The comp.aratively subordinate position occujiied by Samuel, according to tliis older narrative, and the limited extent of his influence on the alliiirs of the n.ation, stand in striking contrast to the tradi- tional view of his life and work. He is here repre- sented as the seer of a small town, who is consulted in matters of diiliculty and perplexity by the inhabitants of the district in which he lives, and who is in charge of the local shrine : beyond this district he is unknown to the rest of Israel. Further, his chief claim to fame lies in the fact that on one occasion only he is chosen by Jehovah as His instrument in carrying out His phins for tlie deliverance of Israel. Lastly, it is noticeable that he has no voice in the establishment of the monarchy ; his interest in the matter ajiparently ceases with the performance of his part in anoint- ing Saul ; nor does he apjiear to have been consulted in the actual election of the king. It cannot, how- ever, be doubted that this older document has been preserved to us only in a very fragmentary form ; and we may infer with considerable jiroLability that it originally contained a longer and fuller account of the life and work of Samuel, which was pa-ssed over by the editor in favour of the (from his point of view) more s.atisfactory account preserved in the later document. The explanation of this selection is furnished by the later document, which is obviou.sly colourcil by the views and conceptions of a later age, and as sueli ajiproximates more closely to the standpoint of the editor who com- bined the two narratives. It remains, therefore, to examine the narrative of the later document, and tt> estimate how far we can utilize it for the purpose of supplementing the earlier account.
The later narrative commences with the birth of Samuel, and relates how Hannah, tlie barren wile of KIkanali, on the occasion of tile yearly feast made a suleiiin vow to the LoRn that if He would fook upon her atfiii'tinn and give her a man child, she would dedicate him to the 8ervi<:e of the sanctuary. Samuel is born in answer to her prayer, and In due time handed over to the care of Eli, the aged' priest at Shiloh. His childhood is thus spent within the precincts of the ancient Israelite shrine.
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SAMUEL
SAMUEL, I. AND LL
where 'he ministered to the Lord before Eli the prieat'(2ii), and 'grew in favour both wth the Lord nnd also with men' (2*^). But the sons of Eli, who in the natural course of events would have succeeded their father, proved uinvorthv of their Bacrt'd office, and provoked the wrath of Jehovah by tneir abuse of their priestly privileges. In consequence of their sin the destruction of the house of Eli is decreed by Jehovah, who announces His purpose to the youthful Samuel in a vision of the night. The favour of Jehovah, however, which is openly displayed towards the latter, makes it apparent that he has been chosen to succeed to the priestly office, and all Israel recog- nized * that he was established to be a prophet of the Lord ' : for through his agency the word of the Lord was revealed to all Israel ^:520_4ia). in the history of the defeat of Israel at Aphek, an<l of the capture and restoration of the ark by the Philistines (42-7^), there is no mention of Samuel, who is suddenly re- introduced some time after the return of the ark, in the character of a 'judge,' rather than in that of a 'prophet' or •priest' (T^f). Like a second Moses, he is represented ae exhorting the people to turn from their idolatrous practices and to serve Jehovah alone. The people hearken to his words, and in order to confirm their resolution he* summons a national assembly at Miz^iah, where they make public confession of their eins. The purpose of this gathering, however, is misunder- Blood by the Philistines, who at once collect their forces to meet what appears to them as a national uprising. Dismayed by the approach of their hereditary enemies, the Israelites beseech Samuel to intercede with Jehovah on their behalf. In answer to Samuel's prayer, Jehovah sends a violent thunder- Btonn, which scattei-s the Philistines, and renders thtm an easy prey to the pursuing Israelites. To commemorate their deliver- ance, Sanmel sets up a great stone and calls the name of it Eben-ezer, or 'stone of help.* According to the writer, this victory marks the downfall of the Philistine domination ; for from that time onwards the Philistines 'came no more within the border of Israel,' while the cities 'which they had taken from Israel were restored from Ekron even unt<)Gath '(Ti-*). In the peaceful times that followed, Samuel is represented as administrating justice throughout Israel by means of a yearly circuit of the chief sanctuaries on the west of Jordan — Reth-el, Gilgal. and Mizpah. As his years increase, he naturally asso- ciates his sons with himself in the office of judge ; but, like the sons of Eli, they ' walked not in the ways' of their father. For this reason, and also because they desire 'to be like all the nations," the people demand that a king should be set over them. Their request is viewed with disfavour by Samuel, who plainly regards it as an act of rebellion against Jehovah. But, m compliance with the Divine command, he first sets clearly before them the treatment they may expect at the hanc^ of a king, and then, as they still persist in their demand, takes steps to grant it. For this purpose he once more summons the people to Mizpah, and, after pointing out their ingratitude, directs that lots should be cast for the king : the choice falls on Saul the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin (821). Samuel now realizes that his life's work is at an end, and in a solemn farewell speech he first bids the people attest the justice of his rule, and then, by means of a brief survey of the national history, warns them against disobeying the word of Jehovah. His exhortation is rendered the more impressive by a miraculous thunderstorm, which frightens the people into a confession of their sin in asking for a king. Their fears are allayed by Samuel, who assures them of Jehovah's favour if they will serve llira truly.