Lecture Eight: The Rise of David

David’s Rise to Kingship

David’s Anointing (16:1-13)

Takes place in Bethlehem of Judah (v. 1)

Note about appearance/height (v. 7)

God tells Samuel to not look at David's brothers who are tall and strong and handsome, because can see into their hearts.

David is the youngest of Jesse’s seven sons (v. 11)

David as shepherd (v. 11) – God’s greatest leaders are shepherds

David is called in from tending the sheep and God tells Samuel to anoint him as king.

“From that day forward…”

The LORD’s spirit comes upon David

Spirit departs from Saul

David at Saul’s Court (16:1–20:42)

Court musician (16:14-23)

When David would play his harp, the evil spirit would leave Saul

Battle against Goliath (17:55-58)

Saul does not engage the Philistines

There is a stalemate between the Philistines and the Israelites for forty days.

Jesse sends David to the battle field with some food for the soldiers.

When David sees Goliath mocking Israel's God, David does the will of God.

King Saul attempts to dress David in his own armor, but David takes it off because it is awkward.

David gathers five smooth stones from a brook and uses his sling to shoot a stone into Goliath's skull as Goliath is mocking him.

Goliath's armor is described as looking like scales, and the numbers associated with his armor and weapons are all connected to the number six, so the text is attempting to show through this imagery that Goliath is aligned with evil. Even his height is reported as "six cubits tall."

David cuts off Goliath's head and takes it to Jerusalem

He also leads the army in routing the Philistines.

David and Saul

According to puppets…

David as commander in Saul’s service (18:6-9; 12-15)

The people love David

Saul is jealous and hates David

Saul throws his spear at David and tries to kill him while he is playing his harp, but David escapes.

David and Saul’s family:

Saul's Son Jonathan (18:3-5; 19:1-7; 20:1-42)

Loved David

David and Jonathan make covenant

Jonathan gives throne to David

Jonathan saves David’s life during a festival. They use coded messages with bows and arrows, and David flees.

Saul wonders why David didn't show up to the festival, and when he finds out that Jonathan let him go, he throws his spear at Jonathan, calling him a “son of a b****”, or as more polite but less literal translations put it, "the son of a perverse and rebellious woman."

Saul's Daughter Michal (18:17-29; 19:8-17)

Loved David

David defeats the Philistines and marries Saul’s daughter as Saul's reward for bringing him back 200 Philistine foreskins... what a dowry.

Michal saves David’s life by making a dummy out of a “household god,” placing it in David's bed, and then lowering David out the back window, and telling Saul's soldiers at the front door that David was sick in bed.

Final Separation (19:18-24; 20:42)

Before David and Jonathan parted ways, David fled to Samuel.

Saul sent men to get them, but the spirit of God possessed them and all they could do was prophesy.

Saul sent two more detachments, but the same thing happened.

Finally, Saul himself went but he too became possessed by God’s spirit when he entered Samuel’s presence.

Saul stripped naked and lay on the ground prophesying all day and all night.

Once again the text points to this event as one of the reasons there is the saying in Israel: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

David in the Wilderness (1 Sam 21:1–2 Sam 1:27)

Takes refuge at Nob

Nob is near Gibeah, which is Saul’s home-base

Receives support of Ahimelech the priest (21:1-9)

David is given Goliath’s sword

Doeg tells Saul where David is, and Saul gets revenge on Ahimelech (21:6-19)

Doeg kills the priests after Saul’s servants refuse

Previously, Saul failed to kill every enemy, but has no trouble killing all but one of God’s priests at Nob

The priest Abiathar escapes death and joins David (21:20-23)

David seeks refuge among the Philistines at Gath (21:1-15)

He pretends to be insane to avoid being considered a threat

Escapes to cave of Adullam

David’s family visits him

Thugs and outcasts join his cause, a group of 400 men

Takes refuge in Moab (22:1-5)

David makes allies with the Moabites

The prophet Gad shows up and tells David to go back to Judah

David goes back and hides in the forest of Hereth

David saves Keilah (23:1-14)

David’s is successful in battle against the Philistines (vv. 1-5)

Yawheh protects David from Saul (vv. 6-14)

God tells David that Keilah will betray him to Saul, so David flees

David in the wilderness of Ziph (23:15-29)

Saul can’t find David, but Jonathan does

Jonathan and David renew their covenant together (vv. 15-18)

Jonathan says, “You will be king and my father knows this.”

David eludes Saul in the wilderness of Maon (vv. 19-29)

Saul is breathing down David’s neck

David is cornered, but suddenly a messenger arrives with news for Saul about a new Philistine invasion and Saul leaves immediately

One of the many waterfalls at En-Gedi.

