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Perek Yomi - Samuel I
Chapter 1
- For a lineage of Elchanan see Chronicles I, 6:7-12. Does the fact that Elchanan was a descendant of Korach surprise you?
- When were the appointed times that Elchanan would visit the "altar" in Shiloh?
- Verse 5 mentions that Elchanan loved Hannah and that the Lord had "shut her womb." Is this story reminiscent of other stories in the Tanach? What might be the religious message from the motif of the barren woman? Is there any theological import of such a tale?
- In a Mishnah the Rabbis make an interesting statement about Samuel. Nazir 9:5 reads -- "Samuel was a Nazir," according to the words of Rabbi Nehorai, since it said, "and no razor [morah] shall come upon his head" (I Samuel 1:11). In regard to Samson it is said, "and no razor [morah] shall come upon his head." (Judges 13:5) and concerning Samuel also it is said, "And no razor...." Just as the reference to razor in the case of Samson means that he was a Nazir, so the reference to a razor in the case of Samuel means that he was a Nazir. Why do the Rabbis draw this comparison? What are the similarities and differences between Samuel and Samson? Was it significant that Samuel may have been a Nazir? How might this have affected his relationship with God?
Chapter 2
- Identify the theme(s) of Hannah's prayer in this chapter. Compare her prayer here to her prayer in the first chapter of the book.
- How does the fact that Chafni and Pinchas did not "know God" (2:12) highlight God's role in our story? (See verses 25, 26, 35.)
Chapter 3
- God's call to Samuel and Samuel's reply are reminiscent of another biblical story. Note verse 16. What does Samuel's answer to Eli suggest about Samuel, given the other uses of the reply, "Here I am!"?
- What were the sins of the priests?
Chapter 4
- Why did Israel go out to war against the Philistines? When did the animosity between the Philistines and the Israelites begin?
- What is the meaning of the Israelite encampment "Even Ha-ezer?"
- Are there other examples in the Tanach when the ark of the covenant is taken out to war?
- Why did the "man from Benjamin" who ran from the battle to Shiloh have his garments torn?
- Can the capturing of the ark by the Philistines be seen as part of God's plan?
Chapter 5
- What might the etymology of the Philistine god "Dagon" be? Does it make sense that his Temple should be in Ashdod?
Chapter 6
- What does the expression "to make your heart heavy" mean (verse 6)?
- Do we find the use of cows "upon which no yoke has ever come" in the Bible? Why might these cows be preferred to cows who have worked in the field?
- How does the "test" that the Philistines conduct work?
- A huge number of men died in Beit Shemesh because they "had gazed upon the Ark of the Lord." Does it make sense that this, indeed, was their sin?
Chapter 7
- The idea of placing stones to mark a place where God had helped the Israelites is a common occurrence in biblical literature. Where else does this occur and why might it have been done?
- This chapter seeks to connect the defeat of the Philistines and the reality that there was peace between Israel and the Amorites with what fact? Why is this connection salient?
- Read the first mishnah of "Pirke Avot" and verse 15 of this chapter to place Samuel in the chain of tradition leading back to Moses.
Chapter 8
- We have come across two righteous men whose sons did not follow the good of their fathers. Both in the case of Eli's children and now in Samuel's case, his sons do not follow his righteous example. What theological point might this literary convention be communicating?
- Why was the suggestion to set up for the people "a King to judge us like all the nations" so displeasing to Samuel? Was this not a reasonable request, given the situation that the Israelites were living under? Compare this request to the Torah's own suggestion in Parashat Pinchas (Numbers 27:16-17).
- Note thepathos of verse 8. Why did God agree to appoint a King even though God felt that the request was a rejection of Him?
Chapter 9
- What are the attitudes towards prophecy which are conveyed in this chapter?
- Is there significance to the fact that Saul was a Benjaminite?
- Does the fact that Israelite communities were offering sacrifices at local shrines surprise you? Compare to Deuteronomy 12:13-14.
Chapter 10
- Compare this vial of oil with the anointing oil in Exodus 30:22-24. What might account for the differences in oils?
