Dr.

Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 194

1 Samuel

Degenerate Theocracy to Davidic Monarchy

Theocracy Ended Monarchy Established

(Decline of Judges) (Rise of Kings)

Chapters 1–7 Chapters 8–31

Samuel: “Heavenly King” Saul: “Earthly King”

Don’t Reject God as King Accept God’s Rightful King

Eli Samuel Saul David

Man After
Man After Man After Man After
Man’s Heart
Man’s Heart God’s Heart God’s Heart

Paralysis Prayer Panic Patience

Transition #1 Samuel & Ark’s Transition #2 Saul Transition #3

Eli to Samuel Wanderings Samuel to Saul Rejected Saul to David
(1–3) (4–7) (8–12) (13–15) (16–31)

c. 94 Years

Birth of Samuel (1105 BC) to Death of Saul (1011 BC)

Key Word: Transition

Key Verse: “[The people] said to [Samuel], ‘You are old and your sons do not walk in your ways;
now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have’” (1 Samuel 8:5).

Summary Statement:
The reason God transitioned Israel from a degenerate theocracy to a righteous monarchy was to
delegate his rule to Davidic kings.

Applications:
Ability to handle transitions comes from honoring God.

God raises or lowers us based upon whether we honor or dishonor him: “Those who honor me I will
honor, but those who despise me will be disdained” (2:30).

1) God blesses obedience: “to obey is better then sacrifice” (15:22).

2) God disdains mere show: “the LORD does not see as man sees” (16:7).
 Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 195

1 Samuel
Introduction
I. Title "Samuel" (laeWmv. semuel) means "name of El [God]" or "his name is El [God]" (BDB 1028d 1)
from the compound of mve, "name," and lae, "El," the singular form of ~hiAla,, "Elohim." It also sounds
like the Hebrew for "heard of God" (from lm;;v"; cf. 1 Sam. 1:20). The Books of Samuel in the earliest
Hebrew manuscripts formed one scroll simply entitled "Samuel" after the first important character in the
account. The Septuagint was the first translation to divide the book into the two titles First Kingdoms
and Second Kingdoms. First and Second Kings then followed with the titles Third Kingdoms and
Fourth Kingdoms.

II. Authorship

A. External Evidence: The Jewish Talmudic tradition ascribed authorship of 1-2 Samuel to Samuel,
but he could not have written past 1 Samuel 25:1 as this verse records his death. First Chronicles
29:29 notes "the Book of Samuel the Seer," "the Book of Nathan the Prophet," and "the Book of
Gad the Seer." This may be a reference to the threefold authorship of the Books of Samuel that
may have been complied in their final form by a member of the prophetic school. Since First and
Second Samuel originally formed a single scroll entitled "Samuel," this may account for his name
being attached to both books.

B. Internal Evidence: The author refers to Samuel's written record of the regulations of the kingship (1
Sam. 10:25); so writing a book was not unusual for Samuel. As head of a company of prophets (1
Sam. 10:5; 19:20) he is the most likely candidate to author the first book up to chapter 25.

III. Circumstances

A. Date: Although 1 Samuel 1–24 was recorded by Samuel at the end of his life (born ca. 1105 BC,
died ca. 1015 BC), the rest of the Books of Samuel must have been written over 85 years later after
Israel and Judah divided in 931 BC. This is shown by references to the divided monarchy (1 Sam.
11:8; 17:52; 19:16; 2 Sam. 5:5; 11:11; 12:8; 19:42-43; 24:1, 9) and the reference to Ziklag, a
Philistine city that the writer says, "has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day" (1 Sam. 27:6).
In regard to the latest possible date of composition, the absence of reference to the fall of Samaria
in 722 BC is notable. Therefore, the time of final composition most likely falls between 931 BC and
722 BC

B. Recipients: Since the first author of the Books of Samuel (Samuel himself) records the start of
Saul's rule, all the readers of 1 Samuel 1–24 must have been Jews at the time of the monarchy.
However, those who read the books in their final form had already experienced the division of the
empire.

