Samuel
was the son of Elkanah and Hannah, and was born at Ramathaim-zophim, among the hills of Ephraim. [ Ramah No. 2] (B.C. 1171.) Before his birth he was dedicated by his mother to the office of a Nazarite and when a young child, 12 years old according to Josephus he was placed in the temple, and ministered unto the Lord before Eli.” It was while here that he received his first prophetic call. ( 1 Samuel 3:1-18 ) He next appears, probably twenty years afterward, suddenly among the people, warning them against their idolatrous practices. ( 1 Samuel 7:3 , 4 ) Then followed Samuel’s first and, as far as we know, only military achievement, ch. ( 1 Samuel 7:5-12 ) but it was apparently this which raised him to the office of “judge.” He visited, in the discharge of his duties as ruler, the three chief sanctuaries on the west of Jordan—Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh. ch. ( 1 Samuel 7:16 ) His own residence was still native city, Ramah, where he married, and two sons grew up to repeat under his eyes the same perversion of high office that he had himself witnessed in his childhood in the case of the two sons of Eli. In his old age he shared his power with them, ( 1 Samuel 8:1-4 ) but the people dissatisfied, demanded a king, and finally anointed under God’s direction, and Samuel surrendered to him his authority, ( 1 Samuel 12:1 ) ... though still remaining judge. ch. ( 1 Samuel 7:15 ) He was consulted far and near on the small affairs of life. ( 1 Samuel 9:7 , 8 ) From this fact, combined with his office of ruler, an awful reverence grew up around him. No sacrificial feast was thought complete without his blessing. Ibid. ( 1 Samuel 9:13 ) A peculiar virtue was believed to reside in his intercession. After Saul was rejected by God, Samuel anointed David in his place and Samuel became the spiritual father of the psalmist-king. The death of Samuel is described as taking place in the year of the close of David’s wanderings. It is said with peculiar emphasis, as if to mark the loss, that “all the Israelites were gathered together” from all parts of this hitherto-divided country, and “lamented him,” and “buried him” within his own house, thus in a manner consecrated by being turned into his tomb. ( 1 Samuel 25:1 ) Samuel represents the independence of the moral law, of the divine will, as distinct from legal or sacerdotal enactments, which is so remarkable a characteristic of all the later prophets. He is also the founder of the first regular institutions of religious instructions and communities for the purposes of education.
Samuel, Books Of
are not separated from each other in the Hebrew MSS., and, from a critical point of view, must be regarded as one book. The present, division was first made in the Septuagint translation, and was adopted in the Vulgate from the Septuagint. The book was called by the Hebrews: “Samuel,” probably because the birth and life of Samuel were the subjects treated of in the beginning of the work. The books of Samuel commence with the history of Eli and Samuel, and contain all account of the establishment of the Hebrew monarchy and of the reigns of Saul and David, with the exception of the last days of the latter monarch which are related in the beginning of the books of Kings, of which those of Samuel form the previous portion. [ Kings, First And Second Books Of , B00KS OF] Authorship and date of the book,— As to the authorship. In common with all the historical books of the Old Testament, except the beginning of Nehemiah, the book of Samuel contains no mention in the text of the name of its author. It is indisputable that the title “Samuel” does not imply that the prophet was the author of the book of Samuel as a whole; for the death of Samuel is recorded in the beginning of the 25th chapter. In our own time the most prevalent idea in the Anglican Church seems to have been that the first twenty-four chapters of the book of Samuel were written by the prophet himself, and the rest of the chapters by the prophets Nathan and Gad. This, however, is doubtful. But although the authorship cannot be ascertained with certainty, it appears clear that, in its present form it must have been composed subsequent to the secession of the ten tribes, B.C. 975. This results from the passage in ( 1 Samuel 27:6 ) wherein it is said of David, “Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah to this day:” for neither Saul, David nor Solomon is in a single instance called king of Judah simply. On the other hand, it could hardly have been written later than the reformation of Josiah, since it seems to have been composed at a time when the Pentateuch was not acted on as the rule of religious observances, which received a special impetus at the finding of the Book of the Law at the reformation of Josiah. All, therefore, that can be asserted with any certainty is that the book, as a whole, can scarcely have been composed later than the reformation of Josiah, and that it could not have existed in its present form earlier than the reign of Rehoboam. The book of Samuel is one of the best specimens of Hebrew prose in the golden age of Hebrew literature. In prose it holds the same place which Joel and the undisputed prophecies of Isaiah hold in poetical or prophetical language.
Saul
(desired), more accurately Shaul. One of the early kings of Edom, and successor of Samlah. ( Genesis 36:37 , 38 ; 1 Chronicles 1:48 ) (B.C. after 1450.) The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. (B.C, 1095-1055.) His character is in part illustrated by the fierce, wayward, fitful nature of the tribe and in part accounted for by the struggle between the old and new systems in which he found himself involved. To this we must add a taint of madness. which broke out in violent frenzy at times leaving him with long lucid intervals. He was remarkable for his strength and activity, ( 2 Samuel 1:25 ) and, like the Homeric heroes, of gigantic stature, taller by head and shoulders than the rest of the people, and of that kind of beauty denoted by the Hebrew word “good,” ( 1 Samuel 9:2 ) and which caused him to be compared to the gazelle, “the gazelle of Israel.” His birthplace is not expressly mentioned; but, as Zelah in Benjamin was the place of Kish’s sepulchre. ( 2 Samuel 21:14 ) it was probable; his native village. His father, Kish, was a powerful and wealthy chief though the family to which he belonged was of little importance. ( 1 Samuel 9:1 , 21 ) A portion of his property consisted of a drove of asses. In search of these asses, gone astray on the mountains, he sent his son Saul It was while prosecuting this adventure that Saul met with Samuel for the first time at his home in Ramah, five miles north of Jerusalem. A divine intimation had made known to him the approach of Saul, whom he treated with special favor, and the next morning descending with him to the skirts of the town, Samuel poured over Saul’s head the consecrated oil, and with a kiss of salutation announced to him that he was to be the ruler of the nation. ( 1 Samuel 9:25 ; 1 Samuel 10:1 ) Returning homeward his call was confirmed by the incidents which according to Samuel’s prediction, awaited him. ( 1 Samuel 10:9 , 10 ) What may be named the public call occurred at Mizpeh, when lots were cast to find the tribe and family which was to produce the king, and Saul, by a divine intimation was found hid in the circle of baggage which surrounded the encampment. ( 1 Samuel 10:17-24 ) Returning to Gibeah, apparently to private life, he heard the threat issued by Nahash king of Ammon against Jabesh-gilead. He speedily collected an army, and Jabesh was rescued. The effect was instantaneous on the people, and the monarchy was inaugurated anew at Gilgal. ( 1 Samuel 11:1-15 ) It should be, however, observed that according to ( 1 Samuel 12:12 ) the affair of Nahash preceded and occasioned the election of Saul. Although king of Israel, his rule was at first limited; but in the second year of his reign he began to organize an attempt to shake off the Philistine yoke, and an army was formed. In this crisis, Saul, now on the very confines of his kingdom at Gilgal, impatient at Samuel’s delay, whom he had directed to be present, offered sacrifice himself. Samuel, arriving later, pronounced the first curse, on his impetuous zeal. ( 1 Samuel 13:5-14 ) After the Philistines were driven back to their own country occurred the first appearance of Saul’s madness in the rash vow which all but cost the life of his soil. ( 1 Samuel 14:24 ; 44 ) The expulsion of the Philistines, although not entirely completed, ch. ( 1 Samuel 14:52 ) at once placed Saul in a position higher than that of any previous ruler of Israel, and he made war upon the neighboring tribes. In the war with Amalek, ch. ( 1 Samuel 14:48 ; 15:1-9 ) he disobeyed the prophetical command of Samuel, which called down the second curse, and the first distinct intimation of the transference of the kingdom to a rival. The rest of Saul’s life is one long tragedy. The frenzy which had given indications of itself before now at times took almost entire possession of him. In this crisis David was recommended to him. From this time forward their lives are blended together. [ David ] In Saul’s better moments he never lost the strong affection which he had contracted for David. Occasionally, too his prophetical gift returned, blended with his madness. ( 2 Samuel 19:24 ) But his acts of fierce, wild zeal increased. At last the monarchy itself broke down under the weakness of his head. The Philistines re-entered the country, and just before giving them battle Saul’s courage failed and he consulted one of the necromancers, the “Witch of Endor,” who had escaped his persecution. At this distance of time it is impossible to determine the relative amount of fraud or of reality in the scene which follows, though the obvious meaning of the narrative itself tends to the hypothesis of some kind of apparition. ch. ( 2 Samuel 19:28 ) On hearing the denunciation which the apparition conveyed, Saul fell the whole length of his gigantic stature on the ground, and remained motionless till the woman and his servants forced him to eat. The next day the battle came on. The Israelites were driven up the side of Gilboa. The three sons of Saul were slain. Saul was wounded. According to one account, he fell upon his own sword, ( 1 Samuel 31:4 ) and died. The body on being found by the Philistines was stripped slid decapitated, and the headless trunk hung over the city walls, with those of his three sons. ch. ( 1 Samuel 31:9 , 10 ) The head was deposited (probably at Ashdod) in the temple of Dagon ( 1 Chronicles 10:10 ) The corpse was buried at Jabesh-gilead. ( 1 Samuel 31:13 ) The Jewish name of St. Paul.
Sechu
(the watch-tower), a place mentioned once only— ( 1 Samuel 19:22 )—apparently as lying on the route between Saul’s residence, Gibeah, and Ramah (Ramathaim-zophim), that of Samuel. It was notorious for “the great well” (or rather cistern) which it contained. Assuming that Saul started from Gibeah (Tuleil el-Ful), and that Neby Samwil is Ramah, then Bir Nebolla (the well of Neballa) just south of Beeroth, alleged by modern traveller to contain a large pit would be in a suitable position for the great well of Sechu.