- What is the meaning of the place "Beit El?" Who else in the Bible had prophetic inspiration in this place?
- What does the expression "and God gave him another heart" mean in verse 9?
- Why did Samuel write down the "manner of the kingdom" and why did he place it "before the Lord"?
Chapter 11
- Why did the Ammonites agree to give the Israelites seven days of respite?
- Is God present anywhere in our chapter?
- What do you think of Saul's motivational tactics?
- How is the "making of Saul King" in this chapter different from the anointing of Saul which we have already read about?
Chapter 12
- Note the number of times in Samuel's retelling of the history of the relationship between God and the Jewish People that God has been disappointed by their behavior. Why is it that God is seemingly still willing to trust them?
- After the Lord sends "thunder and rain," why is it then that Samuel believes the people will see that "your evil is great?"
Chapter 13
- What might the language "Saul was a year in his reign and he reigned two years over Israel" mean?
- Why did Jonathan kill the officer of the Philistines who was in Geba?
- What was really Saul's sin?
Chapter 14
- Does the fact that Jonathan refers to the Philistines as "arelim" distance this operation from other solely military battles? (verse 6)
- What was the nature of the "ephod" that the priest Ahiah was wearing?
- How did the "test" that Jonathan devised with his weapons carrier work?
- From a theological point of view, why was Jonathan successful? Compare his actions to the telling of "Saul's sin."
- What do you think about Saul's demand that the people not eat until his revenge is complete?
Chapter 15
- What exactly was the "wrong" Amalek committed against the Israelites? Where in the Bible is the command to "utterly destroy" them?
- Is it fair to describe Saul as a "tragic hero?"
- Read verses 21 and 30. Do these verses remind you of anything in the Haggadah for Passover?
Chapter 16
- Compare the criteria for Saul's selection (9:2) with verses 16 and 17 in this chapter.
- Check Genesis 25:25 for another biblical character who was called "Admoni." Are there any similarities between these two individuals?
- What might "ruach elohim (ra'ah)" mean in the context that it affects Saul?
Chapter 17
- Is there significance to the fact that David was from the tribe of Judah?
- What might "he will make his father's house free in Israel" mean? Compare the meaning of the word "chorim" -- "free" in verse 25 with Ecc. 10:17.
- How did the rock that David slung at Goliath hit him? Was he not wearing a copper helmet?
Chapter 18
- Note Saul's plan for David. We will see this plan put in operation again.
- To what extent can it be argued that Saul is still acting rationally? What does the text suggest about Saul's mental disposition?
Chapter 19
- What are the "teraphim"? (verse 13)
- What does the text mean when it says that Saul's servants "prophesied"?
Chapter 20
- When is this chapter read as a haftarah?
- When the text uses the expression "the day of work," to what does it refer?
- What is the meaning of the expression "for he is not clean"?
- What might the rationale have been for using three arrows?
Chapter 21
- What is the intent of Ahimelech's question to David, "Why are you alone, and no one is with you?"
- What is this "holy bread" or "show bread" of which Ahimelech speaks? (see Leviticus 24:5-9)
- What was David frightened of with Achish?
Chapter 22
- Why does Saul feel he has particular influence over the Benjaminites?
- See Psalm 52 for David's reaction to Doeg's act of violence.
Chapter 23
- How did David "inquire of the Lord"?
- What are the options for understanding the "malach" -- the messenger who came to warn Saul of the Philistines' approach?
- Note the etymology of the place "Rock of divisions."
Chapter 24
- Where are the "strongholds of Ein Gedi"?
- To what other incident does David's "severing the skirt" of Saul parallel?
Chapter 25
- What does "naval" mean in modern Hebrew? Does its meaning describe our character Naval?
- What did Aviga'yil mean when she said, "May your enemies and those who seek evil to my lord be as Naval?" (verse 26)
- In what prayer do we find the language, the soul shall be "bound in the bundle of life?" (verse 29)
- What does the Hebrew "mashtin b'kir" mean in verses 24, 34 and what relationship does it have to its English translation?
