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O l d T e s t a m e n t G u i d e
1 & 2 Samuel
By Antonio Fuentes
The two books under Samuel's name in the Greek version of the
Septuagint correspond to one book in the Hebrew Bible located among the
"later prophets." The Vulgate, following the Greek, puts 1 and 2
Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings under the same heading, 1-4 Kings. The New Vulgate
shows 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings as separate.
In line with Hebrew tradition, we can say that the inspired writer of the first
book was the prophet Samuel himself, at least up to chapter 25, where his death
is described. The rest of that book and all the second book are attributed to
two other prophets, Gad and Nathan. However, some scholars question the
attribution of the first part of the first book to Samuel on the grounds that
the events it recounts refer to a period other than that in which Samuel lived.
Some think that Ezra wrote chapters 1-25, using an early original of Samuel's
and various writings from the time of David to produce a survey of the period
from the start of the monarchy up to the end of David's reign, a period of some
one hundred and fifty years.
The main purpose of 1 and 2 Samuel is to provide a history of the foundation of
the kingdom of Israel and the settlement of the throne on David and his line. It
will be remembered that at the end of Judges the people saw a monarchy as the
only way out of a situation of internal strife and anarchy. Outside enemies had
been reduced to one--the Philistines, who were established along the
Mediterranean coast; but the Philistines were so formidable and expansionist
that the very survival of Israel seemed to be at stake, and the tribes really
needed to combine forces.
Samuel, who is regarded as the last of the judges, was the man chosen to bring
about this unification. God used him to make Saul the first king of Israel.
Everything connected with this choice of Saul, as with later events resulting
from it, shows that God is still with his people; he is going to bring them to
new political and military heights.
The Philistines are defeated, though not brought under total control. Like the
Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Aramites, they become tributaries of Israel.
This whole campaign was brought to a conclusion during the reign of David, whose
vassal even the king of Tyre became. The effect of all this is that all
Transjordania came to be dominated by David.
Despite these impressive victories the unity of the tribes of Israel under one
king was still somewhat artificial. It was very much dependent on the military
and political genius of David, who managed to get the twelve tribes to pull
together: But differences among them ran deep; their underlying causes were not
removed and later led to permanent divisions. David was shrewd enough to unite
the two previously separated kingdoms (north and south), but the distinction
between them still remained, and a final schism took place after David's death,
accelerated by the unfortunate policy of his son Solomon, who started well and
finished badly.
1 and 2 Samuel are structured in four parts, with an appendix. The first part
covers the miraculous birth of Samuel and his upbringing in the Temple. Here we
should note especially the canticle of his mother, Hannah, after Samuel is
consecrated in the temple of Shiloh; it is one of the most beautiful hymns in
the Old Testament (1 Sam. 2:1-10) and is regarded as an anticipation of the
Magnificat, echoing as it does the messianic hopes of the anawim (= the
poor, the humble). God will enrich the poor and bring down the proud. The
nations will fear the Anointed (the Christ) who will reign over them so that his
name will be honored to the ends of the Earth.
The narrative then goes on to describe the first war against the Philistines:
The Israelites lose, and the ark falls into the hands of their worst enemies. In
the second part (1 Sam. 8-15) the establishment of the monarchy is described and
the consecration of Saul as king. The people ask for a king, and Samuel at first
refuses, but then God tells him to do what they want and in fact nominates Saul.
Samuel proclaims Saul king, after anointing him with oil to show that he is a
sacred person. In 1 Sam. 9:16 God's providence shines out; he fills Saul with
the insight and courage necessary to give his people good government.
After Saul's coronation his divine election is confirmed by his great victories
over the Amalekites. Once Samuel retires from his position as judge, the book
goes on to describe more of Saul's victories. Despite all these victories, God
rejects Saul because he transgresses his commandments.
We noted that during the period of the judges Israel very often failed to stay
loyal to God. The same thing happens under the monarchy. Saul himself is
rejected--which again shows that God chooses people irrespective of their merits
and then expects them to remain true to the grace received.
The third section (1 Sam. 16 - 2 Sam. 1) deals with the relationship between
Saul and David. At God's express wish, David is secretly anointed, and Saul, in
his jealousy, does everything to kill him. David has to flee, and he remains a
fugitive until Saul and his son Jonathan are killed in battle against the
Philistines. David with his usual magnanimity composes a funeral eulogy in their
honor. In the fourth part (2 Sam. 2-20) the narrative centers on David: the
civil war, ending with the deaths of Abner and Ish-Bosheth, the pretender to the
throne of Judah; the transfer of the ark to Jerusalem, which David makes his
capital; the messianic promise that an eternal throne will be given to one of
David's lineage (2 Sam. 7:12ff). The exceptional peace which ensued was
disturbed by King David's double sin, followed by Absolam's conspiracy and
death.
2 Samuel 11:4ff deals with these sins of David--his adultery with Bathsheba and
his arrangement of her husband's death in battle. God condemns David's sin--and
punishes him for it--but hope of pardon is present throughout the narrative. God
allowed David, whose life had been so upright, to sin in this serious way in
order to show his mercy and forgiveness--the final expression of this being the
messiahship of his descendant. After this episode David changes completely and
remains contrite until his death.
In an appendix (2 Sam. 21-24) two great calamities are reported--a famine which
lasts for three years, ending when David makes satisfaction to the Gibeonites
for a wrong done them; then the three days of pestilence which ravages the
entire country from Dan to Beersheba. The end of the book also contains an
account of David's deeds against the Philistines, his song of deliverance, and
the prophetic messianic oracle about David's lineage.
Samuel makes more explicit God's promise of salvation given to our first parents
and developed in the sacred books. Many centuries of checkered history must pass
before this promise finds its fulfillment and the kingdom of God is established
on Earth. David's reign is one of relative peace, preceded by the fall of Saul
and following the infidelities of Solomon. When least expected, God sends a
message of hope, in the form of a prophecy by Nathan to the effect that God will
establish his offspring on his throne forever:
"When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will
raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I
will establish his kingdom....And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure
forever before me; your throne shall be established forever" (2 Sam.
7:12-16).
The New Testament repeatedly refers to this prophecy (cf. Luke 1:32-33, Acts
2:30, 2 Cor. 6:18, Heb. 1:5), and the Fathers see it as referring to Jesus
Christ, the promised Messiah: Chosen to bring salvation to all, he was
persecuted by those of his own house; although he was humiliated, he pardoned
and atoned for the behavior of those who ill treated him; in his meekness he did
not rebel but rather acted with infinite patience.
David, who originates the dynasty which will eventually lead to the fulfillment
of God's promise of salvation, was one of the most humble and devout
personalities in the Old Testament. He was the first man since Moses to unite
the various Israelite tribes, spiritually as well as politically. He led them to
victory over their enemies, but, what was more important, he renewed their faith
in their covenant with Yahweh and taught them an all-important lesson--never to
embark on any enterprise without first consulting Yahweh their God.
His sense of devotion led him to take particular care of everything to do with
the worship of God. Even in his old age his piety never faltered, and it stood
to him when he fell into sin, leading him to repentance and atonement.
He was a humble man. He admitted his sins and was not ashamed to weep before
God, whom weakness caused him to offend. As a prophet he composed songs
extolling the future Messiah who will be his descendant--the "son of
David," whom later prophets will call "King David" (Jer. 30:9,
Hos. 3:5), "My servant David" (Ezek. 34:23, 37:24)--the best praise
God could give this faithful and pious king.