Thursday, March 28, 2024

Reading for April 5th

 Read 1 Samuel 28.8-25. In verse 8; Saul disguised himself because he was breaking his own law (v.3)  by visiting the woman. In verses 11-12a: These verses are an illusion identifying Samuel as the ghost. originally, the woman recognized Saul because of his oath in v. 10 not to punish her. In verse 13: The ground can also mean "the underworld." Divine being can refer to a god or to a ghost or spirit. In verse 14: The robe was Samuel's characteristic garment and the a parent means by which Saul recognized him. In verses 17-18: These verses refer to the story in ch. 15. In verse 19: Tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me: they will be dead. In verse 24: A fatted calf in the house: Livestock were typically kept on the ground floor of Israelite houses with sleeping quarters above them on the second floor. Comments or Questions..

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Reading for April 4th

 Read 1 Samuel 1 Samuel 28.3-7. In 28.3-25: Saul consults a ghost. In verse 3: Mediums and wizards are often used in conjunction and refer to devices used to communicate with the dead. Such practices are condemned by the law in Duet 18.10. In verse 4: Shunem and Gilboa locate the site of the battle near the Jezreel Valley,  far north of the Negeb where the previous stories were set. In verse 6: Three means of divining were dreams, or incubation, in which one expected the answer to an inquiry to be given at night, in a dream, often when one slept at a holy place; Urim, or lots, which have been used earlier in 1 Samuel; and prophets, like the man of God in 9.1-10.16. In verse 7:a woman who is a medium literally means "a woman of (who deals with) spirits," using the word translated "medium" in v. 3. Comments or Questions..

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Reading for April 3rd

 Read 1 Samuel 27.1-28.2. In 27.1-28.2; David with the Philistines. In verses 3-4:David is driven by Saul's pursuits to flee to the Philistines. Achish is the same character as in 21.10. But the two passages are in tension, since David would not have gone to Achish after pretending to be mad in 21.10-15. In verse 6: It was common for kings to give grants of land to faithful servants. In this case Achish also benefited because Ziklag, guarded the southern frontier of Philistine territory. In verse 8; The mention of the Amalekites stands in tension with ch. 15 where they are all killed. In verse 10: The Negeb is the southern wilderness area of Palestine. Kenites should be read as "Kenizzites." They and the Jerahmelites were clans of within Judah. David was attacking other peoples and fooling Achish by telling him that he had attacks parts of Judah. In verse 12: Achish felt confident of David's loyalty because he thought David had alienated himself from his own people. In 28.2: Then you shall know what your servant can do has a double meaning. Achish thinks David is saying that he will show his potential against Israel. David is actually saying that in the heat of battle Achish will find out David remains loyal to Israel. Comments or Questions..

Monday, March 25, 2024

Reading for April 2nd

 Read 1 Samuel 26.13-25. In verse 13: David went over to the other side so that if Saul purses him he can lead the army away from his unsuspecting men. In verse 16: You deserve to die hints at Abner's assassination (2 Sam 3). In verse 19: David curses any persons who have caused Saul to pursue him because this has driven him from the land of Israel, which is the Lord's heritage. The other gods are the gods of of countries outside of Israel where David sys he has been driven. In verse 20: A partridge is literally "the caller" or "calling bird." The comparison is apt since David is calling to Saul from a mountain. In verse 25: Saul's blessing subtly indicates that David will be king. Comments or Questions..

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Reading for April 1st

Read 1 Samuel 26.1-12. In 26.1-25: A second opportunity to kill Saul. This story is very similar to the one in ch 24, and the two may be variants of a single original. In verse 6: Joab was David's nephew (1 Chr 2.16) and would become the commander of his army. In verse 8: David can kill Saul with the same spear Saul once used against David. In verse 12: The Lord is again protecting David. Comments or Questions.. 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Reading for March 31st

 Read 1 Samuel 25.33-43. In verse 23: Unlike Nabal, Abigail is very respectful toward David, treating him as a king. In verses 24-31: Abigail's speech is a model of eloquence and tact. She refers to herself as David's servant (v. 24) and begs him to ignore the ill-natured fellow, Nabal. Verse 24: seems to anticipate the conclusion of the story, according to which Nabal died, but not by David's hand. Abigail diplomatically refers to the supplies she brings to David as a present for his men (v. 27). Her reference to the Lord's giving David a sure house means she knows he will be king. The mention of anyone who should rise up to pursue David and to seek (his) life (v. 29) alludes to Saul. This bundle of the living is the list of  those who live. Abigail's wish that God sling out David 's enemies is reminiscent of David's victory in ch. 17 and anticipates Nabal's death in v. 37. Abigail closes her speech by gently suggesting that shedding innocent blood would be an obstacle to  his kingship (vv. 30-31). When the Lord has dealt well with my Lord could refer to David's becoming king or, in a ironic way, to Nabil's death. Remember your servant is a marriage proposal. In verses 34-35: David perceives that it is the Lord, through Abigail, who has prevented him from committing a great offense. In verse 37: Nabal's heart became like a stone may refer to a comma. In verse 43: Saul's wife was also named Ahinoam (14.50). Comments or Questions.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Reading for March 30th

 Read 1 Samuel 25.1-22. In 25.1-43: Nabal and Abigail. The placement of this story between the two accounts of David's chances to kill Saul (chs. 24 and 26) is significant. While David avoids shedding Saul's blood, he is almost guilty of killing many innocent people in Nabal's household. In verses 2-3: Nabal is like Saul in many ways. He is "rich as a kin" and and was probably an important figure, perhaps the chieftain, among the Celebites, one of the leading clans of Judah. The name Nabal means "fool" or "brute." It was probably not the man's real name but represents his character. His wife, Abigail, on the other hand, is his complete opposite. The only other Abigail in the Bible is David's sister (1 Chr 2.16). In verses 4-8: Shearing sheep was a festival time in Israel. David's requests a gift, hoping Nabal, in the spirit of the festival, will be generous. The gift David expects is more or less obligatory as payment for not harming or "protecting" Nabal's shepherds. The ten young men who David sends should give Nabal an idea of the size of the gift David is expecting, namely, as much as ten  men can carry. In verses 10-11: Nabal's reply is insulting/ His questions, Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? are a way of saying that David is insignificant and do not mean that Nabal does not know who David is. Nabal calls David, in effect, a runaway slave and a vagabond. In verses 14-17: Nabal's own servants recognize that he is ill-natured and untrustworthy. In this emergency they go to Abigail. In verse 18; Five measures: The Hebrew word is "se'ah." Five se'ahs was about a  bushel. cakes of figs were clumps rather that bakery products. In verse 22: David vows to annihilate every male in Nabal's house hold. This sets the stage for the arrival of Abigail, who is a female, is the only person who can prevent a tragedy. Comments or Questions..