1 And 2 Samuel

by Evans, Mary J.

• ISBN13: 9781565632158
• ISBN10: 156563215X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-01
• Publisher: Hendrickson Pub

Summary

Identifying three streams of concern in the books of Samuel (politics, people, and preaching), Mary Evans demonstrates how each of these manifests itself in the underlying and unifying theme of power-and powerlessness. She then uses this concept of power as a fascinating matrix for interpreting the events God ordains and the characters God uses in biblical history. Evans defends her case for the unity of the books that we divide into 1 and 2 Samuel with a sensitivity to the composition of the text and the intentionality of the various writers who had a hand in bringing the different accounts together. The discussion interacts with the parallel material in Chronicles and Kings and recognizes the importance of the themes of covenant and law, especially from the Deuteronomic perspective. The commentary, with its additional notes, also includes a good breadth of references to scholarly debate and discussion on various issues. Evans brings the often theologically difficult text of Samuel and the complex characters of Samuel, Saul, David, and others into sharp focus

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
Abbreviations	xiii
Introduction	1	(14)
Hannah's Child (1 Sam. 1:1--28)	15	(5)
Hannah's Song (1 Sam. 2:1--11)	20	(3)
Eli's Successor (1 Sam. 2:12--36)	23	(5)
Samuel's Calling (1 Sam. 3:1--4:1a)	28	(3)
The Ark---Lost and Regained (1 Sam. 4:1b--7:1)	31	(7)
Samuel's Ministry (1 Sam. 7:2--17)	38	(3)
The Request for a King (1 Sam. 8:1--22)	41	(3)
The Anointing of Saul (1 Sam. 9:1--10:8)	44	(5)
The Coronation and Confirmation of Saul (1 Sam. 10:9--11:15)	49	(6)
Samuel Addresses the People (1 Sam. 12:1--25)	55	(5)
Saul's Initial Problems (1 Sam. 13:1--22)	60	(5)
Jonathan's Success (1 Sam. 13:23--14:23)	65	(4)
A Foolish Curse (1 Sam. 14:24--52)	69	(4)
Saul Is Rejected (1 Sam. 15:1--25)	73	(5)
Introducing David (1 Sam. 16:1--23)	78	(5)
David's Growing Fame (1 Sam. 17:1--18:5)	83	(4)
Saul's Resentful Fear of David (1 Sam. 18:6--19:24)	87	(6)
Jonathan Is Faithful to His Covenant with David (1 Sam. 20:1--42)	93	(4)
David's Plight---The Priests at Nob (1 Sam. 21:1--22:23)	97	(5)
Saul Seeks Out David (1 Sam. 23:1--29)	102	(5)
Saul's First Escape (1 Sam. 24:1--22)	107	(5)
David and Abigail (1 Sam. 25:1--44)	112	(5)
Saul's Second Escape (1 Sam. 26:1--25)	117	(5)
The Philistine Campaign (1 Sam. 27--29)	122	(8)
Victory and Defeat (1 Sam. 30:1--31:13)	130	(8)
The Report of Saul's Death (2 Sam. 1:1--16)	138	(4)
David's Lament (2 Sam. 1:17--27)	142	(3)
David's Rise to Power Begins (2 Sam. 2:1--3:5)	145	(5)
The Murders of Abner and Ish-Bosheth (2 Sam. 3:6--4:12)	150	(7)
Confirmation and Consolidation (2 Sam. 5:1--25)	157	(4)
The Ark Comes to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:1--23)	161	(6)
God's Covenant with David (2 Sam. 7:1--29)	167	(5)
War and Peace---Enemies and Friends (2 Sam. 8:1--9:13)	172	(6)
The Ammonites Are Defeated (2 Sam. 10:1--19)	178	(4)
David and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:1--12:31)	182	(10)
Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom (2 Sam. 13:1--39)	192	(4)
Absalom---In Geshur and Jerusalem (2 Sam. 14:1--15:9)	196	(6)
Absalom's Rebellion Begins (2 Sam. 15:10--16:14)	202	(7)
Plans for Civil War (2 Sam. 16:15--17:29)	209	(5)
Absalom's Defeat (2 Sam. 18:1--19:8a)	214	(5)
Return to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 19:8b--43)	219	(4)
Sheba's Rebellion (2 Sam. 20:1--26)	223	(5)
Additional Information (2 Sam. 21:1--24:25)	228	(23)
The Famine, Its Cause, and Its Remedy (2 Sam. 21:1--14)	229	(3)
War Stories (2 Sam. 21:15--22)	232	(2)
A Psalm of Thanksgiving (2 Sam. 22:1--51)	234	(4)
A Final Statement (2 Sam. 23:1--7)	238	(3)
The Honors List (2 Sam. 23:8--39)	241	(4)
The Census and Its Aftermath (2 Sam. 24:1--25)	245	(6)
For Further Reading	251	(6)
Subject Index	257	(6)
Scripture Index	263