1 Samuel Chapters 1-15
Samuel and Saul
Theme of 1 Samuel: The rise of David from obscure shepherd boy to king of Israel.
The approximate time between the Israelites' entry into Canaan and the establishment of the monarchy in Israel is 200 years.
Samuel
God chooses Samuel from before birth to serve him. Elkanah is the husband of Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah was able to have several children while Hannah was childless. Hannah went to the Temple to pray for a son, Eli, the high priest, saw her praying and thought she was drunk. He approaches her and tries to get her to leave. She explains that she is not drunk and explains her predicament. Hannah vowed that if she were to give birth to a son, she would devote him to the Lord's service. She goes home, bears a son by her husband, namely Samuel, and follows through on her promise to God. After he is weaned, Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord at Shiloh where Eli is priest.
Samuel lives in the temple at Shiloh with Eli. Eli acts as Samuel's mentor. Then came Samuel's call from the LORD. He was still a young boy when he heard the LORD speak to him in the night. Thinking Eli was calling him, he awakened the old man to ask what it was he wanted. Eli told him that he had not called. Samuel heard the voice once again and once more went to Eli and got the same answer. The third time, Eli told him that the LORD must have been calling. Then Samuel answered and was told that he eventually would replace Eli. Eli's family, furthermore, would meet with disaster (3:2-14). When Eli's health and power decline, God elevates Samuel to a position of moral leadership, ensuring that the rituals centered on the Ark of the Covenant will be properly observed. Samuel was priest and prophet and the last of the judges.
The Philistine Crisis
The first seven chapters of 1 Samuel describe Samuel's career. These first seven chapters also paint a bleak picture of Israel's political and religious situation, which is now even more desperate than that portrayed in Judges. Eli is feeble, and his sons are corrupt. These two unholy sons of Eli are named Hophni and Phineas. It was their idea to take the Ark of the Covenant into battle with the Philistines. The Philistines defeat the Israelites, kill the two sons and take the Ark of the Covenant. Eli died upon hearing this news. Israel's loss of its most sacred possession is a terrible blow to national prestige, but its captors receive no benefits. The Philistines are afflicted with a strange plague of tumors, which they attribute to the Ark's presence among them. Although a twenty-year peace ensues following the Ark's return to Israel, continued Philistine hostility denies the Hebrews any real security.
Samuel and Saul
Pressured by the Philistines and other aggressors, many Israelites may have doubted their nation's continued existence. With this uncertain future for Israel, pragmatic tribal leaders seem to have decided that national survival required the political unity that only an able king could give. (Read 1 Samuel 8:10-20.) Samuel warns the people that a monarchy will exploit the people economically, including outright confiscation of their best property (1 Sam. 8:10-22). But when the people insist, Samuel privately anoints Saul who is a member of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Sam. 9:14-10:8). This is approximately 1020 B.C.E. Samuel's choice of Saul is logical. Saul was tall, handsome, and brave. In addition, he belonged to a tribe so small and insignificant that his election does not arouse tribal jealousies.
Samuel withdraws his support of Saul
The incidents over which Samuel withdraws his support illustrate what an impossible position Saul was in. Saul performs the necessary sacrifices and ritual before going into battle because it appeared that Samuel was not coming. In addition, Saul's army is deserting in droves. Just as Saul is finishing the ritual Samuel arrives and denounces Saul for usurping priestly prerogatives (1 Sam. 13:8-15). Note that both David and Solomon later routinely assume priestly duties.
The decisive break occurs when Saul, spares the life of Agag, an Amalekite king, who has been placed under the ban and designated as a sacrifice to God. Nor did he destroy the Amalekite herds. Instead, he took them as spoils of war (15:7-9). Furious, Samuel proceeds to butcher Agag as an offering to God (1 Sam. 15:10-33). With this final act of rebellion, Samuel withdrew his support from Saul and refused to speak to him again. These are the two major reasons why Saul was rejected by God as king of Israel. Withdrawing the support of Israel's religious institutions, Samuel not only repudiates Saul but also ensures his political demise. Saul is depicted as suffering from epilepsy and extreme depression. He rapidly loses control of events, particularly when the Philistines launch a new attack.