1Samuel 8 – The demand for a king

The Iron Crown of the Lombards, a surviving example of an early medieval royal crown

The demand for a King

‘When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. … But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.  So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.  They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
(8:1, 3-5)

This passage is dripping with irony.  First Eli’s sons were no good and then Samuel’s sons were also bad and for this reason, the people want a king!  The very definition of a King is that the sons (or daughters now for UK Royal family) regardless of how good they are will become the absolute ruler.  So it’s very ironic that the reason they give for wanting a king is that Samuel’s sons are no good.  We see the real reason come in verses 19-20:

‘But the people refused to listen to Samuel.  “No!” they said.  “We want a king over us.  Then we will be like all the other nations, with a King to lead us and to go our before us and fight our battles.” (8:19-20).

‘V 20 shows that although the elders wanted Israel to be able to defeat other nations, they also wanted to adopt the patterns set by other nations. Consciously or unconsciously, God’s people are always under social pressure to conform to the ways of the world.’ (Payne).  Paul warns us of the same danger:

‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.’ (Rom 12:2).

1Samuel 3 – Here I am

Icon of the prophet Samuel from the 17th century. Tempera on wood. In the collection of the Donetsk regional art museum.

Samuel a young boy, living and serving in the temple, under the priest Eli.  We see Eli now as an ageing man, his sight is failing. So Samuel is looking after Eli, as well as helping with His priestly duties.  

‘in those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions’ (v1)

The people had not heard much from God, and as this small boy goes to sleep in a place filled with reminders of God speaking to his people:

‘Samuel was lying down in the house of the lord where the ark of the Covenant was’ (v3)

And so God speaks and calls out to Samuel.  Samuel thinks its Eli that is calling out to him and so goes to Eli, and this repeats 3 times.

We are told:

‘Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him’  (v7)

No wonder Samuel doesn’t answer the lord.  I think we must see this as Eli’s failing, he has had Samuel in the temple for at least a couple of years.  Why had Eli not given Samuel any expectation of the presence of God in the sacred space where he lives, works and sleeps?

We see in the chapter before of Eli’s failings with his own Sons ‘Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord’ (1 Samuel 2:12).  We also read about how Eli doesn’t try and reign in his sons and lets them get away some terrible things.

But Eli does on the third time of Samuel coming to him realise what’s going on and tells Samuel how to respond.

And then we hear what God says, and this one of my favorite verses in the Bible:

‘And the Lord said to Samuel: “See I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.’

What must Samuel have thought, when God told him that he was going to do something so big that the ears of everyone who heard it would tingle.  Samuel, must have had big expectations from then on.

1st time Samuel speaks: ‘Here I am’ (v4)

2nd time Samuel speaks: ‘Here I am, you called me’ (v5)

3rd time Samuel speaks: ‘Here I am; you called me’ (v6)

4th time Samuel speaks: ‘Here I am; you called me. (v8)

5th time Samuel speaks: ‘Speak for your servant is listening’ (v10)

Servant-hearted, ready to respond to being called, reliable, committed, patient.  Are we always ready to respond to the call of God in our lives like Samuel?

1Samuel 1 – First words

A lecturer once told me that within Hebrew story writing the first words of a character are meant to give a clue about that person and how they will turn out.  It is meant to give an insight into their personality or something about them.  Upon asking another lecturer if this was the case they were quite dismissive!   I thought we would explore this a little in the opening chapter of 1 Samuel by looking at the first words of a few characters:

The first is Hannah’s husband:

‘Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping?  Why don’t you eat?  Why are you downhearted?  Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1Samuel 1:8).

First of all his first words are introduced by him being called ‘Her husband’ which in itself tells us something about his character not be very important in the story.  He certainly doesn’t come across very well, he doesn’t understand his wife’s pain and what the situation means to her.

Hannah:

‘And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1Samuel 1:11).

We see Hannah’s first words are very serious, she makes a vow to God, and pleads with God to give her a son who she will give back to the Lord.  Serious heartfelt words, but like Elkanah she is not really a major character after the first few chapters so this doesn’t tell us too much.

Eli:

‘and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk?  Put away your wine.”’ (1Samuel 1:12).

This one might be a little more revealing.  Eli misreads the situation and thinks Hannah is drunk.  What is interesting here is that his first words are to condemn the innocent Hannah whereas in fact as we find out he is unable to keep his own sons bad behaviour in check.

Samuel:

 ‘The the Lord called Samuel.  Samuel answered, “Here I am.” (1Samuel 3:4).

This certainly fits with Samuel’s character.  Samuel’s first words show him to be ready and listening, a servant of the Lord.

So can we conclude that there is something in the first words of a character?  Hmm for me the idea needs more exploring but I certainly think it merits looking into a bit more.  I will try to come back to this in another blog later on.  The useful point is that if the first words are meant to be revealing (something we can check with the main characters throughout the story) then we might learn something more about the minor characters who only appear briefly and speak very little because the writer might be telling us more then we might initially think.