C. Occasion: Judges 17–21 and Ruth both supplement the main account of the judges period, so the
Books of Samuel actually continue the story from Judges 16:31. First Samuel concludes the period
of the judges with the final two judges not mentioned in Judges (Eli and Samuel) and introduces the
monarchy of Israel with the reign of Saul, Israel's first king. Even though Israel's desire for a king to
be "like all the other nations" (1 Sam. 8:5, 20) was a carnal plan by rejecting the LORD as king, God
planned for human royalty even as early as the time of the patriarchs (Gen. 17:6, 16; 35:11; cf.
Deut. 17:14-20). As to what motivated the authors to record this transitional history from theocracy
to monarchy, perhaps it was the desire to defend the Davidic dynasty (cf. 2 Sam. 7).

IV. Characteristics

A. First Samuel is the first book in Scripture to use the word Messiah ("anointed," 2:10) and the first to
refer to God as "the LORD of hosts" (e.g., 1:3).

B. Two of the three major characters in 1 Samuel are types of Christ: Samuel as prophet and priest,
and David as the shepherd-king born in Bethlehem.

C. The Book of 1 Samuel introduces the first of the prophets of Israel in the person of Samuel (Acts
3:24), who also served as the last judge. The key word for this book is transition.
 Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 196

Argument
The Book of 1 Samuel traces the transition from Israel's theocracy in which Samuel serves as the last
judge (1 Sam 1–7) to the nation's beginnings as a monarchy under the kingship of Saul (1 Sam 8–31).
Within this overall design are three transitions of leadership: from Eli to Samuel (1 Sam 1–3), from Samuel
to Saul (1 Sam 8–12), and from Saul to David (1 Sam 16–31). The intervening sections maintain that while
Samuel filled a much-needed place of leadership among the people (1 Sam 4–7), the best replacement for
him was not Saul, the people's choice as king whom God rejected (1 Sam 13–15), but rather David, a man
after God's own heart.
Therefore, the theological design of 1 Samuel is not to simply trace the history of Israel's change of
government. Instead it shows that God delegated his sovereignty through David’s line.

Synthesis
Degenerate theocracy to Davidic monarchy
1–7 Theocracy ended
1–3 #1: Eli to Samuel # = 3 Leadership transitions
1 Samuel's birth
2:1-11 Hanna's prayer
2:12-36 Eli's house rejected
3 Samuel's call
4–7 Ark = Samuel needed
4 Captured
5 With Philistines
6 Returned
7 Restored
8–31 Monarchy established
8–12 #2: Samuel to Saul
8 King demanded
9:1–10:16 Private anointing
10:17-27 Public coronation
11 Jabesh Gilead/reaffirmation
12 Samuel retires as judge
13–15 Saul rejected
13:1-22 Presumptuous sacrifice
13:23–14:52 Food prohibition
15 Amalekites spared
16–31 #3: Saul to David
16–17 Friends
18–27 Enemies
18–20 David's flight
21–27 David's exile
28–31 Saul abandoned, David blessed
28 Saul at Endor
29 David refused battle
30 David destroys Amalekites
31 Saul's death
 Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 197

Outline
Summary Statement for the Book
The reason God transitioned Israel from a degenerate theocracy to a righteous monarchy was to
delegate his rule to Davidic kings.

I. The reason God prepared Israel for a king in the transfer of leadership from Eli to Samuel was
because the nation did not know God's character (1 Sam 1–7).

A. Israel’s first national leadership transition from Eli to Samuel came by Samuel's birth, call, and
acceptance over Eli's wicked house to prepare for the prophesied monarchy (1 Sam 1–3).

1. Samuel's unique birth and childhood show that God saw that Israel needed a new leader
due to the pathetic state of the era of the judges (1 Sam 1).

2. Hannah's prophetic prayer praised God's attributes and his future provision of kings (2:1-11).

3. Eli's wicked priesthood by his sons’ immorality with tabernacle women like the priests of Baal
contrasts with Samuel's holy lifestyle to show the need for a new leader for Israel (2:12-36).

4. Samuel's call by the LORD and acceptance by the people verified the leadership transition
from Eli to Samuel (1 Sam 3).

B. Israel showed its need for Samuel's leadership in their ignorance of the character of God evident
in their superstitious use of the ark to fight the Philistines (1 Sam 4–7).

