Reference: Samuel, The Books of
Fausets
One book in Hebrew; the Septuagint divided it into two. The Talmud (A.D. 500) is the earliest authority that ascribes the book to Samuel (Baba Bathra 14:2). The Hebrew give it his name because its first part treats of his birth, life, and work. His death recorded in 1 Samuel 25 proves he did not write it all. The Talmud's view, adopted by learned Christian fathers, may be true of the first 24 chapters. That Samuel wrote memoirs, which Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer supplemented, appears from 1Ch 29:29; "now the acts ("history": dibrei) of David the king, first and last, behold they are written in the book ("history": dibrei) of Samuel the seer, and in the book ("history") of Nathan the prophet, and in the book ("history") of Gad the seer." Nehemiah is said in 2Ma 2:13 to have "gathered together the acts in the kings and the prophets." The internal notices favor a date of the memoirs used in compiling 1 and 2 Samuel before the due organization of the temple and Mosaic ritual.
For sacrifices are mentioned with tacit approval, or at least without apology, at other places (Mizpeh, Ramah, Bethel, and Araunah's threshing floor) than before the door of the tabernacle or temple, the only place permitted by the law (1Sa 7:9-10,17; 9:13; 10:3; 14:35; 2Sa 24:18-25). On the contrary the writer of 1 and 2 Kings stigmatizes the high places to Jehovah and blames the kings who sanctioned or connived at them (1Ki 15:14; 22:43; 2Ki 12:3; 14:4; 15:4,35; 16:4; 21:3). In the disestablishment of the Mosaic ritual consequent on the Philistine capture of the ark, and in the unsettled times that followed, even the godly followed Moses less strictly. Hence he is but twice mentioned in all Samuel, and then only as joined with Aaron in delivering Israel out of Egypt; the law is never mentioned (1Sa 12:6,8).
In Joshua "Moses" occurs 56 times; in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, after the captivity, when a return to the Mosaic standard, was the watchword of the civil and religious restoration, 31 times; in Kings, ten times; in the unsettled era of Judges, three times. Its early date is also implied by its purity of Hebrew as compared with the so-called Chaldaisms of Kings and the still more alloyed language of Chronicles. The passage (1Sa 27:6) "Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day" implies the division between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, but this is probably the comment of the last reviser. If it be the compiler's, then the compilation was made subsequently to the division. Though it does not record David's death it certainly takes it for granted (2Sa 5:5). This passage favors the view that the composition was shortly after his death.
That the composer used various existing materials appears from the distinct, but not irreconcilable, accounts of Saul's first acquaintance with David (1Sa 16:14-23; 17:55-58), also of Saul's death (1Sa 31:2-6,8-13; 2Sa 1:2-12), also of the origin of the proverb "is Saul also among the prophets?" (1Sa 10:9-12; 19:22-24). (See DAVID.) Summaries or endings of different memoirs incorporated by the composer appear in 1Sa 7:15-17; 14:47-52; 2Sa 8:15-18. The only book quoted is the Book of Jasher ("the upright", namely, "nation"), 2Sa 1:18, the bow song or elegy over Saul and Jonathan; once elsewhere (Jos 10:13).
The allusion to "the Lord's king and His anointed" (1Sa 2:10) does not imply that kings already existed, and that therefore this is not Hannah's genuine utterance (for she lived before any king in Israel), but prophetically points on to the necessary culmination of God's kingdom in the coming Messiah, and in David His typical forefather. Probably an inspired member of the schools of the prophets composed the book, incorporating in abridged form existing memoirs and records; so thought Theodoret, Athanasius, and Gregory. A recorder, remembrancer, or chronicler (mazkir) is first mentioned in David's reign (2Sa 8:16; 20:24). The details as to David in Bathsheba's affair, and of Amnon and Tamar, etc., etc., must have been furnished by contemporary memoirs written By persons having intimate access to the royal family. Prophets are prominent in Samuel.
