1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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30 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionWhy did God strike dead some Israelites who touched the ark inappropriately (v. 19; 1Chron. 13:10; cf. Lev. 10:2) and not deal with the Philistines in the same way (4:17)?God was merciful to the Philistines. He will be gracious to whom He will be gracious,and He will show compassion on whom He will show compassion (Exod. 33:19). Thereason for His patience with the Philistines was partially to teach the Israelites and thePhilistines His omnipotence. Also the Israelites' greater knowledge of God's will placedthem under greater responsibility to do His will.The Israelites came to a fresh appreciation of Yahweh's holiness because these men died(v. 20). The last part of this verse indicates that they wished God would depart fromthem, because they were sinful and He was holy. Thus the capture of the ark resulted inthe Philistines recognizing that Yahweh was the true source of fertility and blessing. TheIsraelites' also rededicated themselves to investigating and following the revealed will ofGod in the Mosaic Covenant.Archaeologists believe they have located the remains of Kiriath-jearim about 10 mileseast and a little north of Bethshemesh. Why did the Israelites not return the ark to thetabernacle at Shiloh? One possibility is that the Philistines had destroyed Shiloh (cf. Ps.78:60; Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9). The ark did not reside in an appropriate place of honor untilDavid brought it into his new capital, Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6). Kiriath-jearim was not aLevitical city nor is there any reason to believe Abinadab and Eleazar were priests orLevites. Perhaps the Israelites kept the ark there for convenience sake. It evidentlyremained there for many years (cf. 2 Sam. 6:2). 84"The certainty of God's presence is always a sign of hope, however darkthe circumstances may be." 85This whole major section of 1 Samuel (4:1b—7:1) advances the fertility motif. Dagon,the chief god of Israel's chief rival, proved incapable of preventing Yahweh's curse fromfalling on the Philistines. Yahweh Himself appears as sovereign and all powerful.Whereas the ark was the symbol of God's presence, it was not a talisman that wouldsecure victory for its possessor. The Israelites' attitude reveals that they did not appreciatethe importance of obeying the Mosaic Law. Some individuals probably perceived thatGod's presence was essential to Israel's blessing. Perhaps Eli and Phinehas' wife did.When God's presence was near again, there was rejoicing. In spite of Israel'sunfaithfulness, God gave the nation some blessing and returned the ark to His people. Heevidently did this so they would be able to rediscover the true nature of worship at afuture time, under David's leadership.84 Wood, p. 23, n. 8, calculated that "it was there about seventy years." See also ibid., p. 190. For a study ofthe complex history of Kiriath-jearim, see Joseph Blenkinsopp, "Kiriath-jearim and the Ark," Journal ofBiblical Literature 88 (1969):143-56. Baale-judah (2 Sam. 6:2) may be a later name for Kiriath-jearim(Youngblood, p. 868).85 Payne, p. 37.
2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 31In this second major section of Samuel, as in the others, there are conflicts and reversalsof fortune. These include Israel and the Philistines (4:1b-22), Dagon and the ark (5:1—6:9), and the people who did not rejoice and those who did (6:10-16). 86III. SAMUEL AND SAUL 7:2—15:35A. SAMUEL'S MINISTRY AS ISRAEL'S JUDGE 7:2-17As a totally dedicated Nazarite who followed the stipulations of the Mosaic Covenant asbest he could, Samuel became a source of deliverance for Israel. The writer recorded twodeliverances in this chapter.This section sounds more like the Book of Judges than does any other in 1 or 2 Samuel.The cycle of religious experience repeated six times in that book occurs here as well.That cycle consists of blessing, apostasy, discipline, repentance, deliverance,rededication, and blessing. Samuel exercised the same function as the judges whoseexperiences appear on the pages of Judges."In the books of Samuel there are three chapters which stand out asmarkers, characterized by their interpretation of historical changes takingplace in Israel's leadership structure. They are 1 Samuel 7, 1 Samuel 12and 2 Samuel 7. Not that the remainder of these books is 'non-theological,'for theological presuppositions undergird the whole, but in these chaptersa prophet expounds the divine word for each stage of the crisis throughwhich the people of God are passing." 87Note the continuation of the key word "hand" in this chapter (vv. 3, 8, 13, 14). It reflectsthe writer's continuing interest in the source of true power.1. Samuel's spiritual leadership 7:2-4Twenty years after the Philistines had taken the ark Samuel led the people in nationalrepentance. 88 The Philistine oppression resulted in the Israelites turning to Yahweh forhelp (v. 2). Samuel told the people what they needed to do to secure God's blessing andvictory over their enemy. They needed to repent (cf. Deut. 6:13; 13:4; Matt. 4:10). Thepeople did so, and the hope of deliverance revived. Baal and Ashtoreth were the chiefmale and female deities of the Canaanite pantheon. 8986 Martin, p. 138.87 Baldwin, p. 33.88 Ralph W. Klein, 1 Samuel, pp. 65-66.89 The plural forms of these names are Baals and Ashtaroth (v. 4).
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1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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