1 Samuel

Laments were a common way of showing grief and mourning for the dead. They could poetically capture a person’s feelings toward the departed.

Pressed fig cakes were a common food for travelers (30:12). The dried figs would not spoil, and their sugar content made them an ideal energy food.

How is a fattened calf different from a regular calf? A fattened calf (28:24) was one that had been set aside for a special occasion. While most cattle simply grazed in fields, these select animals were fed in a stall.… Read More »How is a fattened calf different from a regular calf?

“Go, serve other gods.” Telling a fellow Israelite to go and serve other gods (26:19) was a capital offense against the Lord. For non-Israelites, it was a commonly accepted practice to serve the gods of the nation where one lived,… Read More »“Go, serve other gods.”

Why was David sorry after he had cut Saul’s robe? The cutting of another person’s clothes (24:5) was considered an act of humiliation and provocation. Thus, it could lead to war (2 Sam. 10:4–5). David realizes that doing this to… Read More »Why was David sorry after he had cut Saul’s robe?

Psalms of deliverance. Many of the psalms of David were composed during his time spent on the run from Saul.

After the destruction of Shiloh, Nob apparently became the city where the priests and Levites lived. Although its exact location is unknown, it was probably a mile or two north of Jerusalem. After the building of the temple, Jerusalem became… Read More »Nob

What was the significance of the new moon? The new moon was the day of the first appearance of the crescent moon in the western sky at sunset. This marked the beginning of the month in the lunar calendar. One… Read More »What was the significance of the new moon?

The sound of victory. The sight of women singing, dancing, and playing tambourines was very common following a military victory (18:6). Ancient clay figurines or plaques showing women playing tambourines have been found in Israel.

Fed to the birds and beasts. In Israel, being killed and left for scavenger birds, like vultures, was considered shameful (17:46). It deprived a person of a meaningful burial where family members could properly mourn.

A battle of champions. To save lives, the outcomes of battles were at times decided by one-on-one combat (17:4). A champion was selected from the opposing armies to fight each other. Both sides assumed that the gods had thereby determined… Read More »A battle of champions

Why did Saul spare the Kenites? Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was a Kenite. Jethro and his son were helpful and kind to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. Because of this, David also showed favor to the Kenites when… Read More »Why did Saul spare the Kenites

Jonathan shows his trust in God when he says, “nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few” (14:6). The Lord blesses him and gives him victory over the Philistine army (14:1–23). In contrast, Saul disobeys God… Read More »Jonathan shows his trust in God

Lord of lords. Beginning with Saul and David, kings ruled over Israel. But kings did not have supreme authority. That position still belonged to the Lord. Any king who undermined the authority of the Lord or the words he sent… Read More »Lord of lords

A king is crowned. Saul becomes the first king of all 12 tribes of Israel in ch. 12. Only three kings (Saul, David, and Solomon) ruled the entire nation before the people divided into the nations of Israel and Judah.

Though musical instruments were used to induce trances in pagan worship, the Israelites used them for pleasing the Lord. The instruments used by the prophets in 10:5 were the same ones used during feasts (Isa. 5:12).

A gift for the prophet. Gift-giving was an important custom in the social dealings of the ancient world, as is often the case today in various cultures around the world. It was expected that a person seeking knowledge from a… Read More »A gift for the prophet

Ebenezer (7:12) means “stone of help.” The monument was raised to remember the victory of the Israelites over the Philistines. Samuel chose to name it after the place where the Philistines first defeated the Israelites. This monument represented a chance… Read More »Ebenezer

Why the offering of golden mice and tumors? The tumors that afflicted the Philistines were most likely inflamed lymph nodes. This is the most common symptom of bubonic plague, which is often spread through rodents such as mice. Therefore, in… Read More »Why the offering of golden mice and tumors?

The term “Hebrews” is used in 4:6 by the Philistines to describe the Israelites as an ethnic group. The term literally means “descendants of Eber” (Gen. 10:21–25). After David established the monarchy, the nation was referred to as “Israel” rather… Read More »The term “Hebrews”

Samuel! Samuel! When God called Samuel to his service, he called out his name twice (3:10). Abraham, Jacob, and Moses also heard the Lord speak their name twice at a crucial point in their lives.

“Thus says the Lord.” Ancient messengers would begin their message by stating the sender’s name and saying, “[The sender’s name] has spoken thus.” The message would then be delivered in the first person as if the sender were saying it… Read More »“Thus says the Lord.”

Children were of great importance in ancient times for several reasons. They carried on the family name and helped to care for the family’s flocks and herds. Women who could not have children were often looked down upon because children… Read More »Children