Selahammahlekoth
(the cliff of escapes or of divisions), a rock or cliff in the wilderness of Maon, southeast of Hebron, the scene of one of those remarkable escapes which are so frequent in the history of Saul’s pursuit of David. ( 1 Samuel 23:28 )
Shalim, The Land Of
(the land of foxes), a district through which Saul passed on his journey in quest of his father’s asses. ( 1 Samuel 9:4 ) only. It probably was east of Shalisha.
Shalisha, The Land Of
one of the districts traversed by Saul when in search of the asses of Kish. ( 1 Samuel 9:4 ) only. It was a district near Mount Ephraim. In it perhaps was situated the place called Baal-shalisha, ( 2 Kings 4:42 ) 15 Miles north of Lydda.
Shamgar
(sword), son of Anath, judge of Israel. When Israel was in a most depressed condition, Shamgar was raised up to be a deliverer. With no arms in his hand but an ox-goad, ( Judges 3:31 ) comp. 1Sam 13:21 He made a desperate assault upon the Philistines, and slew 600 of them. (B.C. about 1290.)
Shaul
(asked). The son of Simeon by a Canaanitish woman, ( Genesis 48:10 ; Exodus 6:15 ; Numbers 26:13 ; 1 Chronicles 4:24 ) and founder of the family of the Shaulites. (B.C. 1712.) One of the kings of Edom. ( 1 Chronicles 1:48 , 49 ) In the Authorized Version of ( Genesis 36:37 ) he is less accurately called Saul .
Sheariah
(valued by Jehovah), one of the six sons of Azel a descendant of Saul. ( 1 Chronicles 8:38 ; 9:41 )
Shimei
(renowned). Son of Gershon the son of Levi, ( Numbers 3:18 ; 1 Chronicles 6:17 , 29 ; 23:7 , 9 , 10 ; Zechariah 12:13 ) called Shimi in ( Exodus 6:17 ) (B.C. after 1706.) Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of the house of Saul, who lived at Bahurim. (B.C. 1023.) When David and his suite were seen descending the long defile, on his flight from Absolom, ( 2 Samuel 16:5-13 ) the whole feeling of the clan of Benjamin burst forth without restraint in the person of Shimei. He ran along the ridge, cursing and throwing stones at the king and is companions. The next meeting was very different. The king was now returning from his successful campaign. Just as he was crossing the Jordan, ( 2 Samuel 19:18 ) the first person to welcome him was Shimei who threw himself at David’s feet in abject penitence. But the king’s suspicions were not set at rest by this submission; and on his death-bed he recalls the whole scene to the recollection of his son Solomon. Solomon gave Shimei notice that from henceforth he must consider himself confined to the walls of Jerusalem, on pain of death. ( 1 Kings 3:36 , 37 ) For three years the engagement was kept. At the end of that time for the purpose of capturing two slaves who had escaped to Gath, he went out on his ass, and made his journey successfully. Ibid. ( 1 Kings 2:40 ) On his return the king took him at his word, and he was slain by Benaiah. Ibid. ( 1 Kings 2:41-46 ) One of the adherents of Solomon at the time of Adonjah’s usurpation. ( 1 Kings 1:8 ) (B.C.1015.) Solomon’s commissariat officer in Benjamin. ( 1 Kings 4:18 ) Son of Pedaiah, and brother of Zerubbabel. ( 1 Chronicles 3:19 ) (B.C. 536.) A Simeonite, son of Zacchur. ( 1 Chronicles 4:26 , 27 ) Son of Gog, a Reubenite. ( 1 Chronicles 5:4 ) A Gershonite Levite, son of Jahath. ( 1 Chronicles 6:42 ) Son of Jeduthun, and chief of the tenth division of the singers. ( 1 Chronicles 25:17 ) The Ramathite who was over David’s vineyards. ( 1 Chronicles 27:27 ) A Levite of the sons of Heman, who took part in the purification of the temple under Zedekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 29:14 ) (B.C. 726.) The brother of Cononiah the Levite, in the reign of Hezekiah. ( 2 Chronicles 31:12 , 13 ) Perhaps the same as the preceding. A Levite in the time of Ezra who had married a foreign wife. ( Ezra 10:23 ) One of the family of Hashum, who put away his foreign wife at Ezra’s command. ( Ezra 10:33 ) A son of Bani, who had also married a foreign wife, and put her away. ( Ezra 10:38 ) (B.C. 459.) Son of Kish, a Benjamite, and ancestor of Mordecai. ( Esther 2:5 ) (B.C. before 479).
Shual, The Land Of
a district named in ( 1 Samuel 13:17 ) only. It is pretty certain from the passage that it lay north of Michmash. If therefore it be identical with the “land of Shalim” ( 1 Samuel 9:4 )—as is not impossible—we have the first and only clue yet obtained to Saul’s journey in quest of the asses. The name Shual has not yet been identified.