Looking for Samuel

[JLG]

7) Samuel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- 1 Samuel 2:17

Thus the sin
חַטַּ֧את (ḥaṭ·ṭaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

of these young men
הַנְּעָרִ֛ים (han·nə·‘ā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

was
וַתְּהִ֨י (wat·tə·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

severe
גְּדוֹלָ֥ה (gə·ḏō·w·lāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

in the sight
פְּנֵ֣י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

for
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

{were treating} the LORD’s
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

offering
מִנְחַ֥ת (min·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4503: A donation, tribute, a sacrificial offering

with contempt.
נִֽאֲצוּ֙ (ni·’ă·ṣū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5006: To spurn, treat with contempt

- Israel is corrupt!
- Yah.weh’s temple is corrupt because of Eli and his two sons!
- It can’t be worse!
- And once again, Yah.weh is extremely patient!
- But as usual it will end really badly!
- And Samuel is raised in such a mess!
- In fact, it is a mess everywhere in Israel!
- As usual!
- And Yah.weh is completely away!
- And Samuel is but a child!
- But Yah.weh cares for him!

 

[JLG]

8) Samuel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

- 1 Samuel 2:26

And the boy
וְהַנַּ֣עַר (wə·han·na·‘ar)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

Samuel
שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

continued to grow
הֹלֵ֥ךְ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in stature
וְגָדֵ֖ל (wə·ḡā·ḏêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1432: Becoming great, growing up

and in favor
וָט֑וֹב (wā·ṭō·wḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

men.
אֲנָשִֽׁים׃ (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

- Thus Samuel is behaving properly in front of Yah.weh but also in front of men!
- Yah.weh is looking for a change!
- Thus Job, Daniel and Samuel are three similar examples of faithful servants of Yah.weh among corruption!
- And they keep faithful whatever happens!
- So it doesn’t matter if corruption is everywhere!
- Yah.weh always expects his faithful servants to get away from corruption!
- Thus they show us the way!
- And they will always show us the way if we read and study their books again and again!

 

[JLG]

9) Samuel - comparing faithfulness to Yah.weh

1 Samuel 2:30

Therefore,
לָכֵ֗ן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

the LORD,
יְהוָה֮ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

declares:
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

‘I did indeed
אָמ֣וֹר (’ā·mō·wr)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 559: To utter, say

say
אָמַ֔רְתִּי (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

that your house
בֵּֽיתְךָ֙ (bê·ṯə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and the house
וּבֵ֣ית (ū·ḇêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of your father
אָבִ֔יךָ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

would walk
יִתְהַלְּכ֥וּ (yiṯ·hal·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

before Me
לְפָנַ֖י (lə·p̄ā·nay)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

forever.
עוֹלָ֑ם (‘ō·w·lām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

But now
וְעַתָּ֤ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

declares:
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

Far be it
חָלִ֣ילָה (ḥā·lî·lāh)
Interjection | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2486: For, a profaned thing, far be it!

from Me!
לִּ֔י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I will honor
מְכַבְּדַ֥י (mə·ḵab·bə·ḏay)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

those who honor Me,
אֲכַבֵּ֖ד (’ă·ḵab·bêḏ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

but those who despise Me
וּבֹזַ֥י (ū·ḇō·zay)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 959: To disesteem

will be disdained.
יֵקָֽלּוּ׃ (yê·qāl·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling

- Quite simple!
- Yah.weh will honor those who honor him and despise those who despise him!
- Here we get a definition of faithfulness!
- And Job, Daniel and Samuel always keep faithful to Yah.weh!
- It is as clear as crystal for them!
- What about you?
- There won’t be any exception!

 

[JLG]

115) - Sixth key: Samuel as an adult!

1 Samuel 12:23:

As for

גַּ֣ם (gam)

Conjunction

Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and


me,

אָנֹכִ֗י (’ā·nō·ḵî)

Pronoun - first person common singular

Strong's 595: I


far be it from me

חָלִ֤ילָה (ḥā·lî·lāh)

Interjection | third person feminine singular

Strong's 2486: For, a profaned thing, far be it!


that I

לִּי֙ (lî)

Preposition | first person common singular

Strong's Hebrew


should sin

מֵחֲטֹ֣א (mê·ḥă·ṭō)

Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn


against the LORD

לַֽיהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)

Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular

Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


by ceasing

מֵחֲדֹ֖ל (mê·ḥă·ḏōl)

Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

Strong's 2308: To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle


to pray

לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל (lə·hiṯ·pal·lêl)

Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct

Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray


for you.

