1 Samuel 2 - Introduction
This past week I’ve been studying 1 Samuel 2:11-3:1. Let me start by saying, I’m personally amazed at how many different parts of scripture come together to inform one another and instruct us.
Growing up, my family had a discipline of reading the bible together with the goal to, each year read through the entire 66 books of the bible. There were always times with peaks and valleys, but for the most part, we were a faithful family in reading through scripture together annually. Some of the most frequent dips in our enthusiasm for reading came during the Pentateuch readings of Deuteronomy, Numbers and Leviticus. Genesis and Exodus both have enough narrative to carry a family through on interest and drama alone. However, just as the ancient Israelites had to journey through the wilderness for 40 years, the texts on ancient Israelite law, ceremony, worship, and life were often a desert of incomprehensible maxims and case studies.
Fast forward to this week. Studying the birth, childhood, and rise to influence of Samuel - the first Major Prophet - has a great many references to those old Pentateuch passages. Those passages which I loathed to read and hear, now have a newfound appreciation. This week hasn’t only led to a greater understanding of the Pentateuch, or even the Old Testament, but also the New Testament!
Our study begins in 1 Samuel 2:11:
The boy mentioned here is Samuel. Born to Hannah, dedicated to the Lord and given to grow up and serve in the Tabernacle. Tim Chester points out in his book “1 Samuel for you” that Eli is here titled “the priest” - but later in 3:1, in nearly the same sentence, Eli is no longer referred to as “the priest” - simply as “Eli”.
The priesthood of Eli seems to have been removed between 2:11 and 3:1. This leaves us with a few questions.
What happens between 2:11 and 3:1 that changes Eli’s status?
What does or doesn’t happen between 2:11 and 3:1 to Samuel that he “Ministered]” before the Lord?
What is the significance of Samuel’s ministry in the midst of this story of Eli’s household?
In other words, what happens to Eli, and how does it relate to Samuel? This is precisely what we’ll look at together this week.
Growing up, my family had a discipline of reading the bible together with the goal to, each year read through the entire 66 books of the bible. There were always times with peaks and valleys, but for the most part, we were a faithful family in reading through scripture together annually. Some of the most frequent dips in our enthusiasm for reading came during the Pentateuch readings of Deuteronomy, Numbers and Leviticus. Genesis and Exodus both have enough narrative to carry a family through on interest and drama alone. However, just as the ancient Israelites had to journey through the wilderness for 40 years, the texts on ancient Israelite law, ceremony, worship, and life were often a desert of incomprehensible maxims and case studies.
Fast forward to this week. Studying the birth, childhood, and rise to influence of Samuel - the first Major Prophet - has a great many references to those old Pentateuch passages. Those passages which I loathed to read and hear, now have a newfound appreciation. This week hasn’t only led to a greater understanding of the Pentateuch, or even the Old Testament, but also the New Testament!
Our study begins in 1 Samuel 2:11:
2:11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.
The boy mentioned here is Samuel. Born to Hannah, dedicated to the Lord and given to grow up and serve in the Tabernacle. Tim Chester points out in his book “1 Samuel for you” that Eli is here titled “the priest” - but later in 3:1, in nearly the same sentence, Eli is no longer referred to as “the priest” - simply as “Eli”.
3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
The priesthood of Eli seems to have been removed between 2:11 and 3:1. This leaves us with a few questions.
What happens between 2:11 and 3:1 that changes Eli’s status?
What does or doesn’t happen between 2:11 and 3:1 to Samuel that he “Ministered]” before the Lord?
What is the significance of Samuel’s ministry in the midst of this story of Eli’s household?
In other words, what happens to Eli, and how does it relate to Samuel? This is precisely what we’ll look at together this week.
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