SAMUEL MAKES A CLEAN BREAK FROM HIS CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES (1 SAMUEL 12:1). In his farewell speech Samuel begins by making clear that he is now free from all civil responsibility for Israel. He wants them to know without any shadow of doubt that from now on he will act only as YHWH's prophet. The d... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMUEL FIRST BRIEFLY RECOUNTS THE HISTORY OF YHWH'S GOODNESS IN APPOINTING DELIVERERS IN ORDER TO DELIVER THEM (THE WAY IN WHICH HE HAS CHOSEN TO RULE THEM), AND YET EVEN THEN THEY HAVE CONTINUALLY FAILED TO RESPOND TO HIM, SOMETHING WHICH HAS FINALLY COME TO A HEAD IN THEIR REPLACING YHWH WITH AN E... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMUEL THEN STRESSES THAT YHWH HAS GRACIOUSLY GIVEN THEM THEIR DESIRE AND CALLS ON THEM TO RESPOND IN LIKE MANNER (1 SAMUEL 12:13). Samuel now stresses that, in spite of their attitude towards Him, it is still YHWH Who has set over them this king whom they had demanded, and have now chosen. Therefo... [ Continue Reading ]