David at En-Gedi (24:1-22)

En Gedi has many high cliffs and is full of caves in which David and his men hide

David spares Saul (vv. 1-7)

David hides in a cave when Saul and his men come to the area

Saul goes into the cave in which David happens to be hiding and takes a dump.

David's men want him to kill Saul while his pants are down, but David refuses.

David pleads his cause to Saul (vv. 8-15)

He tells Saul that he could have killed him just now but he refused because of his great respect for him.

Saul’s declaration and confession (vv. 16-22)

Saul says, “You are more righteous than I am.”

Saul says, “I know you will be king.”

David swears that he will not kill Saul’s family when he becomes king.

David in Maon and his encounter with Nabal (25:2-42)

This chapter opens by mentioning the death of Samuel.

David’s request (vv. 1-8) – he offers Nabal “protection”

Nabal’s response (vv. 9-11) – “Who is David? ...He’s just some guy breaking off from his master!”

“Nabal” means “fool.”

David and his men strap on their swords and go off to kill every person with Nabal who “pisses against the wall,” (the males) saying, “How dare ‘he piss’ on ‘our wall’ of protection.”

Abigail’s intercession (vv. 18-35)

Abigail intercepts David and his men and offers them gifts of food, apologizes for Nabal's foolishness, and pleads with David to not play God by seeking revenge.

David relents.

“God has prevented David from taking vengeance.” “God will establish David’s dynasty.”

“The LORD strikes Nabal dead.”

Nabal was having a drunken party this whole time.

In the morning, Abigail tells him what David almost did.

Nabal drops dead while he is “pissing out the wine” from the night before.

Abigail takes over Nabal’s wealth and marries David.

David in Jeshimon (26:1-25)

David refuses to kill Saul…again (vv. 8-12)

David and Joab sneak into Saul’s camp and steal some of his personal belongings, but David won’t let Joab kill Saul

David confronts Abner (vv. 13-16)

"Where were you, Abner? You're the king's bodyguard, but you were fast asleep when someone came to destroy your master!"

Saul’s confession (vv. 21-25)

“I have done wrong.” “I have been a fool.” (or nabal) “Blessed are you, my son, David. You will do many great things.”

David at Ziklag (27:1–28:2; 29:1–30:30)

David goes to Achish of the Philistines, hoping Saul will leave him alone.

David takes two wives with him, Abigail and Ahinoam.

David makes raids in the south (vv. 8-11)

David tricks Achish, saying he was actually raiding Judah (v. 12)

The Philistines move their army north against Saul

They don’t let David come with them

The Amalekites raid David’s family, and he takes revenge on them (30:1-25)

David gains favor with the clans/families of Judah by giving them the loot leftover from his revenge on the Amalekites. (30:26-30)

Later, these same people declare David king.

David Flees From Saul

Saul and the Witch of Endor (28:3-25)

Saul and his army gathered at Gilboa to face the Philistine invasion force.

Saul was “filled with terror.”

Saul inquired of Urim and Thummin and prophet but got no answer from God.

Saul asked his men where he could find a “medium.”

Saul and two of his men disguised themselves and at night went to Endor to consult the medium.

The medium suspected they were on a witch-hunt.

Saul swore by the LORD that he would not harm her.

Saul told her to call up the prophet Samuel.

“A ghostly figure came up out of the earth.”

When the woman saw Samuel, she shrieked and pointed at Saul and recognized him as king.

Saul told her to not be afraid.

Samuel is described as an old man with a robe, and says, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

Saul told him about the Philistines and how God wouldn't speak to him anymore, so he didn't know what to do.

Samuel’s message:

Refers to “the LORD” seven times

“Why do you consult me?”

“You have become the LORD’s enemy”

“The LORD has rejected you”

“Your kingdom will be given to David”

“Tomorrow you and your sons will join me in Sheol”

After Samuel’s spirit left, Saul and his men shared a covenant meal with the witch before leaving, further solidifying his alignment with evil.

The death of Saul (31:1-13)

Battle takes place at Mt. Gilboa (v. 1)

Saul’s sons are killed, including Jonathan (v. 2)

Later, we learn that Ish-bosheth was the only son who survived

Saul commits suicide (vv. 3-6)

He tells his servant-boy to stab him, but the boy is afraid

Saul falls on his own sword

The Philistines humiliate Saul (vv. 8-10)

They behead him and hang his body on a wall

Saul's cousins from Jabesh-Gilead recover Saul’s body (vv. 11-13)

The Amalekite report of Saul’s death (2 Sam 1:1-16)

The Amalekite hands Saul’s crown to David

Mourning over the death of Saul and Jonathan (vv. 11-13)

The elimination of the Amalekite (vv. 14-16)

The Amalekite takes credit for Saul’s death

David kills him and says, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand against the LORD’s anointed?”

