Course Outline

Unit 1: Introductory Issues

• Let’s Call It Samuel

• Composition of Samuel

• Theories of Deuteronomistic Redaction

• Samuel and the Canon

• Prophets in the Former Prophets

• Overview of Samuel

• Textual Problems in the Book of Samuel

Unit 2: Eli and His Evil Sons, Hannah and Her Righteous Son

• Working through the Text of Samuel

• Eli and Hannah

• Poetry in the Book of Samuel

• Hannah’s Prayer

• Eli’s Evil Sons and the Elide Judgment

Unit 3: The Call of Samuel and the Ark Narrative

• The Call of Samuel

• The Ark Narrative: The Ark Is Captured

• The Ark Narrative: Sending the Ark back to Israel

Unit 4: Samuel: Prophet, Priest, and Judge

• Samuel as Prophet

• Samuel as Priest

• Samuel as Judge

Unit 5: Samuel and Saul: Establishing the Monarchy

• Legitimacy, Longevity, and Legacy

• The Law of the King

• The Transition from Samuel’s Judgeship to Saul’s Kingship

• Saul’s Anointing

• Saul Is Declared King by Samuel

• Samuel’s Final Address to the People

Unit 6: The Downfall of Saul

• Saul’s Premature Sacrifice

• The Amalekites: The Divine Command to Wipe Out the Amalekites

• The Amalekites: Samuel’s Response and Saul’s Disobedience

• The Amalekites: Saul’s Confession

Unit 7: Royal Legitimation: Divine Election and Prophetic Anointing

• Divine Election

• Prophetic Anointing

Unit 8: David’s Rise

• Comparing the Sins of David and Saul, and David’s Anointing

• David and Goliath

• David and the Tel Dan Stele

• David Hunted by Saul

• David Inquires of Yawheh

• David Doesn’t Kill Saul and Nabal, but God Does

• Wise Women in Samuel: Abigail

• Wise Women in Samuel: The Woman of Tekoa and the Woman of Abel

• David and the Ark

• The Davidic Promise: Part 1

• The Davidic Promise: Part 2

• The Davidic Promise: Part 3

Unit 9: David’s Fall

• David’s Family: Murder, Rape, and Adultery: Part 1

• David’s Family: Murder, Rape, and Adultery: Part 2

• Nathan’s Parable

• David’s Family: Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom

• The Rebellion of Absalom: Part 1

• The Rebellion of Absalom: Part 2

• The Rebellion of Absalom: Part 3

• David’s Return to Jerusalem and the Rebellion of Sheba

Unit 10: The “Appendices” of Samuel and Conclusion to the Course

• The Gibeonites Are Avenged, and David’s Mighty Men

• David’s Census

• Conclusion of the Course

• David’s Song