Chapter 20 Study Questions

Question 1

Were 1 and 2 Samuel separated in the Hebrew Bible?

Answer 1

No. They were one book.

Question 2

What is the purpose of 1 and 2 Samuel?

Answer 2

To record the establishment of the Hebrew monarchy

Question 3

The careers of what three men are considered in 1 and 2 Samuel?

Answer 3

Samuel
King Saul
King David

Question 4

Who wrote 1 and 2 Samuel?

Answer 4

Unknown.

Question 5

What was the date of authorship for 1 and 2 Samuel?

Answer 5

Between 930 and 722 B.C. as the writer was not aware of the fall of the Northern kingdom.

Question 6

Tue or false: 1 and 2 Samuel were poorly preserved.

Answer 6

False. They were the least well preserved, but they were not poorly preserved.

Question 7

What are lacunae?

Answer 7

Gaps in the text

Question 8

Why is the LXX important for textual criticism of 1 and 2 Samuel?

Answer 8

The official temple text of the interbiblical period may have relied on manuscripts with lacunae. This would explain the absence of the number before “years” in 1 Sam. 13:1.

Question 9

Does 2 Sam. 21:19 indicate that Goliath was killed by Elhanan instead of David?

Answer 9

No, it was apparently miscopied. 1 Chron 20:5 makes it clear that Elhanan slew the brother of Goliath.

Question 10

Explain the two accounts of Saul being disenfranchised.

Answer 10

1 Sam 13:8ff refers to the loss of the dynasty. 1 Sam 15:13-35 refers to the ending of his personal reign.

Question 11

What does the Davidic covenant embellish?

Answer 11

The seed promises of the Abrahamic covenant.

Question 12

What are the provisions of the Davidic covenant (List 5)?

Answer 12

1. David’s unborn child will succeed him and establish the kingdom.
2. David’s son would build a temple.
3. The throne of his kingdom is established forever.
4. The throne would not be taken away from Solomon, though his sins may justify it.
5. The right to rule would never leave the house of David.

Question 13

What is the character of the Davidic covenant?

Answer 13

Everlasting, unconditional, and literal.

Question 14

What is a poor interpretation exisiting today of the literal Davidic covenant?

Answer 14

That the perpetual, unconditional covenant changed from Jew to Gentile.

Question 15

What are 5 eschatological implications of the Davidic covenant?

Answer 15

1. Israel must be preserved as a nation.
2. Israel must have a national existence.
3. David’s Son, Christ Jesus, must return.
4. Jesus must reign over a literal kingdom.
5. This kingdom must become an everlasting kingdom.

Question 16

What is the theme of 1 and 2 Kings?

Answer 16

The kingdom united and divided.

Question 17

Were 1 and 2 Kings separated in the Hebrew Bible?

Answer 17

No. They were one book.

Question 18

What is the purpose of 1 and 2 Kings?

Answer 18

To set forth those events which were important from the standpoint of God and His program of redemption

Question 19

1 Kings drew from three sources. What were they?

Answer 19

1. The Book of the Acts of Solomon (11:41)
2. The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (14:29)
3. The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (14:19)

Question 20

When were 1 and 2 Kings written?

Answer 20

After the exile.

Question 21

Who wrote 1 and 2 Kings?

Answer 21

According to Talmudic tradition, Jeremiah.

Question 22

What is the solution to the trouble with the dates of the reigns of the Northern and Southern rulers?

Answer 22

Co-regency

Question 23

What are the accession and nonaccession years, and how do they affect dating the reigns of the kings?

Answer 23

Accession year: First year of reign not considered, even if it begins on the first day of the year.
Nonaccession year: First year counts as the first year of reign, even if it begins on the last day of the year.
Up to two years difference in dating the reigns of the kings can be reconciled.