1 Samuel Chapters 8, 9 and10

by Linda Claassen Mitchell The people demand a king: Day 1 They have rejected God. 1 Samuel 8:1-7 (IEB): "When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. His oldest son's name was Joel, and his next son's name was Abijah. They were acting as judges in Beer-Sheba. However, Samuel's sons did not live the same way he did. Instead, they tried to get money dishonestly. They took bribes. They twisted justice to obtain money. Therefore, all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, 'Look,…

Continue Reading1 Samuel Chapters 8, 9 and10

1 Samuel Chapters 5, 6 and 7

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Yahweh is the One True God: Day 1 The Philistine god Dagon is a dud. The Philistines had defeated the Israelites and captured the Holy Chest of the one true God and took it to Ashdad. 1 Samuel 5:2 (IEB): "They took it and brought it into Dagon's temple and put it next to Dagon."(d) Following the footnotes: (d) a false god or idol; sometimes depicted as half-man and half-fish. Samson had already destroyed Dagon's temple at Gaza (Judg. 16:21-30). Treating the sacred objects of Israel as captured trophies, the Philistines probably did this…

Continue Reading1 Samuel Chapters 5, 6 and 7

1 Samuel Chapters 3 and 4

by Linda Claassen Mitchell Eli and Samuel — Day 1 Today I am reading in 1 Samuel Chapter 3 where God Calls Samuel. I'll be following the footnotes as I go. 1 Samuel 3:1 (IEB): "The boy Samuel (i) was serving Yahweh under the supervision of Eli. (j) In those days, Yahweh did not speak directly to the people very often. (k) There were very few visions coming from God." Following the footnotes for 1 Samuel 3:1: (i) Josephus thought that Samuel was about 12 years of age at this time. (j) Samuel performed both prophetic (1 Samuel…

Continue Reading1 Samuel Chapters 3 and 4