- How could Michal, Saul's daughter, marry Palti? Was she not already married to David?
- Where is the Jezreel valley from which Ahinoam comes? Where is the Carmel where Aviga'yil is from? How do these marriages forecast what David will ultimately do as King?
Chapter 26
- Why did David come to the camp if he did not intend to kill Saul? David had already attempted to demonstrate to Saul that he had no intention of killing him. Why did David think this display might work this time around?
Chapter 27
- What was the nature of the lie that David told Achish?
Chapter 28
- Why are we told of Samuel's death at this point in the text? Had we not already been informed of his death?
- What are the "urim" in verse 6?
- Many thinkers in Jewish history have been uncomfortable understanding the necromancy in this chapter literally. Rav Hai Gaon and Maimonides are examples of men who reject a literal reading of this chapter. What are some alternative understandings of the events involving Samuel and the necromancer?
Chapter 29
- Why did the Philistines become particularly enraged at Achish?
- What might have been David's intentions in accompanying the Philistines into battle?
Chapter 30
- What is the "ephod" and how does it work?
- Notice David's tact as a great politician with his sharing of the "spoils of the enemies of the Lord" with all those who had helped David in the past.
Chapter 31
- The rabbis, in explaining some of the activities in this chapter, have to engage in some apologetics. "How could Saul have committed suicide, for is it not against Jewish law!?" Additionally, what does it mean when the text says that they "burned them there" (referring to Saul's and his sons' bodies)? Jewish dead must be buried! How might the rabbis have interpreted these problematic verses?
Samuel II
Chapter 1
- Is there "rhyme or reason" to the specific manner in which the "youth" broke the news of Saul's and Jonathan's deaths to David?
- What might the phrase "for a shudder has seized me" mean? Gersonides, a famous medieval biblical exegete, renders the Hebrew: "My armor protects me and does not allow the sword to pierce it." Which translation do you prefer? Why?
- Note that along with "kriah" -- the ritual tearing of one's garments as an act of mourning, David and those with him also fasted for the fallen. Does the mourning practice manifest itself in modern mourning rituals?
- How do you feel about David's actions against the Amalekite youth?
- Note the poetry and emotion of verses 19-23. These verses, not surprisingly, have been quoted often by many Israelis since the founding of the State.
Chapter 2
- Immediately, in the first verse of our chapter, we note the difference between the way Saul conducted himself and how David behaved. What is the difference? Why the contrast?
- What is the city of Hevron famous for in the Bible?
- What is the significance of the fact that the people of Judah anointed David again after Samuel had anointed him?
- What do you think is the literary purpose of the narrative of the battle between Yoav's men and the men faithful to Avner?
- What is the Hebrew word that the text uses to describe the fighting the two groups engage in? See verse 14.
Chapter 3
- What might account for Avner's change of heart towards David?
- What are some of your visceral reactions towards David's request to marry Michal?
- What does the word "metzorah" mean in verse 29?
- Why was David so upset, considering the circumstances under which Yoav killed Avner?
Chapter 4
- Why did Rechab and Baanah, Ish-Boshet's personal guards, kill him?
- What is the meaning of the name "Ish Boshet"? What is the meaning of the name "Rimon"?
- Note: Things are not as David might have wanted them to be, but he has consolidated his power to a great extent.
- While David may have been correctly angry at Rechab and Baanah, why did he react so severely?
Chapter 5
- What was the "realpolitik" motivation for David to move his home from Hevron to Jerusalem?
- When is the first time the Bible uses the word "Zion"?
- What might the "lame and the blind" refer to?
- Compare the fact that David took many concubines and wives while in Jerusalem with Devarim 17:17. How do you make sense of the potential problem between these two texts?
- Compare David's behavior in the heat of battle to that of Saul's in I Samuel 13:12.
Chapter 6
- What was the nature of Uzzah's crime?
- Did Uzzah's punishment fit his crime?
- What was David "afraid" of in verse 9?
- Why did Michal "despise David in her heart" when she saw David dancing before the Lord (verse 16)?
