Spring 2010

We begin our study of 1 and 2 Samuel on March 7, 2010. I hope you enjoyed the study of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus we just completed. Be prepared to dive in this quarter as we begin to study the beginning of Israel's first Kings. The people of Israel wanted to have a King just like other nations. God tries through Samuel to warn the people about the consequences of having a King. God grants their wish, we read about this in our study of 1 and 2 Samuel. We will change up and do 1 Samuel 17 first and then 1 Samuel 16.    Star Of David

1 Samuel - The First Book of Samuel describes the transition of leadership in Israel from judges to kings. Three characters are prominent in the book: Samuel, the last judge and first prophet; Saul, the first king of Israel; and David, the king-elect, anointed but not yet recognized as Saul’s successor. The books of First and Second Samuel were originally one book in the Hebrew Bible, known as the “Book of Samuel” or simply “Samuel.” This name has been variously translated “The Name of God,” “His Name Is God,” “Heard of God,” and “Asked of God.” The Septuagint divides Samuel into two books even though it is one continuous account. This division artificially breaks up the history of David. The Greek (Septuagint) title is Bibloi Basileion, “Books of Kingdoms,” referring to the later kingdoms of Israel and Judah. First Samuel is called Basileion Alpha, “First Kingdoms.” Second Samuel and First and Second Kings are called “Second, Third, and Fourth Kingdoms.” The Latin Vulgate originally called the books of Samuel and Kings Libri Regum, “Books of the Kings.” Later the Latin Bible combined the Hebrew and Greek titles for the first of these books, calling it Liber I Samuelis, the “First Book of Samuel,” or simply “First Samuel.” Wilkinson, Bruce: Talk Thru the Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1983 (Logos Library Systems), S. 71

2 Samuel - The Second Book of Samuel records the highlights of David’s reign, first over the territory of Judah, and finally over the entire nation of Israel. It traces the ascension of David to the throne, his climactic sins of adultery and murder, and the shattering consequences of those sins upon his family and the nation. See First Samuel for details on the titles of the books of Samuel. The Hebrew title for both books (originally one) is Samuel. The Greek title for Second Samuel is Basileion Beta, “Second Kingdoms.” The Latin title is Liber II Samuelis, the “Second Book of Samuel,” or simply “Second Samuel.” Wilkinson, Bruce: Talk Thru the Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1983 (Logos Library Systems), S. 78

Spring Quarter 2010

Church
    March 2010
  • 7 - Strong in the Lord - 1 Samuel 17:20-51
  • 14 - Chosen by the Lord - 1 Samuel 16:1-12
  • 21 - Object of a King's Jealousy - 1 Samuel 18:1-30
  • 28 - Fleeing From King Saul - 1 Samuel 22:1-23
    April 2010
  • 4 - The Resurrection: His and Ours - 1 Corinthians 15:1-34
  • 11 - Respecting the Lord's Anointed - 1 Samuel 26:1-25
  • 18 - King of Judah - 2 Samuel 2:1-32
  • 25 - King Over All Israel - 2 Samuel 5:1-25
    May 2010
  • 2 - To Build a House - 2 Samuel 7:1-19
  • 9 - Thou Art the Man - 2 Samuel 11:1-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-14
  • 16 - Outrage in the King's Family - 2 Samuel 13:1-39
  • 23 - Rebellion Under the King's Son - 2 Samuel 15:1-37
  • 30 - A Foolish Census - 2 Samuel 24:1-25

 

Authorship

1 and 2 Samuel: The author of First and Second Samuel is anonymous, but Jewish talmudic tradition says that it was written by Samuel. Samuel may have written the first portion of the book, but his death recorded in First Samuel 25:1 makes it clear that he did not write all of First and Second Samuel. Samuel did write a book (10:25), and written records were available. As the head of a company of prophets (see 10:5; 19:20), Samuel would be a logical candidate for biblical authorship. First Chronicles 29:29 refers to “the Book of Samuel the Seer,” “the Book of Nathan the Prophet,” and “the Book of Gad the Seer.” All three men evidently contributed to these two books; and it is very possible that a single compiler, perhaps a member of the prophetic school, used these chronicles to put together the Book of Samuel. Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa, Talk thru the Bible, Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1983.