First Book Samuel

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First Book Samuel THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE EDITION . THE FIRST BOOK OP SAMUEL. BY THE REV. F. MARSHALL, M.A. (Late Exhibitioner of St. John's Coll•~•. Cambridge), Rtctor o/ Mileham, formerly Vice-Principal of the Training College, Carmartli,.,._ 1>nd lately Head M,..t,r of Almondbury Gr1>mmar School. First Edition, 1891. Seventeen Editions and Impressions to 1932 . LONDON: GEORGE GILL & SONS, LTD., MINERVA HOUSE, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, E.C-4- CANAAN . 1 ~() ____ .~ l.n@ish lliles. · · -- I. 35 36 M AP TO ILLUSTRATE THE FIRST BooK OF SAMUEL. PREFACE. THE First Book of Samuel is one of a series of manuals on the books of the Old· Testament, which are primarily _intended for the use of Students preparing for the Local Examinations of the Unil'ersities of Cxford and Cambridge, The Introduction treats fully of the several subjects with which the Student shoulq be acquainted, comprising full Geographical and Biographical Notes, and other important details, which are clearly set forth in the Table of Contents. The special features in the narrative are fully commented upon, The chief alterations of the Revised Version are pointed out in footnotes, the Student being referred to the Revised Version. In the Appendix will be found (1) a Commentary upon the most important differences between the Authorised and Revised Versions, the alterations being _pointed out and explanations given of the reasons for the changes ; (2) an Explanation of words and phrases, thus avoiding constant reference to the tex~ and notes The general arrangement of the series will, it is believed, be found helpful to Teachers and Students. Each manual is illustrated with the necessary Maps. Each volume is complete in itself, requmng from the Student no reference to Atlas, Biblical Dictionary, or other aids, Works of Reference useful for Students, and referred to (among _others) in this Work: Smith's Dictiona17 of the Bible. The Land and the Book (Thomson), The Holy Bible with notes (Bishop Words­ Sinai and Palestine (Stanley). worth), Lectures on the Jewish Church (Stanley). The Speaker's Commentary. Keil's Commentary. The Old Testament Commentary for Pearson on the Oreed (Art. ii.), English Readers (Ellicott). Undesigned Coincidences (Blunt). Israel under Samuel, Saul and David (Dr, Heroes of Hebrew History (Wilberforce). Edersheim ). History of Israel (Ewald), Early History of the Hebrews (Sayce ). The Land of Israel (Tristram), 'lible Illustrations (Kitto) Bible Rese&rc~ (Robinson). F.H, CONTENTS. -+- Introduction to the First Book of Samuel­ THE TITLE THE AUTHOR ... vi" THE DESIGN OF THE WRITER vi DATE vii SCOPE OF THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL viii SOURCES OF THE NARRATIVE viii THE ARK ix THE GOD OF THE HEATHEN xi PROPHETS AND PROPHESYIKG xi SACRIFICES xiii HISTORICAL SUMMARY xiv THE DAYS OF ELI xiv THE FAMILY OF ELI xv THE DAYS OF SAMUEL xvi THE DAYS OF SAUL xxii THE FAMILY OF SAUL xxxi THE DAYS OF DAVID xxxiv HIS CHARACTER AND PEUSONAL QUALITIF.S xxxiv HIS EARLY LIFE XXXV HIS LIFE AT COURT ... XXXV DAVID IN EXILE xx:xvii THE FAMILY OF JESSE xliii GEOGRAPHICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES xlv THE LAND xiv NATIONS AND TRIBES ... xlvii GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES !viii BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ... lxxxiii ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST BOOK 01' SAMUEL xciii The First Book of Samuel, Marginal and Footnotes l Comments on the Revised Version 105 Words. and Phrases Explained ... 118 Passages Illustrative of First Book of Samuel 130 Appendix 13-! Genealogical Tables- THE FAMILY OF ELI xv THE FAMILY OF SAUL XXX THE FAMILY OF JESSE xiii Maps- CANAAN TO ILLUSTRATE THE FIRST BOrJK OF SA~IU EL ii To ILLUSTRATE THE WANDERINGS OF DAVID xxxvi PALESTINE, PHYSICAL xliv To ILLUSTRATE WARS WITH THE PHILISTINES lvi PLAIN OF ESDRAELON lxvii! CANAAN AMONG THE TRIBES 104 INTRODUCTION. THE TITLE. THE FIRST BOOK 01'' SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED, THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. To understand the double title we must consider the two Books of Samuel along with the two Books of Kings. In the Hebrew MSS. we find two books, not/our, viz. : I. and II. Samuel as one book. I. and II. Kings as one book. And these books are under different names. In the Septuagin~ the books are divided and regarded as/our books on the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, i.e. : Hebrew. Septuagint. First Book of Samuel becomes First Book of Kings. Second Book of Samuel becomes Second Book of Kings. First Book of Kings becomes 'l'hird Book of Kings. Second Book of Kings becomes Fourth Book of Kings. The