Group Discussion: What happens to us when we die?

Why does Samuel’s ghost appear in the story?

Where do people go when they die? Heaven? Hell? Purgatory? Something else?

Can people return as ghosts?

Do mediums really have the power to talk to the dead?

What power does God have over the dead?

Lecture Seven: Ruth, Samuel, and Saul

The Book of Ruth

The story of Ruth is set in the time of the Judges.

Christians place the book of Ruth immediately after the book of Judges for this reason.

Jews place Ruth near the end of their canon.

The story of Ruth was written much later than the book of Judges, most likely during the post-exilic period.

The main character of the book, Ruth, is from Moab.

The book of Ruth tells the story of King David’s ancestors.

Chapter One

There was a famine in Israel, so Elimelek, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chileon, leave Israel and settle in Moab.

Mahlon and Chileon marry two Moabite women - Ruth and Orpah.

The three men die right away.

“Mahlon” means “sickly,” and “Chileon” means “bound-to-go,” so their deaths are no surprise.

Naomi decides to return home and takes Ruth and Orpah with her.

As they are leaving, she tells them to go back to Moab.

Orpah leaves, but Ruth refuses to go.

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

-- Ruth 1:16-17

When they arrive in Bethlehem, Naomi tells everyone that her new name is “Marah” because the LORD has dealt bitterly with her.

"Marah" means "bitter," showing how Naomi has become a bitter person.

Chapter Two

Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz with the other poor women of Bethlehem.

Boaz provided protection for her.

Boaz also told his servants to leave extra grain behind for Ruth to pick up.

Boaz also let Ruth eat lunch with him and his servants.

Later, Ruth showed Naomi all the grain.

Noami told Ruth that Boaz was their “kinsman-redeemer,” meaning that he was next in line to lead the family after the death of Elimelek.

Chapter Three

Noami told Ruth to wash herself and then go to the threshing floor where Boaz slept that night and “uncover his feet” once he fell asleep and lay by him.

"Uncovering his feet" is a euphemism for exposing his private parts. However, this is not necessarily meant as a sexual act, but rather as a blunt reminder of Boaz's circumcision, which was the sign of the covenant he had sworn to uphold, including his role as kinsman-redeemer.

Ruth did as she was told.

Boaz woke up and was startled to find a woman in his bed.

Ruth told him to “spread his garment over her.”

Boaz praised her for not chasing after younger men and choosing him instead.

Boaz agreed to be her “kinsman-redeemer” and let her stay the night with him.

She left before dawn to avoid a scandal.

Before she left, Boaz told her to spread out her garment, and he poured grain into it for her to carry.

So after this night, Ruth carries the seed of Boaz… 

Chapter Four

In the morning, Boaz found the man who was actually in line ahead of him to be the kinsman-redeemer and offered him the property of Alimelek’s sons which belonged to this man by right…but the property also included Ruth.

The man didn’t want a Moabite wife, so he refused to be the kinsman-redeemer, and the job fell to Boaz who was next in line.

Boaz and Ruth were married.

The elders blessed them and said, “May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

Boaz was a descendant of Perez, Judah’s son through Tamar.

The story of Ruth ends with a brief genealogy:

Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed

Obed was the father of Jesse

Jesse was the father of King David, the greatest king of Israel

 The Book of First Samuel

Structure of 1st Samuel

1st Sam. 1:1–8:22 – The story of Samuel

1st Sam. 9:1–15:35 – The story of Samuel and Saul

1st Sam. 16:1–2nd Sam. 1:27 – The Story of Saul and David

1st Samuel according to puppets...

A continuation of the book of Judges

Judges is the second book of the Deuteronomistic History.

1st Samuel is the third book of the Deuteronomistic History.

Begins with “There was a certain man…”

Similar to Manoah and Micah in Judges.

The book of Judges ends in Shiloh.

1st Samuel begins in Shiloh.

The Birth Narrative of Samuel (1:1–2:7)

Elkanah’s lineage (v. 1)

We don’t know anything about the people in his lineage.

However, great prophets are usually introduced by their lineage in the Old Testament.

Elkanah’s family (v. 2)

Two wives

Peninnah bears children, her name means “prolific.”

