The book of 1 Samuel, which chronicles the last days of Israel being ruled by judges and the transition into the monarchy with Saul as the first king.
Questions tagged [1-samuel]
215 questions
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Is dead Samuel's appearance to Saul 'real'?
My question relates to 1 Samuel 28:3-20 and is also related to this question, but I hope with sufficient difference as to be justified. I've heard/read interpretations of the text that say that Samuel doesn't really appear but that the episode is…
bruised reed
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What does "an evil spirit from the Lord" mean?
In 1 Samuel 16:14 (KJV), the Scripture says:
But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
I am curious about the meaning of "an evil spirit from the Lord". Does it just say God allows the evil…
Haileapp
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Why did David take the livestock of the cities he raided, when Israel was told to devote everything to destruction?
We see in the Old Testament that the Israelites were directed to devote/set aside the cities and everything living in it to destruction.
In 1 Samuel 27:9 and 1 Samuel 23:5, David takes the livestock while destroying/raiding the city. Saul was…
tenniseric98
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In 1 Samuel 10:1 why does Samuel kiss Saul (in contrast to 1 Samuel 16:13)?
1 Samuel 10:1 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB):
Then Sh’mu’el took a flask of oil he had prepared and poured it on Sha’ul’s head. He kissed him and said, “Adonai has anointed you to be prince over his inheritance.
I am familiar with the anointing with…
Ted DeRose
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Does 1 Samuel 15 disprove the "Ancient Near East Warfare Rhetoric" theory?
In the book “Is God a Moral Monster?" (this website too has some of its theories), the author talked about the exaggeration used in ancient Near Eastern writings as a way to explain why Joshua didn't commit genocide when entering Canaan. For…
Extrakun
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Can there be any eschatological claim made from 1 Samuel 28:19, concerning Saul in the afterlife?
1 Samuel 28:19 (ESV):
"Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."
When the author…
zmills
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Why is a seer called a prophet?
In 1: Samuel 9v9 it is written,
(Formerly in Israel,if a man went to enquire of God,he would say,"come
let us go to the seer," because the prophet of today used to be called
a seer.)
My question is, why did the name change from seer to…
Bagpipes
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What was the significance of pouring out water in 1 Samuel 7:6?
1 Samuel 7:6 KJV
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
After a…
collen ndhlovu
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Did Saul have a legal right to give David's wife away (1 Sam. 25:44)?
From the First Book of Samuel, we are told:
1 Samuel 25:44: "Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim."
Was this lawful in Israel? Could a father, even if king, give his married daughter…
Xeno
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Why did David take Goliath's head to Jerusalem?
1 Samuel 17:54
New International Version
David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.
Was the young David trying to threaten the Jebusites in Jerusalem at this early stage of his…
user35953
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What are the interpretations of 1 Sam 11:14 The renewal of Saul's kingship?
Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship."
Is it just a description of the event or the book tries to say something about kingship?
awct
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Is the Bible saying that the earth has pillars?
Reading 1 Samuel 2:8, it seems to suggest that the earth has pillars. Can anyone explain please??
Osakue Kingsley Usiomonifo
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Was Hannah the first wife of Elkanah?
In the first book of Samuel we are told of a man called Elkanah who had two wives.One wife(Hannah) wss said to be barren whilst the other(Penninah) had children.
1 Samuel 1:2 NIV
He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah.…
collen ndhlovu
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Is Saul with Samuel in heaven?
1 Samuel 28
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor…
user35953
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Why did Achish swear in the name of the LORD?
1 Samuel 29:
6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but…
user35953