Samuel - Final

Question 1

When was the scroll of Samuel likely written?

Answer 1

During the 400-year period between David’s death and the early days of Judah’s exile (p. 92)

Question 2

Which two narratives does the scroll of Samuel overlap with?

Answer 2

Judges and Kings (p. 92)

Question 3

What is the theological center of Samuel and the Deuteronomistic narrative?

Answer 3

Yahweh’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7 (p. 92)

Question 4

What was the other leading expectation of Torah in the Davidic promise besides the coming Judah-king?

Answer 4

The place of worship that Yahweh would choose where his name would dwell (p. 92)

Question 5

What promise is given using the language of the place legislation in Nathan’s oracle to David?

Answer 5

David’s own son would build a temple for Yahweh’s name (p. 93)

Question 6

What promise is part of the high point of Yahweh’s redemptive plan?

Answer 6

Yahweh’s promise to adopt David’s son as his own son (p.93)

Question 7

What wrong turns complicate the Samuel narrative before it arrives at the Davidic promise?

Answer 7

a. Samuel did not want a kingdom (p. 93)
b. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin, not Judah (p. 93)
c. After his anointing, David repeatedly decided not to kill Saul who hunted him like a fugitive (p. 93)
d. After Saul’s death, it took 7 ½ years and a civil war before David became king of all Israel (p. 93)

Question 8

What do David’s last words tell the reader?

Answer 8

Yahweh will take David’s son as his own. The son of David is the son of God who would build a temple so Yahweh’s name may dwell with his people (p. 93).

Question 9

How is the story told in the Samuel narrative?

Answer 9

In episodes–usually one or two per chapter–each one connecting with the one before and leading to new obstacles that need to be overcome in later episodes (p. 93)

Question 10

What hinges on the promise to David?

Answer 10

Israel and the redemptive will of Yahweh (p.94)

Question 11

What did the author of the Samuel scroll place at the beginning, middle, and end of the scroll?

Answer 11

Major theologically pregnant poems. (94)

Question 12

What is the common denominator in the three poems in Samuel?

Answer 12

Kingship. (94)

Question 13

What is the theme of Hannah’s prayer?

Answer 13

Reversal. (95)

Question 14

Who was the first person in the Bible to speak of anointing a king?

Answer 14

Hannah. (95)

Question 15

What is necessary for anointing?

Answer 15

Rubbing or pouring oil on the one YHWH chooses. (95)

Question 16

What was David refusing to do when he would not raise a hand against Yahweh’s anointed?

Answer 16

To kill King Saul. (96)

Question 17

According to David’s lament, what was his involvement with the battle against Saul?

Answer 17

He was not involved. (96)

Question 18

What is meant by the love Jonathan had for David?

Answer 18

Brotherly affection as well as political loyalty. (97)

Question 19

What does the heading of David’s song praise Yahweh for?

Answer 19

Salvation of David in general by naming alongside of Saul all his other enemies, which included Benjamin, the Philistines, foreign enemies, Absalom, and Bichri. (98)

Question 20

What is a theophany?

Answer 20

Self-revelation of God

Question 21

What imagery does David’s song use to refer to the past redemptive acts of God?

Answer 21

David uses the imagery of dramatic cosmic forces.

Question 22

How did Yahweh use storms as weapons?

Answer 22

Yahweh used storms as weapons to deliver His servant David.

Question 23

In what sense was David righteous?

Answer 23

In the sense that he trusted in God for the kingship and deliverance from his enemies.

Question 24

What is the most important connection among Hannah’s prayer, David’s lament for Saul, and the song of David?

Answer 24

The most important connection is kingship in Israel.

Question 25

What is the theological meaning of the Samuel narrative?

Answer 25

Yahweh humbles the proud and lifts up the humble.

Question 26

What are the key literary devices used by the author of Samuel?

Answer 26

The author of Samuel used formulas as well as minor poems, repeated ironic questions, and repeated imagery to interconnect the narrative.

Question 27

What do the headings at the beginning sections of Samuel effectively show?

Answer 27

The headings at the beginning of Samuel effectively show the continuation of the days of the judges.

Question 28

How many times was David anointed in Samuel?

Answer 28

David was anointed three times in Samuel: privately, over Judah, and over all Israel.

Question 29

How does the author of Samuel make connections?

Answer 29

The author of Samuel uses repeated questions and short poems to make connections.

Question 30

How does the author of Samuel frequently use physical appearances of characters?

Answer 30

The author of Samuel uses physical appearances of characters in highly ironic ways. Three examples appear at major turning points of the story: Eli’s death, David fighting the champion from Gath, and the death of Absalom.

Question 31

What does the naming of Eli’s grandson symbolize?

Answer 31

It symbolizes the tragic failure of priestly leadership even while it foreshadows the inevitable exile of the people.

Question 32

What do the ironic details in the David and Goliath narrative do to Saul?

Answer 32

These ironic details heap up scorn for Saul

Question 33

What was Absalom’s distinctive physical feature?

Answer 33

Absalom’s distinctive physical feature was his magnificent hair.

Question 34

How does David respond to the good news of Absalom’s demise?

Answer 34

The King was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city and wept. David would rather his rebel son had lived even if it meant his own demise.

Question 35

Why do the prophets and psalms repeatedly return to Yahweh’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7?

Answer 35

The prophets and psalmists repeatedly return to this oracle, rediscovering new reasons to trust in Yahweh and place hope on his promise for redemption.

Question 36

What is the key word in the wordplay in Nathan’s oracle?

Answer 36

The key word in Nathan’s oracle turns on the dual function of the term house. David desired to build a house (temple) for Yahweh. But Nathan brought an oracle to David that he would not build a house for Yahweh. Instead, Yahweh would build a house (royal dynasty) for David. And David’s house would build a house for Yahweh.

Question 37

What undergirds the permanence of the Davidic promise?

Answer 37

The divine sonship of the Davidic heir is what undergirds the permanence of the Davidic promise.

Question 38

What did the conditions of the Davidic covenant do?

Answer 38

Its conditions were what demonstrated its permanence (2 Sam. 7:14-15).

Question 39

What two features were the same between the Davidic covenant and ancient covenants outside of Israel?

Answer 39

Conditions and permanence

Question 40

How did the prophets treat the Davidic covenant once the people and the king had been taken into captivity?

Answer 40

The obligations of the covenant came into sharp focus when the prophets repeatedly threatened the Davidic Kingdom with exile if the people did not submit to God’s will set out in the Torah. Yet, the very same prophets could assure their constituents of Yahweh’s faithfulness to his promises to David on the eve of exile (Jeremiah) or even after captivity (Ezekiel).

Question 41

How did Yahweh show his covenantal loyalty to the Davidic son?

Answer 41

By punishing him for sin. This is the way YWH treated Israel, David, and the followers of Jesus as His own children.

Question 42

Which two psalms reframe the Davidic covenant?

Answer 42

Psalm 2:7 and Psalm 89:20, 26-27

Question 43

What precedent is set by the multiple anointings of David?

Answer 43

For Jesus as the incarnate God to be established as the Son of David and the Son of God in the fullest sense