Samuel, Saul, David, and Solomon: Key Figures

Unit 8 Test: Samuel and Kings Review

Test covers material from:

• 1 Samuel 1-2 (Samuel), 7-10, 12-14 (Saul), 17 (David/Goliath)
• 2 Samuel 11 (David/Bathsheba)
• Textbook pages 103-105
• 1 Kings 3 (Solomon)

Samuel

• Samuel's mother is Hannah (she is barren).
• Samuel's father is Elkanah.
• Hannah promises her son will be a Nazirite (vow taken by Samson).
• They travel to the temple at Shiloh for prayer.
• The high priest at Shiloh is Eli.
• Eli has 2 sons (Phineas and Hophni – they are evil sons):
  • 1) Steal temple sacrifices
  • 2) Sleep with the prostitutes outside the meeting tent
• Elkanah's second wife is Peninnah; she jeers at Hannah for having no children.
• Hannah's prayer of praise reminds us of Mary's hymn of praise in the NT.
• Once Samuel is weaned, he is brought to Eli to live at Shiloh.
• God calls Samuel 3 times.
• Eli tells Samuel to respond, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."
• Samuel's response is "Here I am" (reminds us of Moses).
• Tri-fold vocation = Samuel has three responsibilities in Israel: priest, prophet, judge.
• Issues 3 warnings of what a king will bring Israel:
  • 1) Military draft (conscription)
  • 2) Taxation (oppression)
  • 3) Forced labor (enslavement)

Saul [+ = strengths / (-) = flaws]

• Son of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin.
• Anointed by Samuel after looking for lost donkeys.
• Has a son named Jonathan, who is best friends with David.
• + Physically impressive (very handsome, stands tall)
• + Good military leader
• + God is with him
• - Breaks the ban (law that no one will gain personal wealth during war)
• - Offers sacrifice without Samuel (God is not happy about this)
• - Becomes insanely jealous of David, tries to kill him multiple times

David

• Anointed by Samuel.
• 8^th son of Jesse.
• His prophet Nathan tells him 3 parables about what will happen (it comes true!).
• Has a rebellious son, Absalom.
• + Talented harpist (soothes Saul's sadness)
• + Wrote many psalms (songs/poems)
• + Defeated Goliath, the Philistine champion, using a sling (cuts off his head)
• + Unites the 12 Tribes of Israel
• + Makes Jerusalem (“City of David”) the capital of Israel
• + Brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem
• - Adultery = sleeps with Bathsheba even though she has a husband
• - Murder = kills Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, to get him out of the picture
• - Dances naked in the streets when the Ark of the Covenant is brought to Jerusalem

Solomon

• Third king of Israel.
• Son of David and Bathsheba.
• + Known for his wisdom (example with two women and child)
• + Great builder, builds the Temple to Yahweh in Jerusalem
• + Wrote many proverbs
• + Rules a united monarchy
• - 700 wives and 300 concubines
• - Heavily taxed the people for building projects (temples for foreign gods to keep wives happy)
• - Enslaved the people for building projects

Messiah – Hebrew for “Anointed One”

Christ – Greek for “Anointed One”