1 & 2 Samuel: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition
Overview
The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool that equips you to study and meditate on God’s Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insightful scholarship to help you unlock Scripture’s deeper truths and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book studied. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the twenty-first century.
The books of Samuel constitute an important part of the larger literacy work that extends from Joshua through Kings, which modern scholars refer to as the Deuteronomistic History. These books provide a vital literary and historical link in the Bible’s overall presentation of Israel’s past.
- Provides clear verse-by-verse explanations that offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the passage’s original language
- Contains comprehensive annotation divided into three sections:
- Background elements behind the text
- Verse-by-verse details and meanings
- Significance, relevance, intertextuality, and application
- Includes insight into theological issues, word meanings, archaeological connections, historical relevance, cultural customs, and more
- General Editor’s Preface
- Author’s Preface
- Abbreviations
- Bibliography
- Commentary
- First Samuel
- The Premonarchial Period in Israel: Samuel and the Ark Narratives
- The Birth of Samuel
- Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving
- Eli and His Sons
- Samuel’s Dream Theophany
- The Capture of the Ark of the Covenant
- Samuel as Judge
- The Emergence of the Monarchy in Israel: Saul, Israel’s First King
- Israel Asks for a King
- Saul Chosen as King
- Saul Defeats the Ammonites
- Samuel’s Farewell Address
- Saul’s Shortcomings and Downfall
- David’s Rise to Kingship
- David’s Anointing and David at Saul’s Court
- David and Goliath
- David and Saul’s Household
- David’s Flight from Saul
- David Encounters Saul in the Wilderness
- David among the Philistines
- Second Samuel
- David’s Rise to Kingship cont.
- The Second Report of the Death of Saul and David’s Lament over the Death of Saul and Jonathan
- David as Ruler over Judah
- David Becomes King over Israel
- David and the Ark of the Covenant
- God Makes a Covenant with David
- David’s Wars and Administration
- The Succession to the Throne of David
- David’s Dealings with the House of Saul
- David and Hanun
- David and Bathsheba
- The Rape of Tamar and the Murder of Amnon
- David’s Flight from Jerusalem and His Return
- David’s Rise to Kingship cont.
- The Premonarchial Period in Israel: Samuel and the Ark Narratives
- The Appendixes
- First Samuel
Top Highlights
“The story of Eli and his sons powerfully reminds us that just because a person works in ministry, it does not ensure that the individual walks closely with God or is sensitive to the people who come to worship. Even though Eli, for example, served as the priest at Shiloh he still could not perceive the actions of a hurting individual who was praying before God.” (Page 59)
“Thus we learn that when God’s people are in the right places of leadership, the community of faith has the potential to come alive and flourish.” (Page 59)
“David had such great faith in God because he could recall moments in his life when God had helped him before.” (Page 125)
“God always uses the weak, the small, the humble, the poor, and the most unlikely candidates in order to fulfill God’s mission on earth. What matters most is the condition of one’s heart. Those that respond to God’s call and follow in simple trust and obedience often do the greatest things in advancing the kingdom. God is able to use these folks because they are not able to take pride in or depend on their natural abilities alone, but they depend on God for their strength and guidance. When God uses the unlikely person to advance the concerns of the kingdom of God, however, it is God who ultimately receives the glory and honor for the results that take place.” (Page 92)
“Based on this description, Samuel must have slept in the inner sanctuary where the ark resided. It is noteworthy that Samuel, the prophet/priest designate, remained near the presence of God, which was symbolized by the ark of the covenant. Eli, the soon to be deposed priest, slept at a distance from it. The imagery is fitting considering that Yahweh’s presence no longer abided with Eli as it was with Samuel.” (Page 61)
- Title: 1 & 2 Samuel: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition
- Author: Kevin J. Mellish
- Series: New Beacon Bible Commentary (NBBC)
- Publisher: Beacon Hill
- Publication Date: 2011
- Pages: 304
