Samson is one of the most recognizable of the judges who ruled over Israel before the time of the kings. WebIn his 40 years as ruler, between approximately 1010 and 970 B.C.E., he united the people of Israel, led them to victory in battle, conquered land and paved the way for his son, Solomon, to build the Holy Temple. The Hebrew Bible exemplifies many different types of parallelismtoo numerous and complex to summarize here. Type Scene: Barren Wife. . . On the progressive contrast of Elis sons with Hannahs firstborn, see McCarter, I Samuel, 7785. Author of. 2024; 127 n.1; 199200nn; 342 n.14. The result of the action is usually considered enduring and definitive.32 In short, the text projects that her vow to the Lord will be unequivocal and permanent. Once additional characters enter the story, readers become aware of its first type scene: the barren wife. This story does not exhibit the same improbability. 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). Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 13264. Flashbacks of the (2:110), Parallelism. 1. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. is conceived almost entirely as verbal intercourse, with the assumption that what is significant about a character, at least for a particular narrative juncture, can be manifested almost entirely in the characters speech. Alter, Art, 88. If so, why is he not introduced as such at the outset and why does he play such a passive role in the services at Shiloh? Thus, as crafted, the exposition implies that while the story is of central significance to all Israel (see 1 Sam. In essence, it addresses the question, What meanings did the original author(s) intend to communicate in crafting the text in this manner?. The possibility of a covenant perspective, however, cannot be denied and may be profoundly appreciated as we seek to plumb the depths of this remarkable text. 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. Characterization: Messengers of God. I thank Steven Walker, Richard Dilworth Rust, Rex Cooper, and Fred Woods for their helpful comments on prior drafts of this article. 3:21), it begins in virtual obscurity, making its outcome all the more miraculous. David had been shuffled off to his fathers fields to work as a shepherd boy. Visibility. In short, this study adopts the perspective of the eminent historian Alan Heimert: To discover the meaning of any utterance demands what is in substance a continuing act of literary interpretation, for the language with which an idea is presented, and the imaginative universe by which it is surrounded, often tell us more of an authors meaning and intention than his declarative propositions.5 While it may not be possible to determine with complete certainty the authors specific purposes for crafting this account, there is great value in making an attempt.6 To this end, the present literary analysis of 1 Samuel 13 is based on the following general premises.7. This latitude is manifest in a myriad of editorial choices, such as selecting which contents to include or omit; ordering the contents into an account of some kind; linking details of the story in meaningful ways; coloring the account with particular words, phrases, modifiers, and qualifiers; and shaping its settings, characters, and events. continuing to nurture her firstborn throughout his youth, even though she sees him but once a year (2:1819). There must have been some reason why Samuel was important enough to be remembered for a major role in the establishment of the monarchy. Background: Preterm birth continues to be a leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 globally. . Often, though not always, these firsts reveal essential character traits and roles. The patriarchal focus of the introduction is really a Hebrew convention that gives the larger account of Samuel a measure of cultural legitimacy.18. . By contrast, Hannahs firstborn achieves the rare and noble quality of knowing the Lord at the time of his divine call, even though the lad is not yet ordained. An earlier version of this article was presented to the Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego, Calif., November 2225, 2014. Background: Preterm birth continues to be a leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 globally. Samuel, Hebrew Shmuel, (flourished 11th century bc, Israel), religious hero in the history of Israel, represented in the Old Testament in every role of leadership open to a Jewish man of his dayseer, priest, judge, prophet, and military leader. 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. 1807 Houston's mother moves the family to eastern Tennessee. These scenes infer meaningful connections with other individuals and settings in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles that serve as positive and negative exemplars of Gods enduring covenant with his children. And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. all Israel would be divinely blessed for its faithful allegiance to Samuels prophetic direction. WebThe boy Samuel grew up in the service of the LORD. The United States of America vividly remembers Samuel Adams as a key member of the Founding Fathers who penned down their signatures to usher in an independent America. Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: American Founding Father Samuel Adams helped organize the Boston Tea Party and signed the In his masterful study of The Iliad, the great classical scholar James M. Redfield offers an alternate perspective that is central to the present inquiry: Homer does not speak to us when we assign our meanings to his words or when we allow ourselves to be guided by our immediate response to his scenes. James M. Redfield, Nature and Culture in The Iliad: The Tragedy of Hector (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1975), x. And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord., Type Scene: Obedience to Gods Call. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Regardless of her initial vow, following his birth she cannot not be his mother; that is, she cannot give him up in the usual senses of the verb.43 Attempting to do so would be a repudiation of her sacred maternal role. Customary Behavior: Eating/Drinking and Fasting. He is the spokesman of Yahweh in the election both of Saul and of David. 