1. The Philistines taking the ark with deaths of Eli and his sons fulfilled God's prophecy against
Eli to show the need for Samuel due to confusion over God's omnipresence (1 Sam 4).

2. The ark’s superiority over Dagan in the Philistine camp showed God's omnipotence over all
gods and grace even in Israel’s disobedience (1 Sam 5).

3. The ark’s return to Beth-Shemesh prompted sacrifices and 50,070 Israelite deaths by high-
handedly looking into the ark to display God’s sovereignty and holiness (1 Sam 6).

4. The ark’s restoration to Kiriath Jearim and Israel’s victories over the Philistines show God's
presence with the nation and its need for Samuel, a new leader (1 Sam 7).

II. The reason God led a leadership transfer from Samuel to Saul to David despite their evil
motives was to show that he delegated rule to Davidic kings (1 Sam 8–31).

A. The second transition of national leadership from Samuel to Saul marked the start of the
monarchy due to Israel's evil motives (1 Sam 8–12).

1. Israel's demand for a king due to national rejection of the LORD as King showed the nation's
evil motives for the monarchy despite future oppression by its kings (1 Sam 8).

2. The transition from Samuel as judge to Saul as king marked the beginning of the monarchy
in opposition to God's desire (1 Sam 9–12).

a) Samuel privately anointed Saul as king to prepare him for public coronation (9:1–
10:16).

b) Samuel publicly made Saul king as an official declaration of God's displeasure with the
nation's decision (10:17-27).

c) Saul's rescue of Jabesh Gilead and confirmation at Gilgal confirmed him as king in
Israel’s eyes (1 Sam 11).

d) At Samuel’s retirement as judge (but not prophet), he reminded Israel of their sin of
asking for a king to motivate them to live based on the Mosaic covenant (1 Sam 12).

B. The LORD rejected Saul as king for his many failures to obey God to show Israel's need for a
righteous king (1 Sam 13–15).
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 198

1. Saul's impatience and fear of the Philistines by having priests sacrifice before the required
seven days result in Samuel hinting at God had already chosen a godly king (13:1-22).

2. Saul's rashness by keeping his men from food so they soon ate unlawful blood shamed him
in his vow to kill the "disobedient" Jonathan and showed his godless rule (13:23–14:52).

3. Saul's disobedience by not fully destroying the Amalekites was his last act of disobedience
before the LORD rejected him as king to show Israel's need for a righteous king (1 Sam 15).

C. The third transition of national leadership from Saul to David recorded their deteriorated
relationship to show God rejecting Saul and anointing David and his line (1 Sam 16–31).

1. Saul and David were friends while David rose as his musician and warrior (1 Sam 16–17).

a) After David was privately anointed king he received valuable instruction in royal matters
as Saul's personal court musician and friend (1 Sam 16).

b) David's victory over Goliath won Saul's approval as one of his warriors (1 Sam 17).

2. Saul and David were enemies when Saul exiled him and attempted to kill him, thus teaching
him valuable lessons that would enable him to rule righteously (1 Sam 18–27).

a) David's flight from Saul evaded his jealous, murderous efforts to reveal God's choice of
David as founder of the messianic dynasty of kings (1 Sam 18–20).

(1) Saul burned with envy over David's greater popularity in Israel and thus revealed
God's choice of David as founder of the messianic dynasty of kings (18:1-9).

(2) Saul attempted to kill David out of jealousy over God's blessing on his life as a
carnal response to God’s revealed will (18:10–20:42).

(a) Saul tried to kill David by throwing a spear at him (18:10-16).

(b) Saul tried to kill David by tricking him to fight the Philistines (18:17-30).

(c) Saul tried to kill David by commanding his servants to kill David (19:1-7).

(d) Saul tried to kill David by throwing a spear at him again (19:8-10).

(e) Saul tried to kill David by sending messengers to kill him (19:11-17).

(f) Saul tried to kill David by seeking his life at Samuel's house (19:18-24).

(g) Saul tried to kill David by commanding Jonathan to betray him (1 Sam 20).

b) David's exile taught him values he would need as king (1 Sam 21–27).

