Read 1 Sam 28.3-7
In 28.3-28: Saul consults a ghost.
In verse 3: Mediums and witches are often used in conjunction and refer to devices used to communicate with the dead.
Such practices are condemned by the law in Deut 18.10.
In verse 4: Shunem and Gilboa locate the site of the battle near Jezreel Valley, far north of the Negeb where previous stories are set.
In verse 6: Three mean of diving 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 31, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
Reading for April 7th
Read 1 Samuel 27.1-28.2
In 27.1-28.2: David with the Philistines.
In verses 1-4: 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 killed.
In verse 10: The Negeb is the southern wilderness area of Palestine.
Kenites should be read as "Kenizzites."
They and the Jarahmeelites were clans within Judah.
David was attacking other peoples and they fooling Acish by telling him that he had attack 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 how David remains loyal to Israel.
Comments or Questions..
In 27.1-28.2: David with the Philistines.
In verses 1-4: 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 killed.
In verse 10: The Negeb is the southern wilderness area of Palestine.
Kenites should be read as "Kenizzites."
They and the Jarahmeelites were clans within Judah.
David was attacking other peoples and they fooling Acish by telling him that he had attack 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 how David remains loyal to Israel.
Comments or Questions..
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Reading for April 6th
Read 1 Samuel 26.13-26
In verse 13: David went over to the other side so if Saul pursues 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.
In verse 20: A partridge is literally "the caller" or "calling bird."
The comparison is apt since David is calling to Saul from the mountain.
In verse 25: Saul's blessing subtly indicates that David will be king.
Comments or Questions..
In verse 13: David went over to the other side so if Saul pursues 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.
In verse 20: A partridge is literally "the caller" or "calling bird."
The comparison is apt since David is calling to Saul from the mountain.
In verse 25: Saul's blessing subtly indicates that David will be king.
Comments or Questions..
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Reading for April 5th
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..
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..
Friday, March 27, 2020
Reading for April 4th
Read 1 Samuel 25.23-43
In verse 23: Unlike Nabal, Abigail is very respectful toward David, treating him as king.
In verses 24-31: Abigail's speech is the 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 26 seems to anticipate the conclusions 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 seek (his) life (v. 29) alludes to Saul.
The 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 becoming king or, in an ironic way to Nabal's death.
Remember your servant is a marriage proposal.
In verses 34-35 David perceives that is 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 coma.
In verse 43: Saul's wife was also named Ahioam (14.50).
Comments or Questions...
In verse 23: Unlike Nabal, Abigail is very respectful toward David, treating him as king.
In verses 24-31: Abigail's speech is the 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 26 seems to anticipate the conclusions 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 seek (his) life (v. 29) alludes to Saul.
The 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 becoming king or, in an ironic way to Nabal's death.
Remember your servant is a marriage proposal.
In verses 34-35 David perceives that is 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 coma.
In verse 43: Saul's wife was also named Ahioam (14.50).
Comments or Questions...
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Reading for April 3rd
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 king" and was a important figure, perhaps a chieftain, among the Calebites, 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 Ch 2.16).
In verses 4-8: Shearing sheep was a festival time in Israel.
David requests a gift, hoping Nabal, in the spirit of the festival, will be generous.
The gift David expects is more or less obligatory as a payment for not harming or "protecting" Nabal's shepherds.
The ten young men whom 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 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-matured 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 than bakery product.
In verse 22: David vows to annihilate every male in Nabal's household.
This sets the stage for the arrival of Abigail, who as a female, is the only person who can prevent a tragedy.
Comments or Questions..
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 king" and was a important figure, perhaps a chieftain, among the Calebites, 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 Ch 2.16).
In verses 4-8: Shearing sheep was a festival time in Israel.
David requests a gift, hoping Nabal, in the spirit of the festival, will be generous.
The gift David expects is more or less obligatory as a payment for not harming or "protecting" Nabal's shepherds.
The ten young men whom 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 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-matured 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 than bakery product.
In verse 22: David vows to annihilate every male in Nabal's household.
This sets the stage for the arrival of Abigail, who as a female, is the only person who can prevent a tragedy.
Comments or Questions..
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Reading for April 2nd
Read 1 Samuel 24.8-11
In verse 11: My father is a respectful address from younger David to the older Saul; it may also imply David's right to inherit Saul's kingdom.
In verse 14: A dead dog? A single flea?
These two terms of self-disparagement may be read in two ways.
David could be saying he is insignificant or that Saul is mistaken if he thinks David is insignificant.
In verse 20: Even Saul recognizes that David will succeed him.
In verses 21-22: David's oath not to wipe out Saul's descendants anticipates his treatment of Jonathan's son, Mephiboseth, in 2 Sam 9.
Comments or Questions..
In verse 11: My father is a respectful address from younger David to the older Saul; it may also imply David's right to inherit Saul's kingdom.
In verse 14: A dead dog? A single flea?
These two terms of self-disparagement may be read in two ways.
David could be saying he is insignificant or that Saul is mistaken if he thinks David is insignificant.
In verse 20: Even Saul recognizes that David will succeed him.
In verses 21-22: David's oath not to wipe out Saul's descendants anticipates his treatment of Jonathan's son, Mephiboseth, in 2 Sam 9.
Comments or Questions..
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