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. Nevertheless, Hannah is not satisfied: she wants a son for herself, but not for selfish reasons. By the revelation of Yahweh, however, he anointed Saul king and installed him before all Israel (chapters 910). (Samuel I, 1) Samsons Life. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. While this verb has several different connotations in biblical Hebrew, the most general is, extend the hand in order to place an object at a specific place or to give it over to another person, with or without compensation, as a possession. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. On cue the next morning, Eli repeatedly demands that his protg share the details of his encounter with God. Houston marries Margaret Lea of Marion, Alabama, a strict Baptist who curbs his drinking and bears his eight children. McCarter, I Samuel, 8693, identifies several literary features of the text which indicate that, as a result of Samuels ministry, Israels future as recounted in the Hebrew Bible will be considerably different than its past. As portrayed in the text, Elkanah believes that Hannah should be more consoled by his worthy portion than had she born him ten sons.. 14. David was young when Samuel found him. Commenting on Elis deficiencies, McCarter, I Samuel, 100, observes, It is time for the apprentice to replace the master. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The key points relevant to the present study are that (1)type scenes are a common literary convention of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, (2)1Samuel 13 shows abundant evidence of the likely intentional use of this convention, and (3)type scenes enhance considerably the spiritual significance of the Samuel account. In the Samuel story, the narrator uses the verb amen, translated establish, in order to prefigure Samuels auspicious priestly career in the voice of his faithful fatheronly the Lord establish his word (1:23)and to launch Samuels public ministry at the storys climax: And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. The Hebrew verb has strong ritual, symbolic, and covenantal connotations, suggesting that: Establish in these contexts provides a categorical contrast with verbs repeated by the man of God in his condemnation of the house of Eli. Genesis 2428, 38; Ruth 14. In this account Samuel is a figure known through all Israel (a term of uncertain meaning at this period); his authority rests on his position as judge. . Like his first direct speech, Elkanahs second utterance is also directed at Hannah at a time when she interrupts his traditional ritual pattern. P. Kyle McCarter Jr., I Samuel: A New Translation with Introduction, Notes, and Commentary, Anchor Bible series, ed. 46. Making sense of the rhetorical, poetic, and structural features of a scriptural text necessitates in-depth and attentive reading, the benefits of which can be enhanced by these additional interpretive skills. Consider, however, the use of paqad in the promised and miraculous birth of Isaac in Genesis 21:12. Inquiring of the oracle would have been a priestly function, and so there is an intimation here of some sort of breakdown in the professional performance of the house of Eli. Repetitions of this kind, especially in the unusually truncated narrative of the Hebrew Bible, focus readers attention on details of great significance to the overall story. and why is thy heart grieved? McCarter, I Samuel, 59 n.3, mentions that both sons names are Egyptian in origin and that Elis lineage traced its right to the priesthood back to Moses. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Thus, the ambivalent and matter-of-fact introduction of the priests at Shiloh implies that while central to the story of Samuels beginnings, Eli and his sons will play roles that are marginal to or destructive of their high ritual status. for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Shakab implies that Samuel is simply lying prone in bed when the Lord first calls and eventually appears to him. Strong, Exhaustive Concordance, 1228. WebSignificance. 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. International Standard Version The LORD took note of Hannah, and she became pregnant and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. But the same phrase also is used to announce prophecy, and vision is a prophetic term: the whole episode concerns the transition from priestly to prophetic authority.64 In short, Alter implies that the man of God acts as an oracle in relation to the priest, since the priest himself has lost the traditional gift of oracle through abuse and neglect. From a human perspective, the text features two complementary protagonists who come into focus in the principal vignettes of the storyHannah and Samuel.72 Hannahs key role in this social drama73 is to make a solemn vow to God and fulfill its initial terms through the bearing and nurturing of her first born (1:12:10). Indeed, its authors4 meaningful intentions may be revealed more in the accounts rhetorical and poetic than in its documentary qualities. put away thy wine from thee. This verb connotes not just physical intimacy but also sexual relations between legitimate partners.37 In the Hebrew Bible, yada frequently connotes a special kind of covenant relationship, not just a familiar one, especially where the knowledge of God is concerned.38 Thus, the union that produces Samuel is doubly blessed: by the enduring bond between worthy and faithful partners and by the sacred vow between a devoted Hebrew woman and the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there. 58. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. WebSaul, along with three of his sons die in a battle with the Philistines. Alter, Ancient Israel, 247 n.0 suggests that Hannahs song and Davids victory psalm echo each other and act as formal bookends to the extended narrative sequence that includes the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David., 51. 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