(1) At Nob, David ate the consecrated bread and learned the concession that the Law
permitted—that life is more holy than bread (21:1-9; cf. Matt. 12:7-8).

(2) At Gath, David feigned insanity before Achish and learned not to go to his enemies
for protection (21:10-15).

(3) At the cave of Adullam, David gathered 400 "down-and-outers" and learned
compassionate leadership (22:1-2).

(4) At Mizpah, David left his parents at Moab—kin of his great-grandmother Ruth—
and learned the need to care for his family (22:3-4).

(5) At Hereth, David learned of Saul's slaughter of 85 priests and all of Nob because
Abimelech helped David and this taught him of the perils of jealousy (22:5-23).

(6) At Keilah, David delivered the town from both the Philistines and Saul, which
instructed him to consult the LORD in decision-making (23:1-12).
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 199

(7) At Horesh in the Ziph desert, Jonathan encouraged David but Ziphites betrayed his
spot to Saul, teaching David to find strength in God when betrayed (23:13-23).

(8) In the Maon desert, David barely escaped Saul, who broke his pursuit to rout the
invading Philistines, teaching David that his life is in God's hands (23:24-28).

(9) At En Gedi’s cave, David spared Saul due to his authority as God's chosen king,
teaching him to use his future kingly authority only for godly ends (23:29–24:22).

(10) In the Maon desert, David learned not to act rashly like Saul through Nabal's wife
Abigail, who honored David as God’s anointed and soon married him (1 Sam 25).

(11) On the Hakilah hill, David again spared Saul's life as God's chosen king, again
showing David to use his future kingly authority for godly purposes (1 Sam 26).

(12) At Gath and Ziklag, David developed his leadership and combat skills by carrying
out raids against peoples south of the Philistines (1 Sam 27).

Application: When an oppressive superior mistreats you (like Saul mistreated David),
how do you respond? If you do not learn submission and brokenness, eventually
when you get into a position of authority, you too could become a “Saul” who grasps
for power! Learn the lesson of David. As we will see in 2 Samuel, David eventually
had plenty of opportunities to imitate Saul—especially when his son Absalom claimed
to be the rightful “third king” after Saul and David. This decision of David not to
become a Saul is well said in this modern classic for those in ministry transition: Gene
Edwards, A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1980,
1982). It’s a fast-moving, stirring, and biblical account of only 98 pages.

3. God abandoned Saul in his final days but provided for David to show God's blessing on
David’s line rather than Saul's dynasty (1 Sam 28–31).

a) By God's intervention via the necromancer of Endor, the dead (resurrected) Samuel told
Saul of his death the next day to end Saul's rebellion towards God (1 Sam 28).

b) God providentially spared David from fighting his own people while en route to battle
Israel and was commanded by Achish to return to Ziklag (1 Sam 29).

c) David destroyed Amalekite raiders who had destroyed Ziklag and carried off the plunder
as an indication of God's providential dealings in his life (1 Sam 30).

d) The Philistines killed Saul as God's penalty for his rebellion and proof of David's virtue
by not killing Saul himself to show God blessing David’s—not Saul's—line (1 Sam 31).
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 200

Judges’ vs. Kings’ Leadership

Adapted from Homer Heater, “A Theology of Samuel and Kings,” in A Biblical Theology of the OT, ed. Roy B. Zuck, 139

Judges Kings

Rule Local Nation-wide

Appointment Spontaneous Planned

Succession Not passed on to children Dynasties

Effect on Tribes Independent Unified

 Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 201

Biographical Contrast by Interchange (1 Sam. 1–12)

Donald K. Campbell, Dallas Theological Seminary (adapted class handout)

The beginning narrative of 1 Samuel contrasts the family of Eli with Samuel by repeatedly reverting back and
forth between the two. This is designed to show that Eli was unworthy of the priesthood whereas Samuel was
qualified spiritually to be the priest who would bring Israel into a new era. This transition in the priesthood hints
at a national transition from a theocracy to a monarchy as well.