Levites are mentioned only twice (1 Samuel 6; 2Sa 15:24), but thirty times in 1 Chronicles alone, containing David's history. The inspired author being of the prophetic schools naturally embodies Nathan's memoir as to his dealing with David in the Bathsheba sin, and in respect to the promise of permanence to his seed and throne (2 Samuel 7; 12), and Gad's dealing with him at the time of the plague (2 Samuel 24; also 1Sa 22:5). The phrase "Lord of hosts," 62 times found in Isaiah, occurs twice as often in Samuel as in all the other Old Testament histories put together. An undesigned coincidence confirming both occurs between 1Ch 10:12 (which omits notice of the burning), the men of Jabesh Gilead "buried Saul's and his son's bones," and 1Sa 31:12, "they burnt the bodies"; the bones in fragments alone remained after the burning.
Hannah's song must have been preserved by Samuel and incorporated by the compiler. The latter too derived from records David's elegies, 2Sa 1:19-27; 3:33-34; David's psalm, 2Sa 22:2-51; and his last words, 2Sa 23:1-8. Samuel contains, but Chronicles omit, David's kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9); the story of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11; 12); Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 13); the Gibeonites hanging Saul's seven sons (2 Samuel 21); the war with the Philistines (2Sa 21:15-17); David's song (2 Samuel 22), and last words (2 Samuel 23). Dates are seldom given. The period included is somewhat under 155 years, 1171-1015 B.C. The internal evidence of places, times, etc., accords with truthfulness. Christ stamps Samuel as canonical (Mt 12:1-4; compare Ac 3:24; Heb 11:32).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the sun will be silent, and the moon stood, till the people will be avenged upon its enemies. Is it not written upon the book of the upright? and the sun will stand in the half of the heavens, and it hasted not to go down for a whole day.
Jehovah, they contending against him, shall be broken; in the heavens he will break them in pieces: Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth, and he will give strength to his king, and he will lift up the horn of his Messiah.
And Samuel will take one fat lamb and bring up a burnt-offering wholly to Jehovah: and Samuel will cry to Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah will answer him. And Samuel will be bringing up the burnt-offering, and Philisteim drew near to war against Israel: and Jehovah will thunder with a great voice in that day upon Philisteim and he will discomfit them; and they will be smitten before Israel.
And Samuel will judge Israel all the days of his life. And he went as often as from year to year, and be turned about the House of God, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and he judged Israel in all these places. read more. And his turning back to Ramah; for there his house; and there he judged Israel; and he will build an altar there to Jehovah.
And his turning back to Ramah; for there his house; and there he judged Israel; and he will build an altar there to Jehovah.
As you come to the city thus ye shall find him, before he will go up to Bamah to eat: for the people will not eat till his coming, for he will bless the sacrifice; after this they being called will eat. And now go up, for this day ye shall find him.
And pass on from thence and beyond, and thou camest to the oak of Tabor, there three men shall find thee going up to God, to the house of God, one lifting up three kids and one lifting up three rounds of bread, and one lifting up a skin of wine.
And it was as he turned away his shoulder to go from Samuel, and God will turn to him another heart: and all these signs will come in that day. And they will come there to Gibeab, and behold, a band of prophets to meet him; and the spirit of God will fall suddenly upon him and he will prophesy in the midst of them. read more. And it will be all will know him from yesterday the third day, and will see him and behold, he prophesied with the prophets, and the people will say, a man to his neighbor, What was this to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And a man will answer from thence and will say, And who their father? For this it was for a parable, Is Saul also among the prophets?
And Samuel will say to the people, Jehovah who made Moses and Aaron, and who brought up your fathers from the land of Egypt
When Jacob came into Egypt, and your fathers will cry to Jehovah, and Jehovah will send Moses and Aaron, and they will bring forth your fathers from Egypt, and they will turn them back into this place.
And Saul will build an altar to Jehovah: this altar he began to build to Jehovah.
And Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and he will fight round about against all his enemies, against Moab and against the sons of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the rovers: and in all which he will turn he will disturb. And he will do in strength, and he will strike Amalek, and deliver Israel from the hand of him plundering him. read more. And the sons of Saul will be Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchisua; and the names of his two daughters, the name of the first-born, Merab, and the name of the small, Michal. And the name of Saul's wife Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the chief of his army, Abner, son of Ner, Saul's uncle. And Kish the father of Saul: and Ner the father of Abner, son of Abiel. And strong war will be against the rovers all the days of Saul: and Saul seeing every strong man and every son of strength, and he will gather him to him.
And the spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah terrified him. And Saul's servants will say to him, Behold now, an evil spirit of God terrifying thee. read more. Will our lord now say to thy servants before thee, Seek out a man knowing to play upon the harp: and it was in the evil spirit of God being upon thee, and he playing with the hand and doing good to thee. And Saul will say to his servants, See, now, a man to me being good to play, and bring to me. And one of his boys will answer and say, I saw a son to Jesse of the House of Bread, knowing to play, mighty of strength, and a man of war, and discerning the word, and a man of figure, and Jehovah with him. And Saul will send messengers to Jesse, and he will say, Send to me David thy son who is with the sheep. And Jesse will take a heap of bread and a sack of wine, and one kid of the goats, and he will send by the hand of David his son to Saul. And David will come to Saul, and stand before him: and he will love him greatly; and he will be to him lifting up the arms. And Saul will send to Jesse, saying, David shall stand now before me, for he found grace in mine eyes. And it was in the spirit of God being upon Saul, and David took the harp and played with his hand, and it was refreshed to Saul, and it was good to him, and the evil spirit departed from him.
And when Saul saw David going forth to meet the rover, he said to Abner, chief of the army, Whose son this boy, Abner? and Abner will say, Thy soul lives, O king, if I knew. And the king will say, Ask thou whose son this youth. read more. And as David turned back from striking the rover, and Abner will take him and bring him before Saul, and the head of the rover in his hand. And Saul will say to him, Whose son thou, O youth? And David will say, Thy servant the son of Jesse of the House of Bread.
And he also will go to Ramah, and he will come even to the great pit which is in Sechu: and he will ask and and say, Where Samuel and David? And it will be said, Behold, in Naioth in Ramah. And he will go there to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit of God will be upon him, him also, and going, he will go and prophesy even till his coming into Naioth in Ramah. read more. And he will also strip off his garments and prophesy, he also, before Samuel; and he will fall naked all that day and all the night. For this they will say, Is Saul also among the prophets.
And the prophet Gad will say to David, Thou shalt not dwell in the fortress; go, and come in for thyself to the land of Judah. And David will go and come to the thicket of Hareth.
And Achish will give to him in that day Ziklag; for this Ziklag was to the kings of Judah, even to this day.
And the rovers will stick fast to Saul and his sons; and the rovers will strike Jonathan and Abinadab and Melchisua, Saul's sons. And the war will be heavy to Saul, and the archers, men with the bow, will find him; and he will be greatly wounded from the archers. read more. And Saul will say to him lifting up his arms, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised shall come and thrust me through and mock upon me. And he lifting up his arms would not, for he will fear greatly; and Saul will take the sword and will fall upon it And he lifting up his arms will fear, for he saw Saul died; and he will fall, also he, upon his sword, and he will die with him. And Saul will die, and his three sons, and he lifting up his arms, also all his men in that day together.
And it will be on the morrow, and the rovers will come to strip the wounded, and they will find Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they will cut off his head, and they will strip off his arms, and send into the land of the rovers round about, to announce good news to the house of their images and to the people. read more. And they will put up his arms in the house of Ashtaroth: and his body they will hang up upon the wall of the House of Quiet And the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead will hear concerning him what the rovers did to Saul, And they will rise, every man of strength, and go all night and take the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the walls of the House of Quiet, and come to Jabesh, and burn them there.