- What was the meaning of David's retort to Michal?
Chapter 7
- What is the rationale of God's response to David's desire to build "a house of cedar for the ark"?
- Why does God not want David to build a Temple for God's presence?
- Where in our liturgy does verse 23 appear?
- What does David ultimately pray for at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 8
- In the first verse to this chapter we read, "And it came to pass after this...." To what "event" is this verse making reference? How does this "event" relate to the rest of the content of the verse?
- Verse 4 reads, "and David hamstrung all the chariot horses." Read Deuteronomy 17:16 for possible motivations. Compare this to Joshua 11:6.
- Where might the "Valley of Salt" be located (verse 13)?
- Why are the words "and David administered justice and charity for all his people" (verse 15) particularly important? Why would we think he might rule in any other way?
Chapter 9
- After reading verse 1 of our chapter, recall David's oath to Jonathan (I Samuel 20:15-16).
- What is the literal meaning of Jonathan's son's name (Mephiboshet [Me Pi Boshet])? Can you locate any Rabbinic interpretations which address the larger meaning of his name in the context of this narrative?
- Suggest possible reasons why the text in the last verse of the chapter repeats the fact that Mephiboshet was lame in both his feet?
- If possible consult Maimonides' book on Laws of Kings 4:6 for the rights of a king to seize property.
Chapter 10
- What significance is there to the fact that Amnon shaved off "half" of the beards of David's servant and he cut off "half" of their garments and then sent them on their way?
- Where in our liturgy do we find the first two words of verse 12?
- Notice the content of Yoav's prayer in verse 12. He does not pray for victory but he says: "May God do what is good in His eyes!"
- Note also that the Israelites are seen as a single entity. "They saw that they were beat before Israel and they made peace with Israel" (verse 19). This is a new "self-conception."
Chapter 11
- What does "at the return of the year" mean (verse 1)?
- What does the text mean when it says "she was purified from her uncleanliness" (verse 4)? What is the nature of this "uncleanliness"?
- This is clearly one of the more difficult passages in the Bible. How could the King of Israel commit adultery and then murder? There have been many attempts in the past to justify David's actions or acknowledge his sin in this instance. There is a statement in the Talmud that reads, "Anyone who says that David sinned with Batsheva is simply wrong!" What are some of your thoughts on this chapter?
- For the incident of Avimelech's death see Judges 6:25.
- Note that, although David seemed to successfully hide the incident from the people, he could not conceal the incident from God. Clearly there is theological meaning to this fact.
Chapter 12
- Why did Nathan begin his talk with King David with this parable?
- What is the nature of the punishment, "the sword shall never depart from your household"? Does it fit the crime?
- Notice David's reaction to Nathan's chastisement as opposed to Saul's reaction after being accused by Samuel of not listening to God. (See I Samuel 15:20, 21.)
- Why do you think the text states that "the Lord loved him (Solomon)" in verse 24?
- Who is "Yedidya"? (verse 25)
Chapter 13
- To what event do the opening words of our chapter, "It came to pass after this..." allude? Is there a salient connection to what occurred before this and to the events that are about to occur?
- Why did Amnon hate Tamar?
- What was the import of the false rumor that "Absalom has slain all the king's sons"? (verse 30)
- How does this chapter and its events fit into the larger narrative of David's life and the story of Batsheva?
- What are the Divine punishments for David's actions? For possible punishments see chapters 12, 13, 17, and 18.
Chapter 14
- To what extent is the parable that the woman of Tekoa told David parallel to the incident involving Absalom?
- For what reasons did David suspect that Yoav "instigated" the woman and her words?
- Why do you think Yoav used the strategy of a parable with this woman rather than approaching King David himself?
- After reading the next chapter suggest the possible foreshadowing of verse 26 in chapter 14.
Chapter 15
- What were some of the reasons Absalom thought he could challenge David's rule?
- Why did Absalom select Hevron as a city to pay back his vow to the Lord? What was David's connection to this city?