1:1–2:11 2:18-21 2:26 3:1–4:1a 7:3–12:25

But–
Samuel Samuel Samuel Samuel Samuel

Eli’s Sons Eli & Sons Eli & Sons Eli & Sons
(Plus Results)
2:12-17 2:22-25 2:27-36 4:1b–7:2
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 202

The Line of Aaron

Donald K. Campbell, Dallas Theological Seminary
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 202a

The Life and Ministry of Samuel

Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 202b

Saul’s Military Campaigns

Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 203

The Wanderings of the Ark of the Covenant

Donald K. Campbell, Dallas Theological Seminary
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 204

The Battle of Michmash

Donald K. Campbell, Dallas Theological Seminary (adapted)
 Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 205

Saul’s Family Tree

Saul did not Jacob

descend from
the kingly line
of Judah, as
did David Benjamin These are only two Judah
of Jacob’s 12 sons
(cf. p. 97)
MICHAL Daughters in italics & caps
Abiel David
Saul Sons in plain print

Ner

Kish Abner

Saul’s
Saul commander of
his army was
also his uncle
(contra 1 Sam.
Jonathan Ishvi Malki-Shua MERAB MICHAL 14:50 NIV–see
box below)
Saul’s youngest
Saul’s oldest son was next
daughter
in line to be king, yet he married David
recognized God’s choice (1 Sam. 18:27)
of David (1 Sam. 20:12-
15) without the jealousy
characteristic of his father
Saul (1 Sam. 20:30-31)

Was Abner Saul’s uncle or his cousin?

“According to 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39 Ner was Saul’s grandfather (Ner’s son
was Kish and Kish’s son was Saul), but in 1 Samuel 14:50 Ner appears to be Saul’s
uncle and Abner his cousin. In 1 Chronicles Abner, though not mentioned, would
be Saul’s uncle, for Abner was Ner’s son (1 Sam. 14:50). This seeming
contradiction is eliminated by the Hebrew of 1 Samuel 14:50b, which says literally,
‘Abner son of Ner, uncle of Saul,’ with the understanding that the ambiguous
‘uncle of Saul’ refers not to Ner but to Abner” (Eugene Merrill, “1 Samuel,” BKC,
1:446-47, italics his). Thus the chart above is probably correct even though it
disagrees with the NIV in 1 Samuel 14:50b.
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 206

David’s Family Tree

The Bible Visual Resource Book, 57
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 207

David as Fugitive and Warrior

The Bible Visual Resource Book, 59, adapted
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 208

Saul and David Contrasted

Saul David
Tribe/Lineage Benjamin Judah

Appointment People’s choice God’s choice

Warfare Fear: should have Courageous:

killed Goliath killed Goliath

Spirit’s Power Temporary Permanent

Emotions Paranoia Trust

Attitude towards Law Disobeyed Obeyed

Attitude re: Anointed “Strike him!” “Spare him!”

Social Style Vindictive Forgiving

Followers’ Motivation Fear Respect

Leadership Foolish Wise

Height Very tall Shorter

Age at Appointment Middle-aged Teenager

Response to Sin Regret Repentance

Marriage Monogamous? Polygamist

Philistine Subjugation Began Finished

Jerusalem Conquering Couldn’t do it Made it capital

Size of Kingdom Small Huge

Covenant Rejected (1 Sam. 13:13) Davidic (2 Sam. 7)

Death Violent with disgrace Peaceful with honor

Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 208a

The Philistine Threat

Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 208b

Controversial Issues
A Class Presentation Summary of Walter Kaiser, Hard Sayings of the OT and More Hard Sayings of the OT (1 of 5)
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 208c

Controversial Issues (2 of 5)
A Class Presentation Summary of Walter Kaiser, Hard Sayings of the OT and More Hard Sayings of the OT
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 208d

Controversial Issues (3 of 5)
A Class Presentation Summary of Walter Kaiser, Hard Sayings of the OT and More Hard Sayings of the OT
Dr. Rick Griffith Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 208e

Controversial Issues (4 of 5)
A Class Presentation Summary of Walter Kaiser, Hard Sayings of the OT and More Hard Sayings of the OT
Rick Griffith, PhD Old Testament Survey: 1 Samuel 208f

Controversial Issues (5 of 5)
A Class Presentation Summary of Walter Kaiser, Hard Sayings of the OT and More Hard Sayings of the OT

18-Mar-19