בַּעַדְכֶ֑ם (ba·‘aḏ·ḵem)

Preposition | second person masculine plural

Strong's 1157: In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, for


And I will continue to teach

וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י (wə·hō·w·rê·ṯî)

Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular

Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach


you

אֶתְכֶ֔ם (’eṯ·ḵem)

Direct object marker | second person masculine plural

Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case


the good

הַטּוֹבָ֖ה (haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh)

Article | Noun - feminine singular

Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good


and right

וְהַיְשָׁרָֽה׃ (wə·hay·šā·rāh)

Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - feminine singular

Strong's 3477: Straight, right


way.

בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ (bə·ḏe·reḵ)

Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct

Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action


- Samuel went straight away!

- Nothing would stop him from doing God’s will!

- He couldn’t prevent Israel from rejecting God!

- But he did his best to encourage them to follow God’s word!

- And it’s up to us to do the same or not!

- Just a question of free will!

 

[JLG]

116)

1) We can also see the books of Samuel as a warning for us!


- In Chapter I, Samuel’s father has two wives!


- God says one man and one woman!


- Man has always done his best to do it his own way opposing God in everything!


- And in everything we can see that man fails!


- Man has never enough with one woman so he takes as much as he wants!


- It brings instability in the family or can we speak about a family?


- As a consequence, the woman and mother always does the job alone!


- Man is often a bad father and husband!


- It is also easy to become insensitive!


- Samuel’s father doesn’t know what’s on in his own family!


- So he is a failure in this sense!


- We see the same in the Bible with the Israelites!

- We see the same in the history of humanity with a climax today!

 

[JLG]

117)

2) Again in Chapter 1, we see the same insensitivity from Eli the high priest!


- As a religious leader, he should be supposed to be closed to the people and to God!


- But in both cases, he is far away!


- When Hannah prays, he thinks she is drunk in the house of God!


- How is it possible to be so insensitive?


- While she expresses her deep feelings to God!


- Unbelievable!


- But that’s how it is!


- Once again this type of insensitivity is the rule among men!


- And it has always been so!


- The real disciples of Jesus should show a different behavior if they really want to look like him!

 

[JLG]

118) Again in Chapter I, we have two types of women!


- Hannah is the good one!


- And not only for women and mothers but also for men and fathers!


- She shows us the right way!


- She gives a good education to her son!


- She brings him to the temple to serve God!


- She visits him regularly every year!


- We don’t have any information about the quality of the relationship between Hannah and Samuel!


- It would have been quite interesting!


- We can only imagine!


- We only know that she was a good example for Samuel!


- And she kept her word to God!


- The Bible doesn’t have many good models to follow!


- Thus they are more precious!


- On the contrary, there are a majority of bad examples we must avoid if we want to develop a strong relationship to God!

- Thus it is quite easy to follow a bad example!

- There is such a big range!

 

[JLG]

119) Then in Chapter 2, we have the bad examples of Eli’s sons who are wicked ones!


- They are supposed to serve God in his temple!


- And they do everything wrong in front of him and Israel!


- Everyone can see their bad behavior!


- Well, it is quite normal among men who are supposed to serve God to behave like that!


- Thus many men think they can do whatever they want because of such examples!


- As if it was an excuse!


- And not only because they behave in a bad way but also what they say is wrong!


- On the contrary, the true disciples of Jesus should show they are different from the rest!


- But history of man shows that they are usually not different and thus not true disciples of Jesus!


- But saying doesn’t mean we really are!


- It is only by the way we behave, with words and deeds!


- And doing nothing is not better!

 

[JLG]

120) In chapter 2, we are told about Eli’s reaction or lack of reaction

regarding his two sons!


- He was the high priest!


- His two sons were also priests!


- They would commit their sins against God in front of Israel!


