Difference between revisions of "Samuel"
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| − | '''Samuel''' (Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל, pronunced "Shmu'el") | + | '''Samuel''' (Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל, pronunced "Shmu'el") (15 January 1151 BC–fl. 18 June 1101 BC–ca. 1060 BC) was the fifteenth and last [[Judge (biblical)|Judge]] and the first of the major [[prophet]]s of [[Israel]] in the [[Bible]]. Given as a gift to serve God when God answerd the prayers of his mother to allow her to become pregnant, Samuel served in the temple under [[Eli]] and heard God call him. God had to call him several times as each time Samuel would go to Eli, not realizing it was God. |
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| + | Samuel marks the transition from the time of the [[Judge (biblical)|judges]] to the time of Kings. Samuel annoints [[Saul]] as king and later designates [[David]] as the next king. Samuel's deeds are described in the book of [[I Samuel]]. | ||
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| + | == Name == | ||
| + | The name of Samuel means either "heard of God" (from the same root at the name of [[Ishmael]], meaning God hears)<ref name=WebBible>"[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/samuel.html Samuel]," WebBible Encyclopedia, n.d. Accessed December 26, 2008.</ref> or "name of God" (from the same root as the name of [[Shem]], meaning renown or name).<ref name=Blank>Blank, Wayne, "[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/samuel.htm Samuel]," Daily Bible Study, 2001. Accessed December 26, 2008.</ref> | ||
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| + | == Chronological placement == | ||
| + | [[Floyd Nolen Jones]]<ref name=Jones>Jones, Floyd N., ''The Chronology of the Old Testament,'' Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2004, p. 279 and Chart 4</ref> dates Samuel's career from the date of the Fall of the Temple of Dagon ([[Samson]]'s revenge) to five years before King [[Saul]] fell in battle with the [[Philistine]]s. Archbishop [[William Lloyd]], in 1701, had suggested that Samuel had been born twenty years earlier, as shown in the marginal dates in some surviving copies of the [[Authorized Version]] of the Bible. | ||
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| + | == Critical views == | ||
| + | By tradition, Samuel wrote most of the first of the books that bear his name, and the prophet Nathan and a minor seer named Gad wrote the rest. Some modern authorities suggest instead that the present Books of Samuel (originally published as one volume) were written much later than the events that they describe, and are actually compilations of often inconsistent stories. <ref name=Hirsch1>Hirsch EG, Bachler W, and Lauterbach JZ, "[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=130&letter=S Samuel]," ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'', n.d. Accessed December 26, 2008.</ref><ref name=Britannica> "Samuel." ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Accessed December 26, 2008 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/520794/Samuel>.</ref><ref name=Hirsch2>Hirsch EG, "[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=131&letter=S Samuel, Books of]," ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'', n.d. Accessed December 26, 2008.</ref> Hirsch also declares, with no warrant, that the [[Masoretic Text]] of the books of Samuel is "corrupt."<ref name=Hirsch2/> | ||
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| + | The main objection seems to be to the two different narratives concerning the accession of Saul. But these authorities never consider that Saul might have received two separate acclamations. The first acclamation occurs after a choice by lot. The apparent reliance on [[randomness]] is misleading. [[God]] is Sovereign over all events, and therefore nothing is truly random. The second acclamation follows a military victory as decisive as the victory of [[Gideon]], and such a victory would be a further sign that Saul had the blessing of God, at least at first. | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
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{{nb Judges}} | {{nb Judges}} | ||
[[Category:Biblical Persons]] | [[Category:Biblical Persons]] | ||
[[Category:Jewish People]] | [[Category:Jewish People]] | ||
Revision as of 20:38, December 26, 2008
Samuel (Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל, pronunced "Shmu'el") (15 January 1151 BC–fl. 18 June 1101 BC–ca. 1060 BC) was the fifteenth and last Judge and the first of the major prophets of Israel in the Bible. Given as a gift to serve God when God answerd the prayers of his mother to allow her to become pregnant, Samuel served in the temple under Eli and heard God call him. God had to call him several times as each time Samuel would go to Eli, not realizing it was God.
Samuel marks the transition from the time of the judges to the time of Kings. Samuel annoints Saul as king and later designates David as the next king. Samuel's deeds are described in the book of I Samuel.
Name
The name of Samuel means either "heard of God" (from the same root at the name of Ishmael, meaning God hears)[1] or "name of God" (from the same root as the name of Shem, meaning renown or name).[2]
Chronological placement
Floyd Nolen Jones[3] dates Samuel's career from the date of the Fall of the Temple of Dagon (Samson's revenge) to five years before King Saul fell in battle with the Philistines. Archbishop William Lloyd, in 1701, had suggested that Samuel had been born twenty years earlier, as shown in the marginal dates in some surviving copies of the Authorized Version of the Bible.
Critical views
By tradition, Samuel wrote most of the first of the books that bear his name, and the prophet Nathan and a minor seer named Gad wrote the rest. Some modern authorities suggest instead that the present Books of Samuel (originally published as one volume) were written much later than the events that they describe, and are actually compilations of often inconsistent stories. [4][5][6] Hirsch also declares, with no warrant, that the Masoretic Text of the books of Samuel is "corrupt."[6]
The main objection seems to be to the two different narratives concerning the accession of Saul. But these authorities never consider that Saul might have received two separate acclamations. The first acclamation occurs after a choice by lot. The apparent reliance on randomness is misleading. God is Sovereign over all events, and therefore nothing is truly random. The second acclamation follows a military victory as decisive as the victory of Gideon, and such a victory would be a further sign that Saul had the blessing of God, at least at first.
References
- ↑ "Samuel," WebBible Encyclopedia, n.d. Accessed December 26, 2008.
- ↑ Blank, Wayne, "Samuel," Daily Bible Study, 2001. Accessed December 26, 2008.
- ↑ Jones, Floyd N., The Chronology of the Old Testament, Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2004, p. 279 and Chart 4
- ↑ Hirsch EG, Bachler W, and Lauterbach JZ, "Samuel," The Jewish Encyclopedia, n.d. Accessed December 26, 2008.
- ↑ "Samuel." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Accessed December 26, 2008 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/520794/Samuel>.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hirsch EG, "Samuel, Books of," The Jewish Encyclopedia, n.d. Accessed December 26, 2008.
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