Web1 Samuel 1. The Birth of Samuel. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. 40. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. WebWhat was significant about the birth and childhood of Samuel? The fundamental bond of mutual remembrance that united God and man leads further to the observation that the covenant idea is obviously also important in this context: G.Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, eds., Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, trans. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him (3:1517). She fasts, she prays, she bears and nurtures, she sacrifices and gives thanks, she serves, and she remains faithful to her divine calling without any desire for personal position, recognition, or recompense.27 As a result, the narrative portrays Hannah as worthy of becoming the mother of one of Israels greatest prophets and of serving as a paragon of holiness in the Hebrew Bible. JPS Tanakh 1917 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. 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. Samuel repeatedly responds to Gods initial calling with Here am I, which are the first and only words, with slight variation, spoken directly by Samuel in the biblical account before his calling as a prophet (3:416). The text expresses this commitment in two complementary ways. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 1 Samuel 1:19. And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. In Portugal, the pan-European report noted a decline in January-February 2022, compared to the trend in previous years. Humanistic conventions mandate that characters be developed largely as unique individuals, complete with their own distinctive personalities, backgrounds, interests, appearances, and motivations. (Samuel I, 1) Samsons Life. On Nov. 30, 1835, the small town of Florida, Mo. Hence, references in this article to an author (singular) of the text are for heuristic, not documentary or analytical purposes. By contrast, the story includes an extended verbatim recitation of the entire message that the Lord personally entrusts to Samuel, beginning with the authoritative declaration, Behold I will do a thing in Israel (3:1114).62 This scene is structured so that we are witnesses of Samuels encounter with the Lord. While more than one priest could easily officiate at the temple, the fact that the story initially identifies Elis sons as priests of the Lord creates dramatic tensions that become central to the unfolding of the Samuel story. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. On the one hand, Phinehas and Hophni are named as priests, in contrast with the next segment of the story, which specifically identifies Eli as the priest at Shiloh (see 1:9). Samuel was born in answer to Hannahs prayers. Of particular interest is the sequence of events that culminates in Gods initial fulfillment of Hannahs vow: And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.35 In these thirty-three English words, and appears six times. 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. The second way that Hannah continues to nurture her firstborn is mentioned below in the discussion of 1 Samuel 2:19. In 1 Samuel 13 alone, the Hebrew conjunction waw, translated and, appears more than 160times.34 The pattern and frequency of use of this conjunction imply that the narrator consciously employs it to integrate a series of increasingly significant, forward-moving events. 2829; 54n; 60 nn. And he worshipped the Lord there. Leitwrter: establish and cut off. On the occasion of their final interaction, Eli blesses Samuels parentsthe Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lordusing the same verbs, nathan (give) and shael (lend), which define Hannahs initial offering of Samuel to the Lord. The intentionality of the narrators contrast between Eli and Hannah, introduced earlier, is further developed in the pejorative allusions to Belial51 and the editorial comment employing the verb yada (knew). Examples of otherwise innocuous individual and social behavior pervade the Samuel story and deepen its spiritual significance. Omissions? And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou hast weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. Suddenly, a priest Eli came to her doorstep Possible extrinsic reasons for the placement of Hannahs song within the narrative are found in Weitzman, Song, 11415. . Parallelism is a general literary convention that links together different parts of the biblical text in a variety of customary and meaningful ways. 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. . We are present only for his encounter with the priest. and why is thy heart grieved? Characterization: Prophet of God. A literary pattern that assists readers in this process of discovery involves a characters first speech and first action. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. Thus, faithfulness to God seems to be more central to the Bibles theological interpretation of history75 than the particular political or social forms of human societies. WebSamuel was the son of Elkanah and Hannah, and he was born at Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. While unusual, even extraordinary, Hannahs initiative at the temple to plead directly with JHWH for a man child is neither unprecedented nor countercultural. 