Hannah is the favorite wife, but is barren. Hannah means “favor.”

Similar to previous stories (e.g., Jacob’s wives, Leah and Rachel)

In the Old Testament, if a woman is barren and gives birth, something important will happen with that child.

Peninnah is cruel to Hannah.

Elkanah is clueless, and the best he can do to comfort Hannah is to state that being married to him is a much greater blessing than ever having kids.

Hannah’s vow at the Shiloh shrine (v. 11)

The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament says that Hannah vows to give her son to God as a Nazirite if He would give her a son.

Eli the priest hears Hannah praying and thinks she is drunk – ironic since Nazirites don't drink.

Hannah’s response (v. 15)

She is “not drinking” but “pouring out her soul,” this language sounds like “pouring” a blood sacrifice.

Eli’s blessing (v. 17)

A note of promise that God has heard Hannah's plea.

The family returns home

Elkanah “knows” her

The LORD “remembers” her.

She has a son and names him Samuel.

“Samuel” means “God heard.”

Hannah’s offering (v. 24)

Samuel is her offering

Not traditional sacrifice, but a “living sacrifice.”

Hannah’s Song (2:1-10)

Very old section of the Old Testament

Praises God

Reference to a barren woman having seven kids

Reference to a king, which points to the beginnings of monarchy in Israel

The New Testament figure of Mary, the mother of Jesus, has very much in common with Hannah.

Eli’s Sons (2:12-36)

Hophni and Phinehas

They’re no good scoundrels

Three indictments:

Inappropriate sacrifice – robbing God (vv. 12-17)

Sex at the sanctuary (vv. 22-25)

Becoming fat off the offerings

A “man of God” condemns Eli’s family

Chastises Eli for doing nothing about his sons

Predicts Eli’s house will be “cut off”

Predicts a faithful priest will be brought up

Samuel’s Dream Theophany (3:1–4:1a)

Conditions at Shiloh

“The word of the LORD was rare”

“Not many visions”

Eli is going “blind”

Samuel’s dream

Samuel sleeps near the Ark

God calls to Samuel, not Eli

Samuel goes to Eli

It takes Eli three times before he realizes what’s going on

Samuel becomes prophet

Eli demands to know what the LORD said

Samuel is honest and faithful to God’s word

God’s Message: I will destroy Eli’s family

The word of the LORD keeps on appearing to Samuel at Shiloh

The Ark Narratives (4:1b-22)

Philistines defeat Israel

Israel camped at Ebenezer, which means “stone of help”

They receive no help and are defeated by the Philistines.

They ask “why?”

Conclusion: “we didn’t bring the Ark with us so we lost”

Battling the Philistines with the Ark

Ark has become an idol (vv. 3-4)

Ark is captured by Philistines (vv. 10-11)

Eli’s sons killed in battle

Eli faints and breaks his neck because he’s so fat

Eli’s daughter-in-law gives birth and dies, names her son “Ichabod,” meaning “The glory has departed.”

The Ark among the Philistines (5:1–7:17)

The Ark at Ashdod

The Philistines take the Ark to the temple of their god Dagon.

Dagon lays prostrate in front of Yahweh.

Yahweh humiliates Dagon and decapitates him (opposite of Samson’s story)

Humiliation of the Philistines

There is a rat infestation at Ashdod because of the presence of the Ark of God.

Also, the people begin to develop some sort of tumors or hemorrhoids. We're not exactly sure, but either way, it was a pain in the butt.

Hot Potato with the Ark

Ashdod sends the Ark to Gath, plagues break out at Gath

Gath sends the Ark to Ekron, plagues break out at Ekron

The people “cry out” because the “hand of God was heavy” upon them.

Return of the Ark

The Philistines present a guilt offering, admitting they were wrong

They also make five golden replicas of the "tumors" and five golden replicas of the rats.

They put the Ark on a cart pulled by two milk cows, and the milk cows apparently head straight back to Israel.

The Ark arrives in Israel

Comes to the field of Joshua

Some Israelites peeked inside the Ark and dropped dead

All of the people gathered at Mizpah and Samuel told them to get rid of all their idols so they did.

Later the Philistines tried to attack Israel again.

The text says that God “thundered” among the Philistines so that they were too frightened to do anything.

The men of Israel chased the Philistines away and defeated them in battle.

Samuel set up the “Ebenezer stone,” or “stone of help,” saying, “Thus far has the LORD helped us.”

The people ask for a King (8:1-22)

As Samuel got older, his sons did not follow in his ways and were not trusted by the people.

The people went to Samuel and told him they wanted to have a king rule over them, just like their neighbors.

