Books of Samuel: Difference between revisions

====Samuel (1:1–7:17)====

 

A man named [[Elkanah]], an [[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraimite]] from the city of [[Ramathaim-Zophim]], has two wives, [[Peninnah]] and [[Hannah (biblical figure)|Hannah]], the latter of whom is his favourite wife, and a rivalry between the two develops based on the fact that Peninnah has children and Hannah does not. The childless Hannah vows to [[Yahweh|Yahweh lord of hosts]] that, if she has a son, he will be dedicated to God. [[Eli (Bible)|Eli]], the priest of [[Shiloh (biblical city)|Shiloh]], where the [[Ark of the Covenant]] is located, thinks she is drunk, but when he realises she is praying, he blesses her. A child named [[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]] is born, and Samuel is dedicated to the Lord as a [[Nazirite]]{{snd}}the only one besides [[Samson]] to be identified in the Bible. Hannah sings a [[Song of Hannah|song of praise]] upon the fulfilment of her vow.

 

David arrives at [[Nob, Israel|Nob]], where he meets [[Ahimelech]] the priest, a great-grandson of Eli. Pretending he is on a mission from the king and is going to meet his men, he asks for supplies. He is given the [[showbread]] and Goliath's sword. He then flees to [[Gath (city)|Gath]] and seeks refuge at the court of King [[Achish]], but feigns insanity since he is afraid of what the Philistines might do to him.

 

David travels to the cave of [[Adullam]] near his home, where his family visit him, until he finds refuge for them at the court of the king of Moab in [[Mizpah (Moab)|Mizpah]].

 

David asks if anyone from the House of Saul is still alive so that he can show kindness to them in memory of Jonathan. [[Ziba (biblical figure)|Ziba]], one of Saul's servants, tells him about Mephibosheth. David informs Mephibosheth that he will live in his household and eat at his table, and Mephibosheth moves to Jerusalem.

 

Nahash, king of Ammon dies and his son [[Hanun]] succeeds him. David sends condolences, but the Ammonites suspect his ambassadors are spies and humiliate them before sending them back to David. When they realise their mistake, they fear retaliation from David and amass an army from the surrounding tribes. When he hears that they are doing this, he sends Joab to lead his own army to their city gates, where the Ammonites are in battle formation. Joab decides to split the army in two: he will lead an elite force to attack the Aramean faction, while the rest of the army, led by Abisai, will focus on the Ammonites.