Bible Study Guide

Part 1

1.) Gideon- He was chosen by God to free the people of Israel and condemn their worship of false gods and deities. Gideon was uncertain of the command so he asked God for a sign which he provided in the form of an angel and two fleece. Gideon then went on to destroy the false altars of the gods the people were falsely worshipping and he conquered the people. They pleaded with him to become their king and lead them on the right path however Gideon refused this request stating that God is their only king.

2.) 587 B.C.E.- In this year the Babylonians conquered the city of Jerusalem. This ended the reign of the Kingdom of Judah or the Southern Kingdom. The Babylonians then destroyed the Jewish temples in Jerusalem. They then exiled the Jews from Jerusalem leaving them to seek salvation elsewhere until God saved them.

3.) Amos- He is one of the twelve minor prophets. He was a fig farmer and sheepherder before he became a prophet. He proclaimed that he was a true prophet as he did not attend any prophet schools as he just knew the word of God. He came from the Southern Kingdom but he was a prophet for the Northern Kingdom.

4.) Witch of Endor- She was a witch who called up the ghost of the Prophet Samuel through sorcery. She did so in secret, as witchcraft was banned, at the request of King Saul. The ghost of Samuel condemned King Saul for disobeying the word of God. The witch is described as the women with an ob.

 5.) Baruch- He was a friend of the prophet Jeremiah for his entire life. He wrote down the prophecies of Jeremiah when he dictated them to him. He read Jeremiah’s prophecies to the people of Jerusalem when Jeremiah was imprisoned in order to bring them to fight for him. He was of great influence to Jeremiah.

Part 2

In Samuel 7: 1-16 David has finally come to peace in his palace. He is concerned about what to do now that he is at peace so he decides to build a home for God. This home could be interpreted as a place in his heart or a message to God’s people. Nathan, speaking for God, tells him that this is not necessary as God has a place everywhere. God also states that he will build a place for his people. God reminds David that he does not need to do small noble acts as larger acts are necessary. God also promises a home to David in the form of an heir who will take over the kingdom after David passes away. This ensures David’s security and the legacy of his kingdom.

These thoughts are expanded further in Isaiah. The passage discusses how an heir will come and possibly references Jesus Christ. By creating this heir God is creating a home for his people in the form of a leader who will create a shelter in the form of his words and teachings for his followers. In this passage, similarly to the one in Samuel, Ahaz does not want to ask something of God he would rather give something to him the way in which David wanted to believe him a house. In contrast, while David is at peace after the war, Ahaz is in the midst of the war and has yet to find peace within like David has been able to do with the teachings of God by his side.

In exodus, this covenant is depicted differently as the ark David refers to hold the Ten Commandments. Rather than provide his people with a house in the form of Jesus Christ, Exodus depicts the way in which the Ten Commandments will provide a metaphorical house to the followers of God. As they will provide a set of laws under which his followers can shelter themselves and follow. While David wanted to build an Ark in the form of a home for God this was not the wish of God. He would rather create a shelter for his people in the form of a message which came from the Ten Commandments in the Ark of the Covenant as the final message of God.

Part 3

Saul is one of the first kings anointed by God through Samuel who was against a monarchy. Before his anointing Saul committed many courageous acts such as saving the ten commandments from the Philistines. Saul was generous, brave, heroic and a good person which made him all the more of a tragic figure. “Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else” (Samuel 1: 9-2). These positive attributes did not make him a villain however his negative attributes led him to become a tragic figure as he was the main protagonist of a tragedy in which he cruelly met his demise.

Saul also had many negative traits which led to his demise. Saul was too reliant on public opinion. He also had great jealousy of David which took over his life.  “He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you” (Samuel, 1:16). Saul had a great distrust of David although David was not intent on harming him. Saul was jealous of David and feared that he would become king. These negative traits of distrust and jealousy led to his rejection by God and the eventual anointment of David as king.

Saul disobeyed God’s command after which God revokes his power from Saul and orders Samuel to anoint another king which he does in David. Saul is then cursed with evil spirits. Saul relies on these evil spirits in the form of the Witch of Endor to call upon the ghost of Samuel once he passes away. The ghost of Samuel rebukes Saul for disobeying god. Saul is cursed and eventually goes on to die at the battle of Mount Gilboa. The book of Samuel remembers Saul for his negative attributes rather than positive ones as it portrays his as an evil figure. This tarnishes King Saul’s legacy as the one who disobeyed God, leaving him a tragic figure in his life and the afterlife.

Works Cited

Anderson, Bernhard W. Understanding the Old Testament. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1975. Print.

The New English Bible; New Testament. [New York]: Oxford UP, 1961. Print.