I Samuel (Revisted)
As you look over the material in I Samuel again, does it seem to you that this book is best classified as history, prophecy, or tragedy? Is there perhaps a better classification for this book? Give an example/examples to support your view.
posted by Ancient Art at 3:48 PM
7 Comments:
I think the book of I Samuel is a series of tragedies. It illustrates tragedies between families, government and the relationship of God and man. Right from the beginning, there is a conflict: a husband with two wives, one who has children and the other who does not. The author specifically used this story to begin with to illustrate how family issues can have a huge impact on bigger issues in society. We later have the story of Eli and his evils sons, another tragedy within the family, which also leads to the government. With no one to judge the Israelites, they beg for a king. This trend continues throughout the book.
What amazes me the most is the fact that we still see these issues today. There are still conflicts, which lead to tragedies within the family. There are sill tragedies within the government and between mankind and religion.
I think the 1 Samuel is all three: history, tragedy, prophecy.
It fits in the category of prophecy because twice Samuel tells Saul that his kingdom would be torn from his grasp and given over to his neighbor [David]. And this does happen. Throughout his kingship, Saiul loses control of his kingdom as it is repeated atacked by his enemies and it is given over to david after Saul's death.
This book falls into the category of history because it records the events that took place in Israel under the reign of Saul. Israel was fighting for its survival from its idolatrous neighbors. How the nation of Israel came to have a king is recorded. The people pleaded for a king and God reluctantly gave them one saying they would regret it. And so Saul became the first king of Israel but became corruptd by power and greed, stopped obeying God, and lated died because of it.
This book is a tagedy because was appointed by God to be king of Israel. At first Saul obeyed God, but then he fell into the trap that the people of Israel fell into, by disobeying God's commands and becoming filled with greed and envy. Saul became jealous of David when he realized that David would be the one to succeed him to the throne of Israel and the David was more loved by the people of Israel than he was. So he seeks to kill David. Blinded by his jealousy, Saul neglects to care for the nation of Israel and as result a result Israle's enemied repeated attack them. Innocent people die becasue of Saul's selfishness. His son Jonathan is among them. Jonathan as faithful to God and helped David in hid time of Exile, but he later dies in battle alongside Saul, in Saul's last attempt to make up for his misdeeds.
I Samuel is a book of history and tragedies of the Hebrews during the transition from the judges to a monarchy.
It is a history because it goes in chronological order from Samuel's upbringing to becoming one of the judges and choosing the future king. Samuel first chose Saul but eventually decides to anoint David the future king.
I Samuel is also tragedy because many of the conflicts that occur in I Samuel were due to turning away from God and turning toward the rituals of their neighbors. From worshipping idols and Baal to wanting a King, the Hebrews wanted to imitate their neighbors. God wanted them to be unique but they resisted God's requests. The Hebrews were in constant conflict with their neighbors and with themselves over power. It was tragic that the Hebrews were struggling to fight their neighbors while trying to imitate them and establish a national identity at the same time. Fortunately, the hero of the Hebrews, David, slowly gains control of Israel and restores both order and the people's devotion to the one true God.
Because Samuel I is part of a religious text I do not believe that this book can be classified as history. The book does contain a lot of history that individuals can separate from the religious aspect of the book. In my opinion the book can be taken as history but I am biased in that I believe the book is the inspired word of God.
The book also contains prophesy for individuals interested in that aspect of the book. The first “tragic” part that I noticed was Eli allowing the people to be led astray by his sons. Eli should have done something to straighten out his sons behavior and removed the women from in front of the tabernacle. Of course Eli must not have been too bad a job himself since he lived as long as he did and he apparently did a good of rearing Samuel (with God’s help of course).
I think that this book is a tragedy because of so many bad thing that happen though this book. An example of this is the wickedness of Eli's sons. Also the tragedy of Saul killing him self after he found out about the death of his sons by the philistines and the jealously of Saul over David when saul finds out that everyone in is life is in great friendship to almost a love with David. This makes Saul very angry and he tries to kill Saul so that everyone will love him more than david.
There is evidence of all three areas in the book of I Samuel. But i am going to write about the prophecies that are talked about in the book. First there is the story of David and Goliath. A very highly regarded warrior of the philistines that is killed by a sheppard boy named david. Then there is the high life that Saul lived with all his endeavors then becoming king. These events are very notable and are still easily remembered as prophecies usually are. They are stories that give just the average person hope that they can achieve the most and be remembered as these people have.
There is evidence of all three areas in the book of I Samuel. But i am going to write about the prophecies that are talked about in the book. First there is the story of David and Goliath. A very highly regarded warrior of the philistines that is killed by a sheppard boy named david. Then there is the high life that Saul lived with all his endeavors then becoming king. These events are very notable and are still easily remembered as prophecies usually are. They are stories that give just the average person hope that they can achieve the most and be remembered as these people have.
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