Study the Word. Meditate on it and let it be your delight and holy guide.


 

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1 Samuel & Chronicles: Themes

 

 

Theological Themes

           - earthly kingship was seen as a rejection of divine rule

           - the desire to be like other nations was seen as a rejection of God’s intent for Israel to be set apart from other communities

           - Israel’s desire to emulate other nations permeated the whole of the nation - their life would be patterned after secular nations rather than after the ways decreed by God

           - covenant faith was at stake

Political:

           -The weaknesses of Israel’s tribal makeup created the pressure to centralize their government through a monarchy

           -the traditional patterns of leadership via priestly houses like that of Eli or spiritual houses like that of Samuel had failed; Eli’s sons and Samuel’s sons were corrupt (8:1-13)

           - there were conflicts between Samuel’s “holy war” traditions and more secular models of military conduct (Saul)

             - the increasing population and economic power of the new nation led to impulses to create a strong centralized government in order to protect the emerging interests

Things to Keep in Mind:

           Biblical story tellers are not objective historians. (There is considerable question whether or not any historian can truly be objective - all retelling is colored by interpretation!) The original narrators have perspectives on the story, and those perspectives are offered as a teaching device for current and future generations.  These stories were edited into their final form to fit the lessons needed by the exiles in Babylon. Early on, theologians may have been more positive about the blessings of a centralized government; later they may have grown negative. Consider the development of our own nation prior to the Constitution. Our fore bearers debated the pros and cons of a strong central government. Both the Federalist and Republican sides had the good of the nation at heart. Which side was God on? This was the debate raging in Israel.

See: Summary

 

 

 

[1] The New Interpreter's Bible , v. 2: Numbers, Deuteronomy, Intro to Narratives, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel;  THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF SAMUEL: CRITICAL ASSUMPTIONS