And they will rise, every man of strength, and go all night and take the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the walls of the House of Quiet, and come to Jabesh, and burn them there. And they will take their bones and bury under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they will fast seven days.
(And he will say to teach the sons of Judah the bow: it was written upon the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel was wounded upon thy heights: how have the powerful fallen read more. Ye shall not announce in Gath, ye shall not announce the good news in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the rovers shall rejoice--lest the daughters of the uncircumcised shall exult Mountains of Gilboa, no dew and no rain upon you, and fields of offerings: for there the shield of the powerful was cast away--the shield of Saul as not anointed with oil. From the blood of the wounded and from the fat of the powerful, the bow of Jonathan drew not back in the rear, and the sword of Saul will not turn back empty. Saul and Jonathan beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not separated: they were swift above eagles, they were strong above lions. Daughters of Israel weep for Saul, having clothed you with scarlet, with delights; bringing up ornaments of gold upon your garments. How have the powerful fallen in the midst of the battle Jonathan wounded upon the heights! Distress to me for thee, my brother Jonathan: thou wert sweet to me exceedingly: thy love to me was wonderful above the love of women. How have the powerful fallen and the vessels of war perished.
And the king will lament for Abner, and he will say, As the fool died will Abner die? Thy hands not bound, and thy feet were not joined to fetters as falling before the sons of iniquity thou fellest. And all the people will add to weep over him.
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
And Joab, son of Zeruiah, over the army; and Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, remembering.
And behold, also Zadok, and all the Levites with him, lifting up the ark of the covenant of God; and they placed the ark of God: and Abiathar will go up till all the people finished passing over from the city.
And Adoniram over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, calling to mind:
And yet there will be war to the rovers with Israel; and David will go down, and his servants with him, and they will fight with the rovers: and David will be faint And Ishbi-Benob who was from the children of Rephaim, and the weight of his spear three hundred weight of brass, and he being girded with a new one, and he will say to strike David. read more. And Abishai son of Zeruiah will help for him. and he will strike the rover and kill him. Then David's men sware to him, saying, Thou shalt no more go forth with us to war, and thou shalt not quench the light of Israel.
And he will say, Jehovah my rock and my fastness and my deliverer; The God of my rock; I will trust in him: My shield and the horn of my salvation, my height and my refuge; My saviour; thou wilt save me from violence. read more. Praising, I will call Jehovah and shall be saved from mine enemies. For the breakers of death surrounded me The torrents of Beilal will terrify me; The pangs of hades surrounded me; The snares of death anticipated me; In straits to me I will call Jehovah, And to God will I call, And he will hear my voice from his temple, And my cry in his ears. And the earth will shake and tremble, The foundation of the heavens will be disturbed, And they will shake, for it kindled to him. Smoke went up in his anger, And fire from his mouth shall consume: Coals were kindled from it He will incline the heavens and come down; And darkness under his feet And he will ride upon a cherub and fly: And he will be seen upon the wings of the wind. And he will set darkness round about him for booths, The gatherings of waters the darkness of clouds. From the shining before him were coals of fire kindled: Jehovah will thunder from the heavens, And the Most High will give his voice. He will send arrows and scatter them lightning, and put them in commotion. The torrents of the sea will be seen, The foundations of the habitable globe will be uncovered, In the rebuke of Jehovah, from the breath of the spirit of his anger. He will send from height, he will take me; He will draw me out of many waters: He will deliver me from my strong enemy, From them hating me, for they were strong above me. They will anticipate me in the day of misfortune, And Jehovah will be a support to me: And he will bring me forth to a wide place; He will deliver me for he delighted in me. Jehovah will recompense me according to my justice: According to the cleanness of my hands he turned back to me. For I have watched the ways of Jehovah, And I acted not wickedly away from my God. For all his judgments before me, And his laws I will not depart from them. And I will be blameless to him, and I shall be washed