1 & 2 Samuel (Understanding the Bible Commentary | UBC)

Top Highlights

“It is striking that the authors choose to begin this narrative—which deals so often with power struggles between the leading men of the country—with a powerless, barren woman.” (Page 15)

“It is probably not irrelevant, however, that the beginning of the book’s main theologizing statement comes from the lips of a woman. We have here a reflection on power and powerlessness—in particular the power of God and the powerlessness of human beings—spoken by one who was powerless but who had been, at least in her mind, empowered by God.” (Page 20)

“Another way of looking at this material would be to suggest that whereas Saul and David were both potentially great leaders, neither was able to cope with power; they are most praised for their characters and behavior before they were recognized national leaders.” (Page 7)

“This is the only place in the ot narratives where a woman is described as loving a man.” (Page 88)

“For the purposes of this story it is important that the reader remembers that Samuel was dead and buried, that occult activity was forbidden in Israel, and that Saul had taken action to ensure that the law in this regard be kept. In an account that portrays Saul as at his lowest, there is still the underlying sense that he had on occasion fulfilled his responsibilities to keep the people in line with God’s laws—that he had had the potential to be a good king.” (Page 124)