1 SAMUEL Hebrew Bible Monographs, 19 Series Editors David J.A. Clines, J. Cheryl Exum, Keith W. Whitelam Editorial Board A. Graeme Auld, Marc Brettler, Francis Landy, Hugh S. Pyper, Stuart D.E. Weeks 1 SAMUEL A NARRATIVE COMMENTARY Keith Bodner SHEFFIELD PHOENIX PRESS 2009 Copyright © 2009 Sheffield Phoenix Press First published in hardback 2008 First published in paperback 2009 Published by Sheffield Phoenix Press Department of Biblical Studies, University of Sheffield Sheffield S10 2TN www.sheffieldphoenix.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without the publishers’ permission in writing. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Typeset by Forthcoming Publications Printed by Lightning Source ISBN 978-1-906055-10-3 (hardback) ISBN 978-1-906055-88-2 (paperback) ISSN 1747-9614 CONTENTS Acknowledgments vii Abbreviations viii Introduction 1 1. Title and Text 1 2. Canonical Location 2 a. The House that Ruth Built 2 b. ‘In those days there was no king in Israel’ 3 c. The Deuteronomistic History 3 3. Major Characters 6 4. Approach 8 ANARRATIVE COMMENTARY Chapter 1 11 Chapter 2 26 Chapter 3 37 Chapter 4 43 Chapter 5 51 Chapter 6 55 Chapter 7 63 Chapter 8 69 Chapter 9 78 Chapter 10 92 Chapter 11 102 Chapter 12 109 Chapter 13 118 Chapter 14 130 Chapter 15 149 Chapter 16 166 Chapter 17 176 Chapter 18 191 Chapter 19 202 Chapter 20 212 Chapter 21 223 Chapter 22 231 1 vi 1 Samuel: A Narrative Commentary Chapter 23 240 Chapter 24 249 Chapter 25 258 Chapter 26 274 Chapter 27 283 Chapter 28 290 Chapter 29 304 Chapter 30 309 Chapter 31 316 Bibliography 327 Index of References 331 Index of Authors 339 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book began with an invitation from John Jarick, and was originally slated for the Readings series under his editorship. As it happened, the volume ended up in a different series, but I am grateful for Dr Jarick’s continued support. I have retained the Readings format and general literary approach. Anyone who has worked with Duncan Burns on the production side of a manuscript can testify to his ‘above and beyond’ effort and compe- tence, and once more I appreciated his skills. Over the course of the writing, Peter Miscall read considerable portions, as did Daniel Hawk. Graeme Auld and Walter Brueggemann poured forth timely encouragement, and, as always, Barbara Green and Bob Polzin provided meaningful ‘dialogics’. The annual exhortations of Professor D.J.A. Clines in the SBL exhibit hall spurred me on to the finish line, and my colleague Barry Smith politely inquired every week as to the completion date. Along the way, critical queries were posed by Mark Leuchter and David Vanderhooft, while some long conversations with Jacob Wright were invaluable. Numerous friends in the venerable Canadian Society of Biblical Studies listened patiently to my papers on many of the topics explored here. Craig Evans extended gracious hospitality on a number of occasions, and I also appreciate the chance to share ideas with the students and faculty members of McMaster Divinity College and Regent College as a visiting professor. Seth Crowell, Mary Beth Clements, Steve Dempster, Greg Maillet, and David MacDonald all deserve an honorable mention, while Ryan Johnson and Mike King were basketball teammates at an opportune moment. I am eternally thankful for the sacrifice and indefatigable support of my ‘Shulammite’, Dr Coreen Bodner, who has, along with our three energetic offspring, Victoria, Jeff, and Evelyn, enabled me to affirm the declaration of a great poet: (cid:97)(cid:92)(cid:80)(cid:76)(cid:66)(cid:62)(cid:76)(cid:49)(cid:33)(cid:37)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:92)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:16)(cid:58)(cid:79)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:81)(cid:5)(cid:3)(cid:97)(cid:92)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:10)(cid:91)(cid:64) (‘the boundary lines have fallen for me in delightful places’, Ps. 16.4). 1 ABBREVIATIONS AB Anchor Bible CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly DJD Discoveries in the Judaean Desert ICC International Critical Commentary JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JHS Journal of Hebrew Scriptures JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament JSOTSup Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement Series KJV King James Version LXX Septuagint MT Masoretic text NIBC New International Biblical Commentary NRSV New Revised Standard Version OTL Old Testament Library RSV Revised Standard Version SOTSMS Society for Old Testament Study Monograph Series VT Vetus Testamentum WBC Word Biblical Commentary 1 INTRODUCTION The book of 1 Samuel has engaged readers over the centuries because of its dramatic depths and theological mysteries. Readers are not just attracted to the famous stories such as David’s confrontation with the giant Goliath, but other episodes such as the travails of Hannah, the capture of the ark, the birth of Ichabod, and the shade of the long-dead Samuel reappearing on a dark night in Endor, each of which is endlessly intriguing. 1 Samuel is a brilliant and intricate work of literature that often resists easy conclusions and confronts the interpreter with innumerable challenges. In this brief intro- duction, I would like at least to draw attention to several of these challenges, and discuss a few preliminary matters and questions that we will encounter during the course of our journey. My remarks are limited to and organized around four different areas: title and text (the name of the book and its textual traditions), canonical location (the placement of the book within the Bible and issues of context), major characters (the key personalities), and approach (the reading strategy used in this commentary). 1.Title and Text The book we are studying has been saddled with a couple of different titles. Its title in the Greek tradition is ‘1 Reigns’ (or ‘1 Kingdoms’), the first of four books known as Samuel–Kings in the Hebrew Bible. Some have argued that the division of the books is fairly loose, and based on relative scroll length or some other practical purpose. The title 1 Reigns has a particular aptness in light of the book’s content: the transition from charismatic judge- ship to the beginning of dynastic monarchy, with a sustained reflection on leadership. 1 Reigns alerts the reader to the fact that the stakes are high during this stretch of Israel’s history, and political decisions and ideas proposed here will have far-reaching implications for the nation. While there is a certain currency in the title 1 Reigns, the Hebrew tradition opted instead for Samuel (with further division into 1 and 2 Samuel taking place in the early sixteenth century). This title has nothing to do with authorship, as Samuel the character could not possibly have written either 1 or 2 Samuel. Nor does it primarily have to do with Samuel (Hannah’s son) as a dominant 1