from mine iniquity. Jehovah will turn back to me according to my justice: According to my cleanness before his eyes. With the merciful thou wilt be merciful, With the perfect man thou wilt be perfect With the chosen thou wilt be chosen, And with the perverse thou wilt be unseasoned. And the people of affliction thou wilt save: And thine eyes upon the lifted-up, thou wilt humble. For thou my light, O Jehovah: And Jehovah will enlighten my darkness. For in thee will I run, being pressed In my God will I leap over a wall. The Strong One, blameless his way The saying of Jehovah purified, A shield to all trusting in him. For who God besides Jehovah? And who a rock besides our God? The Strong One strengthening me with strength: And he will leave his way blameless. Setting my feet as the hinds: And upon the heights will he cause me to stand. Teaching my hands to the war, And bringing down the brazen bow by mine arm. And thou wilt give to me the shield of thy salvation, and thine answer will multiply me. Thou wilt enlarge my steps under me, And my joints were not unsteady. I will pursue mine enemies and destroy them I will not turn back even to finishing them. And I will consume them and crush them, and they shall not be raised up. Thou wilt fasten me together with strength for the war, Thou wilt subdue under me him rising up against me. And the neck of mine enemies wilt thou give to me Those hating me, and I will cut them oft They will look, and no saviour To Jehovah, and he answered them not And I will rub them as the dust of the earth: As the mire of the streets I will stamp them, I will beat them: And thou wilt save me from the strifes of my people, Thou wilt watch me for the head of nations: The people I have not known shall serve me. The sons of the stranger will lie to me: For the hearing of the ear they will hear to me. The sons of the stranger shall fail, and be girded from their enclosings. Jehovah living; and praised my rock: And God shall be lifted up, the rock of my salvation. The Strong One giving vengeance to me, And bringing down peoples under me. And bringing me out from mine enemies lifting me up from them rising up against me: From the man of violence thou wilt deliver me. For this will I praise thee, O Jehovah, in the nations, to thy name will I play on the harp. Magnifying the salvation of his king: And he has done mercy to his Messiah To David and to his seed even to forever
And these the last words of David. The declaration of David, son of Jesse, and the declaration of the man raised up for the Messiah of the God of Jacob, and the sweet songs of Israel. The spirit of Jehovah spake in me, and his word upon my tongue. read more. The God of Israel said to me, the Rock of Israel spake a parable upon the just man: a parable to fear God. And as the light of the morning the sun will rise: the morning not dense; from the shining of the rain bringing forth herbage from the earth. For not thus my house with the Strong One, for he set to me an eternal covenant, prepared in all, and watched: for all my salvation and delight will he not bring forth. And Belial as the thorn thrusting out are all they, for they will not be taken by the hand. And the man laboring in them shall be filled with iron and the wood of a spear; and in fire burning they shall burn in the dwelling. These the names of the mighty, which were to David: the Tachmonite dwelling in the dwelling, head of the third; he Adino the Eznite: against eight hundred wounded at one time.
And the heights were not turned aside: but Asa's heart was perfect with Jehovah all his days.
And he went in all the way of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it to do the straight in the eyes of Jehovah: But the heights were not removed; the people yet sacrificing and burning incense upon the heights.
And they will rise, every man of strength, and they will lift up the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and they will bring them to Jabesh, and they will bury their bones under an oak in Jabesh, and they will fast seven days.
And the first and the last words of David the king, behold them written upon the words of Samuel the seer, and upon the words of Nathan the prophet, and upon the words of Gad the seer,
In that time Jesus went in the sabbaths through the standing corn and his disciples were hungry, and begen to pluck the ears, end eat. And the Pharisees, seeing, said to him, Behold, thy disciples do what is not lawful to do in the sabbath. read more. And he said to them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they with him; How he went into the house of God, and ate the loaves of setting up, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor those with him, but for the priests alone?
And all the prophets from Samuel, and those in order, as many as spake, also announced beforehand these days.
And what more do I say? for the time will fail me recounting of Gedeon, Barak, and also Samson and Jephthae; David also, and Samuel, and the prophets: