OBST 515-Content Essay Assignment 1 Samuel
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Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by AndrewPedde
Content Essay: I Samuel Assignment
Andrew Pedde
OBST 515-B01: Old Testament Orientation I
September 22, 2023
Contents
Making the Case for a King in Israel…..…………………………………………….3
The Examination and Emergence of Kingship in Israel……………………….…….4
The Connection Concerning Kingship Found in Genesis and Deuteronomy………..5
The Depiction of Kingship in I Samuel……………………………….. ………..…..6
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...7
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………..……..8
ii
Making the Case for a King in Israel:
When examining whether God intended for Israel to have a human king, the answer appears
to be affirmative; however, it comes with a deeper layer of meaning. God indeed desired for
Israel to have a king, but His ultimate desire was for them to acknowledge Him as their King.
Despite God being their rightful ruler, the Israelites rejected Him in favor of a human king. This
stemmed from their failure to recognize their chosen and distinct status. Their preoccupation
with emulating neighboring nations led them to overlook their unique role as God's chosen
people.
The Israelites explicitly expressed their desire for a king, stating, “Nevertheless the people
refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That
we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and
fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20, King James Version). God respected their request but, in
essence, it signified their rejection of Him as their divine King.
Throughout the biblical narrative, there are clear indications of an anti-monarchal sentiment,
emphasizing that God's preferred choice was Himself as the reigning King. Notably, anti-
monarchy passages significantly outnumber pro-monarchy ones. These passages are surrounded
by anti-monarchy themes, highlighting the tension regarding whether God truly desired a human
king for Israel.
1
Scholars often notice discrepancies between pro-monarchy and anti-monarchy passages in
chapters 8-12 of Samuel. Some conclude that these inconsistencies suggest differing viewpoints
1
Victor P Hamilton,
Handbook on the Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-
Nehemiah, Esther
(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008), 230.
3
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