Bible Study - 1 Samuel

About The Book Of 1st Samuel

The Talmud attributes the authorship to Samuel through chapter 24, then Gad the companion of David, and it was finished by the prophet Nathan. However, some modern scholars dispute this, usually without identifying a possible alternative. Regardless, the true authorship is unimportant.

Samuel was split into two parts with the First Rabbinic Bible in 1517. This makes sense as it was so long, like Kings and Chronicles, although they were split centuries earlier. 1 Samuel begins with the birth of Samuel and ends with the death of Saul in chapter 31. However, this structure separates the story of David, which spans from 1 Samuel 16 to 2 Samuel 5. And Samuel dies in chapter 25, which leaves him out of 2 Samuel entirely, other than the chain of events he was central to setting in motion. Much of this account is also found in Kings and Chronicles. However, it should be noted that historical accounts in ancient times were written under different rules and expectations than today. Authors would document what they found to be significant or supported the story they saw as important, omitting events and periods of time that may have been included by modern historians.

1st Samuel documents the transition from the time of Judges in which Samuel is born, about 1120 B.C., (about the start of the reign of Rameses X in Egypt,) to the time of Kings in Israel. Samuel plays a central role in this transition. In the time of the Judges, God was the king of the nation with judges who were his representative to the people as God's regent. The judges were prophet, judicial arbiter, and as needed, military commander in chief.

As we read 1st Samuel we should take great care not to read into the text what isn't there. It is a natural tendency to look at things through the lens of our day and our values. For example, some will think Elkanah is an ungodly man because he has two wives, or something else. However, that is judging based on our situation and time, not theirs. Or it is judging based on the unbiblical doctrine of men that is taught by so many churches. Polygamy is never said to be a sin in the Bible. In fact, it is commanded in the law in a specific circumstance. Scripture says it wasn't God's design. But for us today it is a sin because it is against the civil law we live under. If not for that it wouldn't necessarily be a sin. It would be very, very, very, very unwise, but not a sin. To be perfectly clear, I am absolutely, positively against polygamy. But that is from wisdom and study of the lives of those who did it, and because it's not the ideal that God intended. It is not because of some scriptural prohibition, because there is none. This is fact. For those who are triggered by it, I suggest prayer, reading scripture, and to stop listening to the pinheads that taught you such unbiblical nonsense.

In Progress

Currently this study is complete for chapters 1-14. Chapters 15-31 are on hold pending completion of other projects.

1 Samuel Bible Study