First Book of Samuel 11-31

The First Book of Samuel has more classic biblical warfare.  Seriously, I bet you could get a lot more people to read at least the Old Testament if they knew how much fighting goes on in it.  Plenty of it could very well read like fantasy fiction (Othniel of Middle Earth the judge!), and you can see where not just many of the names you know came from but also some you wouldn't expect to see here (Endor!) can be found too.

Anyway, Saul is very much a warrior king.  Samuel may have a different or perhaps only from a certain point of view version of biblical history, when he states "Jacob went into Egypt," where it was clearly Joseph his son who made the family mark there, as clearly stated in Genesis and the start of Exodus.  He goes on with further summarizing, which either I wasn't reading closely enough or doesn't exactly follow the Judges record of the judges era, or at least vastly condenses it (no mention of Samson, for instance, who has come to dominate the modern view of that time).

First Samuel doesn't seem so keen on the need for a Hebrew king, that it's kind of a sign of weakness.  May be another foreshadow of how the New Testament develops.

Saul's reign lasts for 2 years.  It's festooned with Philistine conflict.  Those darn Philistines!  Samuel is a little like Moses in interpreting what God thinks of certain circumstances.  He's displeased with how Saul conducts himself after a battle, thinks it has something to do with hubris.  Saul's son Jonathan, as with the remainder of the book, serves as a counterpoint to Saul himself.  When one is presented as generally good, the other is presented as generally bad.

Saul's whole family is laid out, the way genealogies were done in previous books.  This may be the difference in how long ago the events being recorded took place.  His big offense has something to do with preferring sacrifice over obedience.  In the numerous laws of Moses, sacrifice was essential to just about everything.  That was only a few books ago.  Times change.  Please take note, religious observers.

Jesse shows up again.  He's not really important.  It's his offspring, and specifically David, that we really care about.  From here, you will start to know a lot of this.  Samuel anoints David, the new more perfect chosen one.  It's interesting how Saul and David initially interact.  Saul calls for some help dealing with what's described as an evil spirit from God (certainly an interesting twist if it's the same as later and more famous demonic possession) but what I'll call foul moods.  David is called upon to soothe his lord, a sacred cord no doubt (alleluia!), playing a lyre whenever Saul needs it.  Saul is pleased.  He thinks very favorably of young David, at first.

The Philistines return for more trouble!  Goliath!  The valley of Elah looms!

Jesse's sheep are kept in Bethlehem.  New Testament looms!

It's interesting that David's brother describes him as presumptuous and having evil in his heart.  Maybe it's jealousy.  Maybe it's a peek at David's true personality?

Speaking of New Testament looming, David is a "good shepherd," delivered by God from the clutches of predators.  It's impossible that in the midst of all the interpreting of scripture he did, Jesus or his friends wouldn't have noted any of this.

David's weapon isn't so much the slingshot as his faith in God.  Goliath falls.  Head served on a platter, another odd little echo to be found in the New Testament with John the Baptist.

Jonathan's stock is rising as he becomes fast friends with David.  Saul starts thinking more craftily as he begins his pursuit of David.  He becomes a lot more like Samson.  This is where Saul gives David one of his daughters as his wife (David acquires several others, too!), in the hopes he'll have something to use against his new son-in-law later.  Jonathan tells his pal how much trouble he's in.  There's a waiting period of three days (like Jesus) while things build to a head.  David finds himself with the upper hand, which impresses on Saul the nobility of this youth he has become so jealous of.  He quits trying to kill him.

Samuel dies, his role complete.  David's second bride is like one of those encounters Jesus has in the New Testament, but in a thoroughly Old Testament manner.  Saul uses a medium to contact the dead Samuel.  The ban against mediums, wizards, etc. (abominations to God, or so say the books of Moses several times) seems to have been lifted, or the Hebrews simply don't care about that edict anymore.  (They're not exactly flawless these days.)

Jonathan falls in battle with the Philistines.  Saul opts for suicide rather than meeting a similar fate.  End of First Book.