1806 Houston's father, Major Samuel Houston, dies. Name: Mary. The present study focuses on several recurrent literary conventions that so thoroughly unite the biblical account of Samuels birth and divine calling that its craftsmanship aptly serves as a vehicle of its meaning. I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. Regarding Sarah, the paragon in this set of related character types, Alter, Moses, 101 n.18, explicates the exquisite craftsmanship of the relevant passage in Genesis that immediately precedes Isaacs birth. Strong, Exhaustive Concordance, 1228. The related curses, gada and karath, both translated as cut off, signal the Lords severing his long-standing covenant with Elis lineage (2:31, 33).70. . Recurrent literary conventions that form the interpretive fabric of this account include parallelism,9 characterization,10 key words (Leitwrter),11 type scenes,12 patterns of customary behavior,13 and structuring devices like Sternbergs play of perspective.14 The dynamic and complementary interplay of these conventions throughout the text increases the drama, engagement, meaning, and pleasure of the reading experience. For example, Elkanah and Hannah keep their covenants, albeit in contrasting ways, and are thereby divinely blessed. This study claims that the significance of the story cannot be fully appre- His maternal grandfather who at first raised him was racist, misogynistic, and altogether abusive. Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob & Esau, Perez, The catalytic event of this narrativeHannahs vow and the Lords favorable responsebegins and ends with the verb zakhor, translated remember. : Hendrickson Publishers, 1996). The story of Samuels birth and calling is one of many contributions to this core ideological focus of the Hebrew Bible. While we cannot be sure that the author crafted the Samuel story with such comparisons consciously in mind, the repeated inferred connections with other exemplary vignettes increase the probability of their intentionality. When Hannah subsequently bears three sons and two daughters, the phrase announcing the births uses the verb paqad, translated visited. (3:110, 1921; 4:1a). The story of Samuels birth and calling sheds significant light on the larger biblical narrative of covenant Israel. 8. As Jacob was 27. WebAlthough George Washington never had any biological children, he did have a rather large family, comprised of his many siblings, step-children, and step-grandchildren. to recover the authors intentions and to set them up as governing all interpretationsuffers from the logical fallacy of the excluded middle. Leitwrter: know and lie with. The two major divergences in The First Book of Samuel lie in those passages that critics call the pro-monarchic source (1 Samuel 9:110:16) and those passages called the antimonarchic source (1 Samuel 8 and 10:1727). Elkanah has only two direct speeches in the entire story. The first story (1 Samuel 13) describes Samuels action as motivated by Sauls assumption of the prerogatives of the priesthood. Most commentators acknowledge that the account of the birth and calling of Samuel actually ends with the first sentence of the next chapter, And the word of Samuel came to all Israel (4:1a). 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. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. WebThe boy Samuel grew up in the service of the LORD. The central thesis of this study is that the literary craftsmanship of this account focuses the readers attention on JHWHs abiding covenant with biblical Israel. Background: Preterm birth continues to be a leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 globally. Hannah makes a solemn vow to God, and God and Hannah repeatedly and mutually fulfill the terms of their covenant. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? Father Augustine Washington (1694-1743) Mother Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789) Brothers Samuel Washington (1734-1781) John Augustine This tradition has two questionable features: Samuel is the only judge who is a permanent magistrate as well as a military leader, and his conclusive victory over the Philistines in chapter 7 cannot be historical, since it is contradicted by the subsequent military exploits of Saul and David. The shift implies that Hannahs relationship with Samuel and the Lord has become far more nuanced and meaningful than before. 62. 25. Updated on September 25, 2018. Structuring Devices: Exposition.The first seven verses of the introduction consist of what Alter calls narrativedescriptive details that locate the story within the broader temporal, spatial, social, and spiritual context of biblical Israel. In order to deliver on its analytical promise, this study must now demonstrate how the contents and literary conventions used to craft this brief narrative can be understood in terms of a unified interpretive whole. Examination discloses that this is still another account of Sauls rise without an anointing story; Saul is chosen king as the judgesthe leaders of the Israelites during their conquest of the land of Canaanwere chosen, by a charismatic display of military courage and leadership. . While paqad implies Gods continuing special favor of and care for Hannah in accordance with the priests final blessing, the verb does not usually have the strong covenant connotations of zakhor (remember).59. As crafted, the account of Samuels calling corrects Israels general spiritual malaise (see 3:1), makes explicit Samuels newfound, firsthand knowledge of God (see 3:7), and establishes Samuels role as prophet of the Lord among all Israel (3:20, 4:1a). PTSD symptoms can include: Frequent nightmares. Thus, while his sudden arrival is entirely motivated by events in the narrative, the narrative is silent regarding the messengers relationship with and impact upon Eli. We learn of what God says to him only by what he, in turn, says to Eli. He is Senior Curator of the LDS Church History Department, where he has worked his entire career creating museum exhibits, restoring historic sites, and leading initiatives. Genesis 16:5; 18:915; 21:15; 25:21; 29:31. Birth Country: United Kingdom. The story of Samuels birth and calling concludes with a general reference to his continuing growth in the knowledge of God (see 3:7, 21). Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites (1 Samuel 7:13-14). Samuels life serves as an example for believers today. Key principles include his obedience to God from the time he was a youth, his faith ( Hebrews 11:32) and his willingness to intercede for others ( Jeremiah 15:1 ). Stephanie Holland. In the pro-monarchic account of the rise of Saul, Samuel is an obscure village seer (with distinct evidence of occult practices). Prior to his call, Samuel did not yet know the Lord; neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.68 The knowledge of God bestowed on this occasion is personal, powerful, and covenant-based, not familiar and sexual. Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 13264. The narrators repeated mention of Elis diminished physical capacities symbolizes his advanced spiritual deficiencies. Nevertheless, everything that she says and doesindeed, everything that she is in the storymanifests supreme devotion to her sacred roles of wife and mother and to her covenant relationship with the Lord. This subtle literary convention repeatedly brings attentive readers back to the central focus of the larger narrative. The lexical shift from give to lend does not indicate a change of heart on Hannahs part. The account of Samuels divine calling concludes using hearing and seeing as metaphors of increased spiritual capacity: And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 7. Shes a mom! And they went unto their own home. Simon, Prophetic Narratives, 5161, makes the case that Samuels divine call is part of a literary genre in the Hebrew Bible by illustrating numerous structural parallels with those of other Israelite prophets. Nevertheless, Hannah is not satisfied: she wants a son for herself, but not for selfish reasons. While the abundant use of this tiny word in the Hebrew Bible may cause some readers to infer a lack of literary sophistication, Alter observes that biblical narrators used waw to great rhetorical effect: [Biblical] narratives were composed to be heard, not merely to be decoded by a readers eye. Children who receive responsive care are able to develop the psychological quality of hope. 14. Hannahs promise to God that there shall no razor come upon [her sons] head draws an explicit parallel with Samson, Israels most noteworthy judge (Judg. See Genesis 30:2224 for a similarly structured sequence of events regarding childbirth. Characterization: Husband and Wife. Alter, Moses, 96 n. 32, suggests the verb shakab approximates the meaning of rape when used in the context of sexual relations. The parallel syntax and barrage of ands, far from being the reflex of a primitive language, are as artfully effective in furthering the ends of the narrative as any device one could find in a sophisticated modern novelist. Alter, Moses, xxviixxviii, emphasis in original. While the appearance of the man of God is motivated by the scathing accounts of gluttony and promiscuity that immediately precede it, the man of God himself shows up spontaneously and unannounced. And she said, O my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, Iam the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. On cue the next morning, Eli repeatedly demands that his protg share the details of his encounter with God. Literary scholars generally recognize that biblical writers developed their characters in fundamentally different ways than most modern writers. He spent his adolescence across the country, removed from all hed known as a child, raised by a stepfather who he felt no connection to. The institution of kingship comes not from divine revelation but from the request of the elders of Israel, and this request is treated by Samuel as rebellion against Yahweh. Certain words appear in the text in complementary or contrastive parallel throughout the Hebrew Bible in order to comment on the broader interpretive significance of the narrative. and why eatest thou not? When Samuel finally invites the Lord to speak, the text uses the contrasting verb yatsab, translated stood, meaning that the Lord appears to Samuel in the dominant, authoritative position while Samuel takes the subordinate, receptive one. TDOT, 12:5060. As portrayed in the text, Elkanah believes that Hannah should be more consoled by his worthy portion than had she born him ten sons.. Willard R. Trask (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953), 323; Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative (New York: Basic Books, 1981), 322; Meir Sternberg, The Poetics of Biblical Narrative: Ideological Literature and the Drama of Reading (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1985), 157; Jason P. Rosenblatt and Joseph C. Sitterson Jr., eds. Hannah repeatedly and mutually fulfill the terms of their covenant How long wilt thou be drunken Oxford. Modern writers Hannah keep their covenants, albeit in contrasting ways, he... Subsequently bears three sons and two daughters, the phrase announcing the births uses verb. All interpretationsuffers from the logical fallacy of the rise of Saul, Samuel, Samuel, Samuel Nov.... 30, 1835, the priests of the Lord killeth, and are thereby divinely blessed Samuels action motivated... Sheds significant light on the larger narrative the narrators repeated mention of Elis diminished capacities. 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