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Episode #14: "Give Us a King"
HOST: Michael Whitworth
GUEST: Chris Clevenger, author of "Sons of Dust" and host of the "Biblical Manliness" podcast.
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel have three primary characters: Samuel, Saul, and David. These books were originally one, but were divided in half by the Septuagint (LXX) translators. In the LXX, the books are known as 1 and 2 Kingdoms (1 and 2 Kings are known as 3 and 4 Kingdoms). Much of Samuel (as well as Kings) is repeated in Chronicles, but with one stark difference. Samuel does not dispute Saul’s right to rule Israel. Rather, the text goes to great lengths to show that Saul was God’s chosen one until Saul revolted against God’s sovereignty (e.g. 1 Sam. 13, 15). After the final episode involving the Amalekites, the kingdom was stripped away from Saul’s lineage (1 Sam. 15:28).
Authorship
Given the fact that Samuel dies in 1 Samuel 25, it is considered highly unlikely that he wrote the entirety of these two books. In addition, 1 Chron. 29:29-30 indicates that Samuel’s work was part of a greater process contributed to by Nathan and Gad. Indeed, Jewish tradition in the Talmud attributed 1 Sam. 1-24 to Samuel, and the remainder to Nathan and Gad.
Date & Audience
As is the case with the other historical books, the author is technically anonymous, as is also the date of writing. However, we know that Samuel, Nathan, and Gad all ministered within fifty years on either side of 1000 BC. Regardless of the specific date of authorship, it can be reasonably assumed that these books were written to edify Israel and educate her of her history with God. The books of Samuel begin in a very dark period of Israel’s history, but light began to dawn with the ministry of Samuel and continued through the reign of David.
Samuel & the NT
Many parallels exist between David and Jesus. Both were seen as kings on the throne of Israel. Both (along with Saul) were considered “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 16:3, 6, 12-13; 24:6; 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Sam. 1:14, 16; 3:39; 19:21), a phrase translated from the Hebrew messiah. But there also remain stark differences. David had a heart like God’s, but was not perfect. The shepherd boy who was willing to battle a lion and a bear (1 Sam. 17:34-35) was later willing for the sheep to die for his own sins (2 Sam. 24:14, 17), something that the Good Shepherd would never conceive of doing (John 10:11). He instead died for our sins.
Keys to Reading
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By Michael WhitworthHOST: Michael Whitworth
GUEST: Chris Clevenger, author of "Sons of Dust" and host of the "Biblical Manliness" podcast.
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel have three primary characters: Samuel, Saul, and David. These books were originally one, but were divided in half by the Septuagint (LXX) translators. In the LXX, the books are known as 1 and 2 Kingdoms (1 and 2 Kings are known as 3 and 4 Kingdoms). Much of Samuel (as well as Kings) is repeated in Chronicles, but with one stark difference. Samuel does not dispute Saul’s right to rule Israel. Rather, the text goes to great lengths to show that Saul was God’s chosen one until Saul revolted against God’s sovereignty (e.g. 1 Sam. 13, 15). After the final episode involving the Amalekites, the kingdom was stripped away from Saul’s lineage (1 Sam. 15:28).
Authorship
Given the fact that Samuel dies in 1 Samuel 25, it is considered highly unlikely that he wrote the entirety of these two books. In addition, 1 Chron. 29:29-30 indicates that Samuel’s work was part of a greater process contributed to by Nathan and Gad. Indeed, Jewish tradition in the Talmud attributed 1 Sam. 1-24 to Samuel, and the remainder to Nathan and Gad.
Date & Audience
As is the case with the other historical books, the author is technically anonymous, as is also the date of writing. However, we know that Samuel, Nathan, and Gad all ministered within fifty years on either side of 1000 BC. Regardless of the specific date of authorship, it can be reasonably assumed that these books were written to edify Israel and educate her of her history with God. The books of Samuel begin in a very dark period of Israel’s history, but light began to dawn with the ministry of Samuel and continued through the reign of David.
Samuel & the NT
Many parallels exist between David and Jesus. Both were seen as kings on the throne of Israel. Both (along with Saul) were considered “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 16:3, 6, 12-13; 24:6; 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Sam. 1:14, 16; 3:39; 19:21), a phrase translated from the Hebrew messiah. But there also remain stark differences. David had a heart like God’s, but was not perfect. The shepherd boy who was willing to battle a lion and a bear (1 Sam. 17:34-35) was later willing for the sheep to die for his own sins (2 Sam. 24:14, 17), something that the Good Shepherd would never conceive of doing (John 10:11). He instead died for our sins.
Keys to Reading