Vulgate follows the same division as the Septuagint. The Authorised Version follows the Septuagint in dividing the books into four, but retains the Hebrew names of Samuel and Kings. Thus we get an explanation of the double title. First Book of Samuel= the first portion of the Hebrew \\Titing, styled in their MSS. the Book of Samuel. First Book of Kings =the first portion of the four divisions into which the writers of the Septuagint divided the Hebrew books of Samuel and Kings. Either title is appropriate, for as both Saul and David were anointed by Samuel, the books-or rather, book-of Samuel may appropriately bear the name of the great prophet: not because he wrnte it, but because it describes his great work. The title, "First Book of Kings," may also be regarded as appropriate if we view the work in the light of its being a record of the foundation of the monarchy. N.B.-In dealing with many questions, such as Date, Authorshrp, etc., it will be necessary to r~>!.rd the two books as a connected whole. VJ. THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL THE AUTHOR.. The Book must be regarded as a compilation from various sources. It cannot be the work of Samuel entirely, even if he wrote a portion of the book, for his death is recorded in chap. xxv. 1. There is no indication to guide us in assigning the compilation to any particular writer, and it is not probable that Samuel himself wrote any portion of the book. The Books of Samuel are evidently the work of one and the same writer, THE DESIGN OF THE WRITER., The history of Israel may be divided into three great periods : I. The Theocracy. Commencing with the call of Abraham (as a family), and by the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (as a nation). Ending with the overthrow of the worship at Shiloh by the Philistines. 11. The Monarchy, Commencing with the establishment of the House of David upon the throne. Saul is the first to have the title of king, but the monarchy proper does not commence till the reign of David. l!}nding with the destruction of Solomon's Temple by the Babylo• nian armies. III. The Hierarchy. Commencing at the return from the Babylonish CaptivitJ, Ending with the destruction of the last Temple of Jerusa \em by the Romans. The Books of Samuel, especially the First, deal with the transition period between the fall of the Theocracy and the establishment of the Monarchy. It is the design of the writer to show how this came about according to the Divine plan. He does not attempt to give a full historical account of the period, but l'Ontents himself by selecting events which illustrate his purpose, e.g. : 1. Eli's Judgeship. Nothing more is told us than the overthrow of the Tabernacle services at Shiloh and the causes which led to it, viz., the decay of the national and religious life, and particularly the degradation of the services of the Sanctuary through the greed and immorality of the sons of Eli. _ 2. The Life of Samuel. Very little is said of the details of his work. His early life is given fully, to show why and how he was called and prepared for his great work in reviving the religious feeling of the nation. 8. Saul. Much of his reign is purposely omitted. The circumstances of his election are given in detail, as being needed to illustrate the inauguration of the Monarchy. Sufficient of his exploits is recorded to show that the choice of Saul was a wise one for the purpose of leading the people to victory. He was worthy to be king, but he was a king after the people's heart. The causes which led to his rejection are fully recorded, to show that such a king is not the ideal monarch after God's heart. bAtit. Vll" 4c. David. The latter part of Saul's reign may t:Je regarded as a history of the preparation of David for the great honour of establishing the permanent dynasty. Saul is not mentioned in this period save in oonnection with David. Even the death of the king on Mount Gilboa is connected with his youthful rival. Saul's death opened the way to the throne for David. The Second Book of Samuel deals with David's reign and the establishment of the Monarchy on a permanent basis. Viewing the history in this light we can clearly grasp the design of the writer. He is concerned not with a history of the times, but in selecting events which point out the great purposes of Jehovah in guiding the for­ tunes of His chosen people. DATE. The Earliest Period that can be assigned is after the division of the kingdom. Reasons: I. There are various references to a period later than the recorded events, e.g.- (a) The priests of Dagon do not "tread on the threshold of Dagon in A,hdod unto this day " ( v. 6 ). (b) The stone Abel is said to remain" unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemite" (vi.
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