B.R.I—Samuel
1. Identify
what Author wrote for which Original Reader, and When
a. Author/Compiler
of the Book
i.
Internal
1.
1
Chronicles 29:29 ‘Now the acts of King
David, from first to last, are written in the records of the seer Samuel, and
in records of the prophet Nathan, and in the records of the seer Gad,’
2.
1
Samuel 25:1 ‘Now Samuel died...’
3.
1
Samuel 28:3 ‘Now Samuel had died...’
ii.
External
1.
There
is no actual agreement on who the author of Samuel. (Colonel David Hanson,
lecture)
2.
Possibly
a Judean prophet after the division of the kingdom, using multiple sources like
the Book of Jasher and the acts of
King David (see 1 Chronicles 29:29). (Colonel Hansen, lecture)
3.
It
is logical to assume that Samuel wrote Samuel since his name is associated with
the books through name. The problem with this, however, is that a major part of
the events takes place after Samuel’s death. (Nelson’s)
4.
The
author is anonymous. But according to Jewish tradition, the book was authored
by the prophet Samuel, and completed by Nathan and Gad. (Holman Bible Handbook)
iii.
Conclusion
Since
no one can be sure who is the author of Samuel is, there are too many opinions
about the authorship. I’ve chosen to go with the more traditional view that
Samuel wrote a small portion, while the prophets Nathan and Gad wrote the rest
of it. The fact that Samuel died halfway through the first portion tells me
that he obviously did not write all of it, and since, in 1 Chronicles 29:29, it
states that there are records off Samuel, Nathan and Gad, it seems logical to
me that these three records could be combined in on to form the Book of Samuel.
b. To
Whom was it Written
i.
Internal
1.
1
Kings 12:26-27 ‘Then Jeroboam said to
himself, “Now the kingdom may well revert to the house of David. If this people
continues to go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at
Jerusalem...’
ii.
External
1.
The
Israelites in the time of the exile. (Ylva, discussion)
iii.
Conclusion
Since
the rest of the OT, so far has been written to the Israelites, I believe that
Samuel was written to the Israelites. But this leaves us with the question,
‘which set of Israelites was it written to?’ Since it is extremely hard to find
any information on the Original Reader it was written to, no one can be sure. I
believe that it could be to the Israelites of the Exile, since some sources say
that Kings and Chronicles were written to this particular OR, as many of the
pre-Exile prophetic scriptures were.
c. When/where
was it Written
i.
Internal
1.
1
Samuel 27:6 ‘So that day Achish gave him
Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah, to this day.’
a.
A
divided people
b.
A
divided kingdom
2.
1
Samuel 9:9 ‘Formerly in Israel, anyone
who went to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer”; for the
one who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.’
a.
Formerly
seer, now called prophet
i.
Seer
was used in the days of the judges; more commonly used in the pagan religions.
ii.
External
1.
Eighth
century BC. (Zondervan’s)
iii.
Conclusion
I
don’t actually have an idea of when Samuel was written, because I cannot find
enough evidence of when it could have been written. I believe that because of
the lack or authorship evidence, it is difficult to tell when it was written.
It did have to be compiled, if not written, as David’s reign was coming to an
end, but before the end of the Exile
2. Research
the Background of the Author, Original Audience, and Readers
a. Author’s
Background
Since
the author is unknown, I can give no background information.
b. Original
Audience’s Background
i.
Political History
1.
Corrupt
levitical system
2.
Saul,
a bad king
3.
David,
a king; ‘a man after God’s own heart’
ii.
Religious History
1.
Beginning
to know and follow God
iii.
Current Leaders
1.
Samuel
2.
Saul
3.
David
Samuel
was a judge as well as a prophet. He also took on some priestly duties, because
Eli would not do his levitical duties. Saul was a Benjaminite, who was anointed
king, because the people demanded a king. David was considered a man after God’s
own heart, and was anointed king by Samuel.
iv.
Current Enemies
1.
The
Philistines
v.
Geography
1.
Israel
c. Original
Reader’s Background
Because
I do not know who the OR is, I will be unable to tell you any of their
background information.
3. Reasons
Written
a.
To
teach the king how to be Godly and how to carry out God’s laws.
4. Author’s
Literary Tools
a. Kind
of Writing
i.
Prose
ii.
Poetry
1.
2:1-10
2.
15:22-23
3.
15:33
4.
18:7
5.
21:11
6.
1:19-27
7.
3:33-34
8.
20:1b
9.
22:2-51
10.
23:1-7
b. Type
of Literature
i.
Narrative
c. Structure
i.
Biological
ii.
Chronological
d. Composition
Tools
i.
Cruciality
5. Main
Idea
a.
God
seeks a man after his own heart to lead the people in following God’s laws.
