I started preaching through 1 Samuel at my church in April of 2022. In eight months we’ve made it through chapter 15. Whatever you think of that pace, my people dig it and are laying odds on when I’ll finish (like actually taking bets).
Along the way I’ve had people ask if they could get my sermon notes. The answer would be “yes” but my notes are hand written on yellow pads (It’s worked for me for 25 years). I could scan them and make a pdf but my sermon notes take the form of an outline with main ideas, Scripture references and key phrases I want to include. They make perfect sense to me but, unless you had already heard my sermon, they wouldn’t be super helpful.
So rather than try to recreate the sermon, I thought I would fill in the outline a little and write up my notes on the story of Samuel. They’re not exactly a commentary on Samuel. But kinda. I think of them like a verse by verse reading guide. I show the structure of the text, the author’s literary techniques, the questions I ask, and the observations I make about the text when I study. Essentially, they’re a real-time look at what I do when I study a biblical text.
If you’ve read my book There is a Redeemer on the story of Ruth you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Below is a sample from the beginning of the story of Samuel. If you have comments or questions lay ‘em on me in the comments section. I’d love to hear from you!
The Birth of Samuel (1:1-21)
Samuel’s Parents 1:1-2
From the Hill Country of Ephraim
The setting of “the hill country of Ephraim” introduces a new narrative scene in the conclusion to the story of Judges (Judges 17:1; 19:1). This setting links the beginning of Samuel with the end of Judges. The author wants us to read the first scene of Samuel as the next scene in the story that continues from Judges.
As a reminder, the last scene in Judges ends like this:
In those days there was no king in Israel: everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).
Israel carried idols into the wilderness and adopted even more from the nations living in the promised land. They are a sinful and rebellious nation. If only there were a king who could bring righteousness to God’s people.
There was a Certain Man
We’ll get his name later, but the author introduces the story’s first character a phrase from Judges 13:2 where we meet Manoah the father of Samson. Samson becomes a judge, or military leader, who delivers Israel from their enemies. With this phrase, the author of Samuel links this character to Manoah and sets us up with expectations for him. We should expect he’ll have a son like Manoah and his son will also judge Israel like Samson.
AND HIS NAME WAS ELKANAH
Elkanah is the first character in the story and the author gives us a lot of family background for him. You would expect him to be an important character in the story. But, like Elimelech in the story of Ruth (Ruth 1:1-2), he’ll quickly disappear from the narrative.
1:2
He Had Two Wives
Uh-oh. Having two wives always spells trouble in the story of the Bible. Part of the reason is theological. When God brought Eve to Adam, he made the first marriage. The author of Genesis describes God’s design for the relationship.
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:24).
Notice the text says “wife” singular not “wives.” God’s design is for one man and one woman to commit themselves to each other in marriage. God was not talking about two wives when he created marriage.
Another reason having two wives causes so much trouble in the story of the Bible is practical: it always creates conflict in the family. No one ever marries two wives and lives happily ever after. We should expect trouble for Elkanah and conflict between his two wives just around the corner.
And Peninnah Had Children, But Hannah Had No Children
Well, that was quick! We’ve seen this situation before. Remember Abram in Genesis 16? He and his wife were old as dirt, but God promised they’d have more kids than they could count.
And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be” (Genesis 15:5).
One chapter later, Abram’s wife Sarai has no kids and trips out. God isn’t coming through on his promise. She tries to “help” God fulfill his promise by giving Abram a second wife. Sure enough, the second wife Hagar has a child and the fight between the two wives begins.
Later in Genesis, Jacob has the same problem. He has two wives, Rachel and Leah, but only loves one of them. No problem there right? What’s worse, Leah, the unloved, has kids but Rachel is barren. Rachel tries to solve her barrenness by offering Jacob a third wife to have a child in her place. When Leah sees this she offers Jacob a fourth wife and the childbearing battle is on!
In both stories, the situation causes serious conflict in the family. But that conflict also results in the birth of a child who will plays a significant role in the narrative that follows. Isaac, the child of the promise, comes from the conflict between Sarah and Hagar. Judah comes from the conflict between Rachel and Leah. His tribe will produce the king who comes in the last days (Genesis 49:8-12).
How will it go for Elkanah and his two wives? Given the pattern, we should expect a serious conflict between the women. We’ll see if Hannah offers Elkanah another wife to have a baby for her. We should expect that, eventually, Hannah will bear a child who will play a critical role in the narrative to come.