According to jewish tradition in the talmud samuel was author of chapters 124 of the first book which are the records of his time. A battle between israel and the philistines, in which the former are defeated, with the loss of four thousand men, 1 samuel 4. They resolve to give the philistines battle once more, and bring the ark of the lord, with hophni and phinehas the priests, into the. Samuel is also a prophethe tells people what god wants them to know. Now israel went out to battle against the philistines, and encamped beside ebenezer.
The israelites camped at ebenezer, and the philistines at aphek. Many years later, men translated the bible into the greek language the language of the new testament. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. You can find the best commentary on 12 samuel for you using the tools on the right side. Easyenglish is a system of simple english designed by wycliffe associates uk. In 1 samuel, god reluctantly raises up kings to rule the israelites. The words in the wilderness do not compel us to refer all of the plagues against the egyptians to the wilderness. Although jewish tradition attributes the book to samuel himself, this is.
Their division into two books each, as we now have them, originates with the socalled septuagint translation of the hebrew scriptures into greek, said to have been made in the third century b. A bible study in easyenglish 2800 word vocabulary on the book of 1 samuel. The book of samuel, or 1 samuel and 2 samuel, form part of the narrative history of israel in the neviim or prophets section of the hebrew bibleold testament, called the deuteronomistic history, a series of books joshua, judges, samuel and kings that constitute a theological history of the israelites and aim to explain gods law for israel under the guidance of the prophets. The plague among the philistines appears to have included an outbreak of mice as well see 1 samuel 6. Also included in this chapter is the first attempt of the jealous saul to kill david. The story of samuel begins with, funnily enough, the birth of samuel. Bible commentary 1 samuel 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 bibletrack. The narrative requires the statement that hophni and phinehas accompanied the ark, not merely that they were at shiloh, which. After being raised by the priest eli in temple, samuel becomes gods number one prophet.
Watch our overview video on the book of 1 samuel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Their division into two books each, as we now have them, originates with the socalled septuagint translation of the hebrew scriptures into. Perhaps you are a parent who is anxious about your child. I have never had a better text for a sermon, he says, grinning. Five golden mice images of the mice which had marred their land by destroying its fruits. They paid a great deference to their priests and diviners, and were willing to be directed in all things by them. Study the bible online using commentary on 1 samuel 4 and more. These pages walk you through scripture, providing helpful commentary and encouraging thoughtful interaction with god through his word. The narrative requires the statement that hophni and phinehas accompanied the ark, not merely that they were at shiloh, which we know already. About 1 samuel author the human writer of 1 samuel isnt mentioned in scripture, though it bears the name of the prophet who was the bridge between the time of the judges and the beginning of the monarchy in israel.
The old testament book of 1 samuel is a record of triumph and tragedy. They were not divided into two books until the old testament was translated into greek. Book of 1 samuel matthew henrys bible commentary concise. Moses told the priests to lead the ark into battle against the midianites numbers 31. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading 1 and 2 samuel tyndale old testament commentaries book 8. As the plagues worsened, the philistines returned the ark to the israelites in an attempt to pacify.
The lord raised up the prophet samuel at a time in the history of israel when they were disunited as a people and very determined to have a king reign over them. Psalms 2 and in which place solomon was going to build the temple in a later day 1 king 6 8. Israel went out to engage them in battle and camped at ebenezer, while the philistines camped at aphek. Israel set up camp at ebenezer, the philistines at aphek. Of course, its the book about jesus christ, the greatest god, who answers. Then said they, what shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him.
Samuel does not seem to be with the ark when it is foolishly taken into battle against the philistines in chapter 4. The threshold of dagons temple was ever looked upon as sacred, and not to be trodden on, v. The purpose of the story in1samuel46 of the arks imprisonment in philistia and its. The following commentary covers chapters 4, 5, and 6. Introduction to book of 1 samuel, israels first king. Up until this point in biblical history, the israelites have not had a king. The birth of samuel takes place during the time of anarchy reflected. For it being so loud as to make the earth ring, it was heard in the camp of the philistines, which might not be at any great distance from the camp of israel. These things they offered, not in contempt of god, for they sought to gain his. After a fierce struggle israel was defeated by the philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield. A striking indication that this is an independent narrative is the absence of any mention of samuel. Samuel is strangely absent from the narrative of chapters 46.
The philistines and gods overruling providence in judgment. Its three main characters, samuel the prophet, saul, and david are among the most powerful people in the bible, yet their lives were scarred by farreaching mistakes. Bobdeffinbaugh graduated from dallas theological seminary with his th. Samuel is strangely absent from the narrative of chapters 4 6. Some think that reference is had to this superstitious usage of dagons worshippers in zep. Sidlow baxter in the hebrew manuscripts, 1 and 2 samuel form but one book, as also do 1 and 2 kings and 1 and 2 chronicles. Nov 15, 2015 1 1 and 2 samuel form a single book in a recent publication, the books of the bible, published by zondervan in 2012. This book tells the story of samuels life and the first king of israel, saul.
Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills exposition. Bob is a pastorteacher and elder at community bible chapel in richardson, texas, and has contributed many of his bible study series for use by the foundation. Read 1 samuel 4 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. His name is not mentioned from chapter 4, verse 2, through chapter 7, verse 2.
According to the number of the lords of the philistines who were five, and were to be at the charge of offering one for each of them. Gad and nathan the prophets are considered to be the authors of chapters 2531 and the whole of the second book of samuel. It is only david who finally brings the ark to zion, to the place which jehovah had chosen to set his name there 2 samuel 6, compare deuteronomy 12. Study 1 samuel using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. David guzik commentary on 1 samuel 4 describes how the ark of the. Psalms 2 and in which place solomon was going to build the temple in a later day 1 king 68. Five golden emerods figures in gold representing the disease. Mar 17, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of 1 samuel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. They resolve to give the philistines battle once more, and bring the ark of the lord, with hophni and phinehas the priests, into the camp, 1 samuel 4. This indicates the close proximity of ebenezer and aphek, the respective camps of israel and their philistine foes.
Now the israelites went out to fight against the philistines. During samuels life, the israelites decide that they want to have a king. Although it may have been difficult for hannah to give her son up, she demonstrated great trust that god would take care of samuel. The philistines send the ark back to the israelites. Jewish tradition attributes the book to samuel himself, this is unlikely because the events described extended past the life of the. He is not a part of the humiliation of the philistines in chapters 5 and 6. And when the philistines heard the noise of the shout. God made samuel a great man, he was a judge 1 samuel 7. Now israel went out against the philistines to battle, and pitched beside. This appears to be a story only about a childless woman who brings her problem to the lord and finds help.