Samuel was displeased that the people had asked for a king.

God said to Samuel, “They are not rejecting you, but they are rejecting me.”

God told Samuel to tell the people that if they chose the path of kingship, the king would be their master and he would make them work as slaves.

The people told Samuel they wanted a king anyway.

So God told Samuel to give them a king.

Saul Becomes King of Israel (9:1–11:15)

Saul and his buddy wandered the countryside looking for his father’s missing donkeys, but unfortunately the donkeys outsmarted them.

They decided to go ask “The Seer” if he knew where the donkeys were.

Samuel was “The Seer.”

Samuel already knew that Saul was on his way.

God told Samuel that Saul was to be ruler of Israel.

Samuel told Saul to not worry about the donkeys, they had been found.

Samuel told Saul that he was the “desire” of all Israel.

Saul was confused and pointed out the low-rank of his Benjamite family.

He was also from Gibeah, the scene of the nasty incident that sparked the civil war at the end of the Book of Judges.

Samuel put together a feast for Saul and his friend.

Samuel anoints Saul’s head with oil before sending him on his way.

Confirmation of Saul’s Calling:

Donkeys found (v. 2)

Saul will meet three men; is given two loaves of bread (vv. 3-4)

Saul will meets band of prophets; is possessed by Spirit of God and prophesies (vv. 5-7)

The text explains that this event is one reason why the Israelites had a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Saul kept quiet to his family about his new role as king.

Later, Samuel had all of the people gather together for the inauguration of Saul as King of Israel.

Saul was nowhere to be found.

He was hiding because he was afraid.

The people pulled him from his hiding place and shouted “Long live the king!”

The festivities were interrupted with word that Nahash king of the Ammonites had attacked the city of Jabesh Gilead.

The people of Jabesh Gilead were Saul’s cousins.

Nahash tried to gauge out the right eye of every man in the land.

Saul came to the rescue and defeated Nahash in battle.

Some Israelites had previously mocked Saul, and after Saul’s victory the people wanted to kill them, but Saul spared their lives.

At this point, Samuel officially sets Saul up as king over Israel.

Saul is Rejected as King (13:1–15:35)

First Failure

Saul’s son Jonathan fought a successful battle against the Philistines.

Saul took credit for the battle.

The Philistines mustered their armies to attack Israel again and the people fled and hid in caves.

Saul and his army waited seven days for Samuel to show up and give them God’s instructions.

Samuel did not show up right away, so Saul took on Samuel’s role and made sacrifices to God in order to figure out what to do next.

Just as Saul had finished making the offerings, Samuel showed up.

Saul made excuses.

Samuel told him he had done a foolish thing and that his dynasty would not last forever because of his unfaithfulness.

Second Failure

After this, Saul took his 600 men back to Gibeah.

Saul and Jonathan were the only people with weapons as the Philistines were preparing to attack.

Saul just sat around “under a pomegranate tree.”

Jonathan and his armor-bearer sneaked away from Saul and crossed over a canyon to where the Philistines were at.

The Philistines attacked them, but Jonathan and his armor-bearer began slaughtering them.

The text says that God caused the Philistines to panic, and that the ground began to shake.

Meanwhile, Saul had made a rash vow, forbidding the people to eat any food under penalty of death.

Saul was caught off guard by the sound of battle, but joined in as well only to find the Philistines killing themselves in confusion.

After the battle, Jonathan ate some honey because he did not know about his father’s vow.

The people told Jonathan about the vow, and Jonathan told them that what his father had told them was stupid.

The people refused to let Saul kill his son Jonathan for breaking the fast.

Similar to Jephthah’s vow, but with different outcome.

Third Failure

Later, Samuel told Saul to go completely destroy the Amalekites.

Saul was victorious in battle, but he failed to destroy everything.

He kept the livestock for himself.

He kept King Agag alive.

God said to Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.”

Samuel cried bitter tears before he went to confront Saul.

When Saul saw Samuel approaching, he said, “Look! I did what God said!”

Samuel asked him about the livestock.

Saul blamed the soldiers.

He said they were actually planning on making a sacrifice later.

He said they had completely destroyed everything else.

Samuel stopped him and rebuked him for “pouncing on the plunder.”

Saul again tried to say that they would eventually get around to sacrificing to God.

Samuel's response:

“To obey is better than sacrifice.”

“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.”

“Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

Saul begged for forgiveness and grabbed ahold of Samuel’s robe and tore it as Samuel was turning to leave.

Samuel said, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.”

Samuel had to go kill Agag himself.