The Message of Samuel

Personalities, potential, politics and power

Mary J. Evans

Lecturer in Old Testament, London Bible College

Inter-Varsity Press

Inter-Varsity Press

Norton Street, Nottingham NH7 3HR, England

Email: ivp@ivpbooks.com

Website: www.ivpbooks.com

© Mary J. Evans 2004

Mary J. Evans has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of Inter-Varsity Press or the Copyright Licensing Agency.

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton, a division of Hodder Headline Ltd. All rights reserved. ‘niv’ is a registered trademark of International Bible Society. UK trademark number 1448790.

First published 2004

Reprinted 2006, 2008, 2010

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-85111-295-4

Inter-Varsity Press publishes Christian books that are true to the Bible and that communicate the gospel, develop discipleship and strengthen the church for its mission in the world.

Inter-Varsity Press is closely linked with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, a student movement connecting Christian Unions in universities and colleges throughout Great Britain, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. Website: www.uccf.org.uk

The Bible Speaks Today

Series editors: Alec Motyer (OT)

John Stott (NT)

Derek Tidball (Bible Themes)

for

Isobel and Ron, Elaine, Brad and Kathleen

with love and with thanks

Contents

General preface

Author’s preface

Chief abbreviations

Bibliography

Introduction

1. Hannah: the powerless woman (1 Samuel 1–4)

2. Samuel: the reluctant kingmaker (1 Samuel 4–8)

3. Saul: majesty and mania (1 Samuel 9–15)

4. David: the young ‘pretender’ (1 Samuel 16–24)

5. David: the exalted nationalist (1 Samuel 25–31)

6. David: in control (2 Samuel 1–5)

7. David: in covenant (2 Samuel 6–10)

8. David: out of control? (2 Samuel 11–13)

9. Absalom: a usurping son (2 Samuel 14–20)

10. Filling in the gaps? (2 Samuel 21–24)

Map: 1 and 2 Samuel: places and peoples

The Bible Speaks Today

GENERAL PREFACE

The Bible Speaks Today describes three series of expositions, based on the books of the Old and New Testaments, and on Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. Each series is characterized by a threefold ideal:

• to expound the biblical text with accuracy

• to relate it to contemporary life, and

• to be readable.

These books are, therefore, not ‘commentaries’, for the commentary seeks rather to elucidate the text than to apply it, and tends to be a work ...