1 Samuel: A Narrative Commentary

349 Pages·2009·1.57 MB·English

by  Keith Bodner

1 SAMUEL

Hebrew Bible Monographs, 19

Series Editors
David J.A. Clines, J. Cheryl Exum, Keith W. Whitelam

Editorial Board
A. Graeme Auld, Marc Brettler, Francis Landy,
Hugh S. Pyper, Stuart D.E. Weeks

1 SAMUEL

A NARRATIVE COMMENTARY

Keith Bodner

SHEFFIELD PHOENIX PRESS

2009
Copyright © 2009 Sheffield Phoenix Press
First published in hardback 2008
First published in paperback 2009

Published by Sheffield Phoenix Press
Department of Biblical Studies, University of Sheffield
Sheffield S10 2TN

www.sheffieldphoenix.com

All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information
storage or retrieval system, without the publishers’ permission in writing.

A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library

Typeset by Forthcoming Publications
Printed by Lightning Source

ISBN 978-1-906055-10-3 (hardback)
ISBN 978-1-906055-88-2 (paperback)
ISSN 1747-9614
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Abbreviations viii
Introduction 1
1. Title and Text 1
2. Canonical Location 2
a. The House that Ruth Built 2
b. ‘In those days there was no king in Israel’ 3
c. The Deuteronomistic History 3
3. Major Characters 6
4. Approach 8
ANARRATIVE COMMENTARY
Chapter 1 11
Chapter 2 26
Chapter 3 37
Chapter 4 43
Chapter 5 51
Chapter 6 55
Chapter 7 63
Chapter 8 69
Chapter 9 78
Chapter 10 92
Chapter 11 102
Chapter 12 109
Chapter 13 118
Chapter 14 130
Chapter 15 149
Chapter 16 166
Chapter 17 176
Chapter 18 191
Chapter 19 202
Chapter 20 212
Chapter 21 223
Chapter 22 231
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vi 1 Samuel: A Narrative Commentary
Chapter 23 240
Chapter 24 249
Chapter 25 258
Chapter 26 274
Chapter 27 283
Chapter 28 290
Chapter 29 304
Chapter 30 309
Chapter 31 316
Bibliography 327
Index of References 331
Index of Authors 339
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book began with an invitation from John Jarick, and was originally
slated for the Readings series under his editorship. As it happened, the
volume ended up in a different series, but I am grateful for Dr Jarick’s
continued support. I have retained the Readings format and general literary
approach. Anyone who has worked with Duncan Burns on the production
side of a manuscript can testify to his ‘above and beyond’ effort and compe-
tence, and once more I appreciated his skills. Over the course of the writing,
Peter Miscall read considerable portions, as did Daniel Hawk. Graeme Auld
and Walter Brueggemann poured forth timely encouragement, and, as
always, Barbara Green and Bob Polzin provided meaningful ‘dialogics’. The
annual exhortations of Professor D.J.A. Clines in the SBL exhibit hall
spurred me on to the finish line, and my colleague Barry Smith politely
inquired every week as to the completion date. Along the way, critical
queries were posed by Mark Leuchter and David Vanderhooft, while some
long conversations with Jacob Wright were invaluable.
Numerous friends in the venerable Canadian Society of Biblical Studies
listened patiently to my papers on many of the topics explored here. Craig
Evans extended gracious hospitality on a number of occasions, and I also
appreciate the chance to share ideas with the students and faculty members
of McMaster Divinity College and Regent College as a visiting professor.
Seth Crowell, Mary Beth Clements, Steve Dempster, Greg Maillet, and
David MacDonald all deserve an honorable mention, while Ryan Johnson
and Mike King were basketball teammates at an opportune moment.
I am eternally thankful for the sacrifice and indefatigable support of my
‘Shulammite’, Dr Coreen Bodner, who has, along with our three energetic
offspring, Victoria, Jeff, and Evelyn, enabled me to affirm the declaration of
a great poet: (cid:97)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:66)(cid:62)(cid:76)(cid:49)(cid:33)(cid:37)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:16)(cid:58)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:81)(cid:5)(cid:3)(cid:97)(cid:92)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:10)(cid:91)(cid:64) (‘the boundary lines have fallen for me
in delightful places’, Ps. 16.4).
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ABBREVIATIONS
AB Anchor Bible
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly
DJD Discoveries in the Judaean Desert
ICC International Critical Commentary
JBL Journal of Biblical Literature
JHS Journal of Hebrew Scriptures
JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
JSOTSup Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement Series
KJV King James Version
LXX Septuagint
MT Masoretic text
NIBC New International Biblical Commentary
NRSV New Revised Standard Version
OTL Old Testament Library
RSV Revised Standard Version
SOTSMS Society for Old Testament Study Monograph Series
VT Vetus Testamentum
WBC Word Biblical Commentary
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INTRODUCTION
The book of 1 Samuel has engaged readers over the centuries because of its
dramatic depths and theological mysteries. Readers are not just attracted to
the famous stories such as David’s confrontation with the giant Goliath, but
other episodes such as the travails of Hannah, the capture of the ark, the
birth of Ichabod, and the shade of the long-dead Samuel reappearing on a
dark night in Endor, each of which is endlessly intriguing. 1 Samuel is a
brilliant and intricate work of literature that often resists easy conclusions
and confronts the interpreter with innumerable challenges. In this brief intro-
duction, I would like at least to draw attention to several of these challenges,
and discuss a few preliminary matters and questions that we will encounter
during the course of our journey. My remarks are limited to and organized
around four different areas: title and text (the name of the book and its
textual traditions), canonical location (the placement of the book within the
Bible and issues of context), major characters (the key personalities), and
approach (the reading strategy used in this commentary).
1.Title and Text
The book we are studying has been saddled with a couple of different titles.
Its title in the Greek tradition is ‘1 Reigns’ (or ‘1 Kingdoms’), the first of
four books known as Samuel–Kings in the Hebrew Bible. Some have argued
that the division of the books is fairly loose, and based on relative scroll
length or some other practical purpose. The title 1 Reigns has a particular
aptness in light of the book’s content: the transition from charismatic judge-
ship to the beginning of dynastic monarchy, with a sustained reflection on
leadership. 1 Reigns alerts the reader to the fact that the stakes are high
during this stretch of Israel’s history, and political decisions and ideas
proposed here will have far-reaching implications for the nation. While there
is a certain currency in the title 1 Reigns, the Hebrew tradition opted instead
for Samuel (with further division into 1 and 2 Samuel taking place in the
early sixteenth century). This title has nothing to do with authorship, as
Samuel the character could not possibly have written either 1 or 2 Samuel.
Nor does it primarily have to do with Samuel (Hannah’s son) as a dominant
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