Introduction to the Books of Samuel Commentary Series

As I begin this project, I am in my third year of my double Master of Arts program at Jerusalem University College. These final two semesters are going to be devoted more to reading the Bible in Hebrew, and less about exploring the land of the Bible (although I hope to continue to do that as well). As part of my program, I have final comprehensive exam that requires that I read, understand, translate, and altogether familiarize myself with the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel, in Hebrew. I will be taking my next couple of semesters to really dive deep into the text of these books in preparation for this exam.

As I will be neck deep in the books of Samuel, I figured that along the way I can share some interesting insights with you. So, I figured that developing a commentary series (similar to my yet unfinished Genesis Commentary) would be a good way to share my thoughts as we go along.

The Samuel Commentary will go chapter by chapter through the book and will feature some of the following features:

• English text translated by me from the Hebrew.
  • Note: This is not meant to be a new translation of the Bible (we have plenty of those), but rather an exercise for myself in simple translation of the Biblical text. I recommend comparing it to other English translations as we go along. Most English translations today are done by teams of brilliant scholars who have far more experience and expertise with the nuances of language.
• Highlights on key Hebrew words and patterns that help shape the text that would have been perfectly obvious to the original readers but are lost in translation.
• Notes on historical and cultural context that highlight the meaning of the text as it would have been understood by its original readers.
• When possible, photos and geographic notes on the places where the events described in Samuel took place.

My hope is that this commentary will help bring to light many of the details that we often miss, being separated by time, distance, and language. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let’s get started.

The Books of Samuel

The Books of 1st and 2nd Samuel are some of my favorites in the entire Bible. Originally these two books were a single work, which was then divided because of its size for easier reference. As such I will be treating them as a single book, Samuel.

Samuel is first and foremost, the historical narrative of Israel’s transition from a group of divided tribes and warlords struggling to defend their lands during the time of the Judges, to a united monarchal nation that has overcome its enemies and achieved peace. It reads like an epic legend, featuring a young hero who overcomes all odds and becomes a powerful ruler. It is stuffed full of battles, political intrigue, and scandal, the stuff of Hollywood movies and television, and highlights some of the darkest aspects of humanity. However, through the entire narrative God shines through, acting as a savior, a defender, a helper, and above all the true ruler of Israel.