’t find their king
Hiding by the baggage
Find him and present him before the people, vs 24,
1 Samuel 10:24: “24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom Yahweh has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
do you see?
No one like him
a few nay-sayers
1 Samuel 10:27: “27 But certain vile men said, “How can this one save us?” And they despised him and did not bring him any present. But he kept silent.”

B. Saul’s Test (11:1-15)

Faces first test of kingship when his own relatives are attacked Chapter 11:1,
1 Samuel 11:1–2“1 And Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Cut a covenant with us, and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will cut it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel.”
Jabesh-gilead - 400 virgins from this town taken by Benjamin to be wives (Judges 21:1-14).
Disingenuous covenant Gouge out right eye
Where is the King? Fight their battles? vs 5,
1 Samuel 11:5: “5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.”
Has no idea what is happening in his kingdom - too busy farming
Spirit of God fills Saul
empowers him to unite Israel against Ammonites
Spares the nay-sayers
1 Samuel 11:12–13“12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today Yahweh has accomplished salvation in Israel.”
interesting mercy toward the discedent

C. Samuel’s Sermon (12:1-25)

Battle against ammonites gives Samuel an occasion to address the people.
recounts Israel’s history under the rule of Moses, Aaron and the judges
pattern of giving into hand of enemies, crying out, YHWH send judge to save them, vs 11,
1 Samuel 12:11–13“11 “Then Yahweh sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security. 12 “But you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, and you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ although Yahweh your God was your king. 13 “So now, behold, the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for, and behold, Yahweh has set a king over you.”
You wanted something different - Got the same situation as the judges with this King who takes and takes
Concludes his judgeship of Israel - Gives instruction and warning, vs 24
1 Samuel 12:24–25“24 “Only fear Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for see what great things He has done for you. 25 “But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away.””
Fear, serve in truth, all your heart
see - not what is right in their eyes, but the great things of YHWH
still do wickedly - swept away - exile. Christ Connection
The Defeat at Aphek, merely a prelude to the victory of YHWH who takes on the curse for His people in order to bring about their salvation
According to Deut 28, Israel’s curse for their idolatry and utter wickedness should have ended in exile
Deuteronomy 28:64“64 “Moreover, Yahweh will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which you or your fathers have not known.”
Instead of Israel going into exile, God did.
YHWH took the curse of the covenant for His people
YHWH defeated their enemies, made their god bow down to him before crushing his head
YHWH then returns in an Exodus to the Promised Land full of treasure and brings them definitive victory, salvation, restoration, and peace
These two battles surround the center story of an early preview of God’s work of penal substitution
Hamilton notes, “For that object (the Ark), that represents Israel’s guilt, to experience the curse of the covenant, there is a pattern here that prefigures what is going to happen to Jesus.”
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