- Does David's response to Absalom's challenge surprise you? Why was David so quick to run if he believed he was indeed God's anointed?
- Why did David send the ark back to Jerusalem?
- Read psalm 55 and identify its connection to this chapter.
Chapter 16
- What words characterize David's emotional disposition in this chapter?
- What is the Hebrew word the text uses for figs? Why does it use this particular word?
- Note I Kings 2:8 for David's ultimate attitude towards Shimi.
- What was the nature of Achitophel's counsel to Absalom? Why would this advice "strengthen" the hands of all that were with Achitophel?
- Verse 22 reads, "and Absalom lay with his father's concubines with the full knowledge of all Israel." How is this a fulfillment of Nathan's prophesy? (See 12:11.)
Chapter 17
- Why might Achitophel want to be the man to pursue and kill David rather than to allow Absalom to lead the men into war?
- How is Hushai's advice to Absalom better for David than Achitophel's plan?
- Why did Achitophel kill himself?
- To fully understand David's appreciation of the kindness he was shown in verses 27-29 see I Kings 2:7.
Chapter 18
- Why did the soldiers insist that David stay behind?
- What type of "aid" did they believe David could afford them (verse 3)?
- What is meant by the idea that the "forest devoured more of the people than the sword"? (verse 8)
- Why did Yoav decide to ignore David's instructions and kill Absalom?
- Why did Yoav not want Ahimaatz to bring the news to David?
Chapter 19
- Is there irony in David's words in the first verse of our chapter? (What does the name AvShalom mean in Hebrew?)
- How do you feel about Yoav's critique of David's behavior?
- What is the distinction in verse 9 between the"people" and "Israel"?
- Why did Shimi mention "the House of Joseph" when he attempted to pacify King David? What might have he been alluding to?
- What was Shimi's original transgression against David?
- Describe the nature of the disagreement between the men of Israel and the men of Judah that transpires at the end of this chapter. What is at stake for David in their disagreement?
Chapter 20
- What was the legal state that David created for his concubines when he returned to Jerusalem? In modern Jewish law, how do we refer to such a woman?
- Suggest a hypothesis to explain why David went after Sheva when he thought he was threatening his kingdom, yet refrained from going after Absalom? In one case David remains passive, seemingly accepting the will of God, and in the other case David takes action. Curious?
- Why did Yoav kill Amasa?
- To better understand the intentions of the words of the "wise woman" see Devarim 20:10.
Chapter 21
- Does it make sense or seem "fair" that God should now punish the people for something Saul had done?
- What is your reaction to David's solution to bring the famine to an end?
- What are some modern day halachic attitudes towards the moving of Jewish graves?
- What might David's men have meant when they voiced concern that the "lamp of Israel not be extinguished"? (verse 17)
- Of what importance is it to the narrative of this book and the story of King David's life for the author of this book to now include the new battles David wages on behalf of Israel?
Chapter 22
- David's song of thanksgiving to God is read in the synagogue as the haftarah on what day of the year?
- In David's prayer, how is God depicted?
- In verse 21 what is the difference between "my righteousness" and "my cleanliness"?
- What is the distinction that David makes in verse 38 with the word "oy'vai" and the word he employs in verse 40 "kamai"?
- Compare this chapter to Psalm 18.
Chapter 23
- What does the expression "these are the last words of David" mean in the context of this chapter?
- Note that, already in David's own time, he was considered the "sweet singer of Israel." (verse 1)
- Compare this chapter to the content of I Chronicles chapter 11.
- What is the connection between this chapter and the content of the previous chapter?
- What is the "kri" of the "ketiv" of the word "chai" in verse 20? What is the difference in meaning between the two?
Chapter 24
- In the first verse of this chapter we read: "And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." What was the "first" time God's anger was kindled?
- Why was God angry at Israel?
- If God commissioned David to take the census, why did this act warrant punishment? Moreover, why did David admit any wrongdoing? (see verse 10)
- What is the sin inherent in taking a census of Jews?
- Verse 14 may be found where in our liturgy?
- What is the "sin" in verse 17 that David is referring to?