- He tried to speak to them but they didn’t listen to them!


- And that was all!


- Nothing else!


- We can’t expect to go against God and think everything will be alright!


- No chance!


- If we follow man’s tradition, we can’t follow God’s word!


- They are two opposed ways!


- Yet, Israel did it!


- Yet, humanity does the same!

 

[JLG]

121) In 1 Samuel 7, we can hear another warning!


- Samuel tells Israel that serving God is not a part-time job but a full one!


- It is not how we want but how he wants us to serve him!


- Israel listens to Samuel and they get rid of the Philistines!


- It was possible because of Samuel who was a faithful servant of God!


- Before that, they had been in big trouble and they were the slaves of the Philistines!


- Just because they were doing it their way not God’s way!


- Thus we can understand that this man was important for God!


- Thus because of him they could live in peace!

 

[JLG]

122) In 1 Samuel 8, we are told that Samuel is now old!


- He has kept serving God all his life!


- He appointed his two sons as judges over Israel!


- But they are corrupted!


- We don’t have any information about how it happened!


- What we know is that Eli was condemned, not Samuel!


- On the contrary, he kept maintaining the quality of his relationship to God!


- And when Israel asked for a human king instead of God, he was displeased!


- It happens because of his sons but it would have happened for any reason because Israel was obstinate and they were used to go away from God!


- So once again we may hear the same warning!


- God says to Samuel that Israel was rejecting him once again as they had always been doing it starting the moment they left Egypt thanks to God!


- And humanity has been doing the same!

 

[JLG]

123) In 1 Samuel 8, we are told that Samuel warned Israel how a human king would treat them!


- And when they would cry out to God, he wouldn’t answer them!


- Because they would have rejected God!


- But they refused to listen to what Samuel told them!


- Israel spent his time rejected God and God rejected them!


- Humanity keeps doing the same!


- But each individual has the opportunity to look for God for himself and encourage others to do the same!


- We have free will!


- It’s up to us to make our choice!


- Nobody else will be responsible for that choice!

 

[JLG]

124) Looking for Samuel

1 Samuel 1:1,2


Biblehub 1 samuel 1:1


Biblehub 1 samuel 1:2


- It is exceptional because here we have information about the family of Samuel!


- His father has two wives: it is not according to what it was supposed to be at the beginning, it is one man and one woman!


- As a consequence, it will bring troubles!


- It is always the same: God says one thing and man wants to take another way and it brings problems!


- It is so evident why humanity is a catastrophe!

 

[JLG]

125) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:3


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:3


Hebrew

Year after year
מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ (mî·yā·mîm)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

[Elkanah]
הַה֤וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

would go up
וְעָלָה֩ (wə·‘ā·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from his city
מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ (mê·‘î·rōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

to worship
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֧ת (lə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

and sacrifice
וְלִזְבֹּ֛חַ (wə·liz·bō·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice

to the LORD
לַיהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts
צְבָא֖וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

at Shiloh,
בְּשִׁלֹ֑ה (bə·ši·lōh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7887: Shiloh -- a city in Ephraim

where
וְשָׁ֞ם (wə·šām)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

Eli’s
עֵלִ֗י (‘ê·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

two
שְׁנֵ֣י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

sons,
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

Hophni
חָפְנִי֙ (ḥā·p̄ə·nî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2652: Hophni -- a son of Eli

and Phinehas,
וּפִ֣נְחָ֔ס (ū·p̄in·ḥās)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6372: Phinehas -- three Israelites

were priests
כֹּהֲנִ֖ים (kō·hă·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

to the LORD.
לַיהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


- Right, here is a servant of God who goes to worship and to sacrifice to God as he is supposed to do!


- Nothing special, nothing wrong even if he has two wives!


- But that’s the Israelites: we know they didn’t know how to serve God in the right way even if they were told!


- In fact, they didn’t want to do it the proper way!


- They preferred to have a look at the other nations and copy them!

 

[JLG]

126) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1: 4,5


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:4


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:5


- Yeah, yeah, yeah: Elkannah loves Hannah so there is a competition or a fight between the two women: that’s not a good way to educate children!


- And Peninnah has children and Hannah doesn’t: it means more troubles!


