10 A CHARACTERIZATION OF SAMUEL IN TERMS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL OF ERIKSON A thesis submitted to the UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS by GUENEVERE BURKE BA (Hons) This work has not been previously submitted in whole, or in part, for theUniversity award of any degree. ofIt is myCape own work. TownEach significant contribution to, and quotation in this dissertation from the work, or works, of other people has been attributed and has been cited and referenced. Department of Hebrew & Jewish Studies University of Cape Town Rondebosch South Africa January 2004 The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town 11 DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis in honour of my supervisor, PROFESSOR YEHOSHUA GITAY, who retired from the University of Cape Town at the end of 2003. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks and appreciation are extended to: My supervisor, Professor Yehoshua Gitay, for all his dedicated support and unparalleled patience. Professor Susan Kidson for her indefatigable belief in me. Jeanine Beukes for her encouragement and endurance against all the odds. The Kaplan Centre at the University of Cape Town for financial support. 1ll ABSTRACT The story of Samuel forms an integral part of the Hebrew saga, marking the transition from the period of Judges to the Israelite monarchy. Book I of Samuel is unusual in that it portrays the birth, death and major episodes of the prophet's life. In fact, Samuel, along with Moses and Jeremiah, is one of the few characters whose full life history is documented in the Biblical text: we not only have the significant events which lead up to his birth, but he makes an appearance again after his death. Given this detail, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether a re-reading of the character of Samuel through a psychological model can throw fresh insights on how the Israelites effected the transition from a theocracy to a monarchy. The choice of Erikson is motivated by two considerations. In the first, Erikson extended the boundaries of Freudian psychoanalysis by describing both normal as well as abnormal development. His ego-psychology, with its eight-stage developmental plan, its theses and antitheses, is particularly suitable in the case of Samuel, whose life-cycle for the most part can be viewed as problematic, a series of crises. In the second, though he wrote prolifically on numerous leading historical figures and literary characters, Erikson himself never analysed a Biblical figure. This work is, however, not confined to a psychological typification of the character of Samuel. It is intended to be an interdisciplinary study: it deals with the text as an integrated literary unit and relies on the insights of classical Biblical scholarship to support many of its conclusions. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............. ............................................... ii ABSTRACT ........................................................... .............. .......... ............................... iii INTRODUCTION .............................. ... ........................... .... ....................................... 1 Chapter 1: ERIK H ERIKSON AND EGO-PSYCHOLOGY 1.1 Introduction . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 1.2 Erikson and Ego-Psychology ......... ... .... ........................ .................................. 6 1.3 The Life Cycle and the Epigenetic Principle ............................................... 7 1.4 Erikson's Eight Stages of Development 1.4.1 Infancy: Basic Trust versus Mistrust: Hope ................................. 9 1.4.2 Early Childhood: Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt: Will-power . ............... ........... ........... ....... ....... ... ... ... .... .. ...... 10 1.4.3 The Play Age: Initiative versus Guilt: Purpose ... ... .. ... ... ........... .. ............. 12 1.4.4 The School Age: Industry versus Inferiority: Competence ...................... 14 1.4.5 Adolescence: Identity versus Role Confusion: Reliability .................... ... 15 1.4.6 Early Adulthood: Intimacy versus Isolation: Love .. ................................. 17 1.4.7 Adult: Generativity versus Self-Obsession and Stagnation: Care .. .......... 17 1.4.8 Maturity: Ego Integrity versus Despair: Wisdom ..................................... 18 1.5 The Integral Operation of the Eight Stages ......................................................... 19 1.6 Erikson's Concept of Greatness ........................... ... .. ........... .. ... .. ...... ... ............... 21 Chapter 2: THE SOCIAL AND FAMILY ORDER 2.1 Introduction . .... ... ..... ........ ...... ........ ....... .. .... .. .... .. .. ....... ... ... .... ... .... ..... ........ 25 2.2 Contextual Background . ........ ...... ..... .. ....... ... ... ...... .. ... ....... .. ... .. ... .. ... ........ .... 25 2.3 Hannah the Mother................................................... ...... ...................................... 28 2.4 Elkanah the Father ............................................................................................... 37 2.5 Shiloh and Eli the Priest ............................................ .. ... .......... ... ............. ........... 40 Chapter 3: THE "MAN CHILD" SAMUEL 3.1 Introduction ........ ............................ ............ ......................................................... 45 3.2 Annunciation .............................. ......................................................................... 45 3.3 Samuel's Infancy ................................... ...... ..................... .. ......... ..... .. ................. 47 3.4 Separation in Shiloh ... ... ... ........ ... .. ...................................................................... 53 3.5 The Servant of the Temple ............................. ...................... ........ ... ........ .. ....... ... 57 3.6 The Faithful Priest .............. ...................... ..... .. ........... ... ... .. .. ...... .. ....................... 64 3.7 Ramah .............................................................. ..................... ............................... 73 3.8 The Prophet ... ..... ... .. ... ....... .. ........... .... ... ... ........................................................... 78 3.9 Samuel as Military Leader ... ............. ............................................ ...................... 84 3.10 The Question of Samuel's Role as Priest & Judge ................................ ... .......... 85 v Chapter 4: THE MAKER OF KINGS 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 90 4.2 Insurrection ................................ ... ........................ .............................................. 90 4.3 An Ill-fated Alliance .............................. .. .... .......... ........ ... .................................. 99 4.4 A Regal Wrangle ......... .. ................. ..... ... ........ .... ...... ........................................... 105 4.5 The Offensive Against the Philistines ...... .. ........... .. ............................................ 115 4.6 The Offensive Against Amalek ................................ ........................................... 118 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................ 124 Glossary of Psychological Terms .. ................................................. ............................... 129 Bibliography ... ................... ... ....... ......... .. ..... ... ... ..... ... .. ... ......... .. ... .. ....... .. .. .......... .......... 131 INTRODUCTION The making of legend is as much part of the scholarly rewriting of history as it is part ofthe original facts used in the work ofscholars EH Erikson, Young Man Luther, 1958:34 In this study I propose to apply the psychological theory of Erik H Erikson to the character of Samuel as he is depicted in the Hebrew Scriptures. My motivation arose out of two considerations. In the first place, reading through the many psycho biographies written by Erikson and particularly those on religious heroes such as Luther, Kierkegaard and Gandhi, I was struck by the fact that Erikson had never analysed a Biblical figure. I became thoroughly intrigued to see if his ego-psychology could be applied to any of the heroes of the Hebrew Scripture. In discussing the matter with my supervisor, I arrived at the second, the choice of Samuel. Samuel - along with Moses and Jeremiah - is one of the few characters whose full life history is documented in the Biblical text - in fact, we not only have the significant events which lead up to his birth, but he makes an appearance again after his death! The idea of psychology as a method of critical interpretation of the Biblical narrative is not new. A glance at the bibliography ofKille's Psychological Biblical Criticism - eighteen pages - is enough to prove the point (2001: 143-161 ). This work is, however, not confined to a psychological analysis alone. It is intended to be an interdisciplinary study and therefore relies on the insights of classical Biblical scholarship to support many of its