- I should say endless troubles!


- Apparently, God has favored Peninnah and not Hannah to counterbalance the situation!


- It reminds us of many situations due to man’s behavior: he always wants more and it is never enough!

 

[JLG]

127) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:7,8


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:7

Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:8


- Poor man, he has no idea of what happens in his own family!


- Does it remind you of something?


- It usually happens that way among many families!


- And parents don’t understand when something happens because they don’t know anything!


- Well, their children have friends to communicate with or they spend a lot of time in front of TV, the internet or playing video games!


- And the children have nothing to say when they eat with their parents!


- And they want to go outside with their friends or back to the TV, the internet or playing video games!


- What do you call that? Modern life!


- Is that progress?

 

[JLG]

128) Geographical locations in the book of Daniel


Daniel 8:


- Greece:


https://www.history.com/news/alexander-the-great-defeat-persian-empire


How Alexander the Great Conquered the Persian Empire

Alexander used both military and political cunning to finally unseat the Persian superpower.

For more than two centuries, the Achaemenid Empire of Persia ruled the Mediterranean world. One of history’s first true super powers, the Persian Empire stretched from the borders of India down through Egypt and up to the northern borders of Greece. But Persia’s rule as a dominant empire would finally be brought to an end by a brilliant military and political strategist, Alexander the Great.

Alexander III was born in 356 B.C. in the small Kingdom of Macedonia. Tutored in his youth by Aristotle and trained for battle by his father, Philip II, Alexander the Great grew to become a powerful imperialist. His undermanned defeat of the Persian King Darius III at the Battle of Gaugamela is seen as one of the decisive turning points of human history, unseating the Persians as the greatest power in the ancient world and spreading Hellenistic culture across a vast new empire.

Alexander owed a tremendous debt to his father for leaving him a world-class army led by experienced and loyal generals. But it was Alexander’s genius as a leader and battlefield strategist that secured his victory against an imposing adversary deep in enemy territory.

Philip II Left Alexander the Great a Fierce Army​

The Macedonians weren’t always a force to be reckoned with. The historic centers of Greek power were the city-states of Athens, Sparta and Thebes to the south, whose leaders regarded the Macedonians as barbarians. It was Alexander’s father, Philip, who single-handedly transformed the Macedonian army into one of the most feared fighting machines in the ancient world.

Philip reorganized all of Macedonian society around a professional army and raised elite fighting forces of infantry, cavalry, javelin throwers and archers. Aristocratic young men would start their military training at seven years old and graduate to officers at 18. The highest positions were in the Royal Companion Cavalry, the king’s own personal squadron, and in the Royal Hypaspists, an elite 500-man infantry unit that surrounded the king in battle.

Weaponry also got an upgrade under Philip. Gone was the shorter “dory” or Greek wooden spear (7 feet long), and in its place was the much longer sarissa, an 18- to 22-foot hunting spear with an iron tip that could puncture heavy armor and impale charging cavalry horses.

Backed by his shiny new army, Philip marched south in 338 B.C. and defeated an all-star alliance of Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea. The battle served as a coming-out party for 18-year-old Alexander, who bravely led the Macedonian cavalry charge that broke through the Athenian ranks and secured victory for the upstart kingdom.

 

[JLG]

129) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1: 12-14


biblehub 1 Samuel 1:12

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:13

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:14


- When Hannah speaks to God, she is sincere, it comes from her heart and she opens it to him!


- She doesn’t say anything in a hurry or mechanically!


- And Eli thinks she is drunk!


- That’s strange because he is old!


- So he must have seen many people praying!


- Judging by appearance is not good: it only leads to misunderstanding!

 

[JLG]

130) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:15,16


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:15

Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:16


- One word to summarize: HUMILITY!


- Samuel will have a really good mother!


- And she defends herself in front of Eli!


- When she speaks about her great anguish and distress, even if there is no comparison, it reminds me of Job expressing his great anguish and distress to God!

 

[JLG]

https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


131) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:17,18


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:17

Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:18


- Hannah speaks with God!


- Then she speaks with Eli!


- And she finds relief!


- The prayer is supposed to be for that!


- But we must be used to praying with our hearts!