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Give Us a King Like Other Nations!

Dedicated to the Shiloh Shrine before his birth, Samuel is brought up to be a priest of Yahweh, a quiet life of ritual and service. But when the army of Ephraim is defeated by the Philistines, the sacred Ark captured, and the Shiloh Shrine abandoned, Samuel must redefine his role in the fragmented and war-torn Israelite society. Acknowledging only his God Yahweh as Ruler, how will Samuel lead the people to remain faithful to Yahweh’s covenant when the Elders of the scattered tribes ask for a King to unify them?

Excerpts from the book

Chapter 4 - Shiloh

I Sam 2:18-21
“Samuel was ministering before Yahweh, a boy wearing a linen ephod.”


Little Samuel stood clutching the old priest’s hand, his heart in turmoil, as he watched his beloved mother and father leave him. He looked up at the old man, his face weathered but kind, his eyes pale like his own, his hair and beard white as doves’ feathers. His brightly colored garments were grand and majestic and a subtle aroma of exotic spices hung around him. His voice was soft and knowing. All his life this would be Samuel’s mental image of Yahweh.
“Come and share in the feast with my family, Samuel,” the old man said.
Eli took Samuel to the priests’ quarters and to their table, circled by strangers, men and women he did not know. Eli introduced each by name, his sons and his sons’ wives and children and their servants. Samuel tried to feel brave, but ate in the silence of loneliness and fear of the unknown. When evening came the priest took him to his own rooms and made Samuel a bed near his. The boy slept long and deeply after his tiring day and Yahweh’s spirit renewed him.
In the morning Samuel was proud to be able to repeat the morning prayer with Eli, “Hear O Israel, Yahweh our God is one, the only God. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Eli was impressed with the boy’s ability and eagerness. They crossed the sanctuary courtyard toward the Tabernacle and stopped at a large bronze basin. Eli showed Samuel how to wash his hands and feet with the water in the basin. “We must be clean when we come into the presence of Yahweh,” Eli explained. “Wash your mind and heart and soul also as you wash your hands and feet.”
Samuel looked with wonder upon the large building, the Tabernacle of the Presence as they approached. He felt awe as they entered through the fine linen curtain, gazing at its brilliantly woven purple and scarlet hangings, embroidered in golden angels with widespread wings. On the left was a table with many loaves of bread arranged in rows. To the front was the incense table. On the right was a golden lampstand in the shape of an almond branch with brackets for the seven lamps whose flames lit up the delicate tracery of the twigs and flowers. Samuel watched as Eli reverently trimmed the wicks of the seven lamps, and filled them with fresh olive oil, murmuring prayers as he worked.
“Why do the lamps always burn, Eli?” the boy asked.
“To Moses the presence of Yahweh was a fiery bush and Yahweh gave Moses the law on a mountain of fire. In the wilderness the presence of Yahweh went before the people in a pillar of fire. These sanctuary flames signify the presence of Yahweh here.” Samuel wasn’t sure what “signify” meant, but he understood that the seven flames meant that the God of Israel was here in this building in Shiloh.
All day Samuel followed Eli as he went about the business of priesthood. At the evening table Samuel felt more confident and talked with one of the sanctuary serving women about all he had done that day as he ate, and she seemed to be willing to listen. After the meal Eli came to Samuel.
“Come with me, Samuel. Tonight we will sleep in the Tabernacle and tend Yahweh’s flames.” Samuel felt proud and special to be included. The first hour he watched with Eli, but soon his eyelids grew heavy and he slept.


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Samuel Study Questions

These questions are offered as a way to enhance individual reading of Samuel’s story, or as discussion starters for group study.

1. Why did Hannah feel personally devalued before Samuel’s conception? How does society today deal with this issue? Where do your cultural background and personal experience put you on the issue of childlessness?

2. What was Yahweh’s message to young Samuel in the well-known calling verses? Why isn’t the message itself as well known?

3. Where and when did Samuel and the ancient Israelites locate the presence and power of Yahweh? Where do people today, believers and atheists, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, pagans, find the presence and power of God? Where and when is God most powerfully present for you?

4. In what ways did Samuel sense communications from Yahweh? Were these considered typical in his time and place? Are they typical today? How do you sense communications from God?

5. Why was Samuel continuously frustrated with the people’s lax attitude about Yahweh’s commandments? Are these attitudes and frustrations apparent in today’s congregations? Where do your religious practices put you on the continuum between Samuel’s strictness and the Hebrew people’s laxness?

6. Why were Yahweh and Samuel so opposed to the Hebrew people taking on some of the cultural traditions and practices of their Canaanite neighbors? Is this attitude still justified today? If so, how can it be maintained as populations become more and more diverse culturally? If not, what has changed about our beliefs about God’s commandments in this arena?

7. How were Eli and Samuel different in the ways they guided their sons? Do you think Samuel’s journey to Beersheba and the work he did there with his sons was realistic, or did the author just invent that to make Samuel seem more of a “good guy”?

8. Was Samuel’s summary execution of the Amalekite leader Agag consistent with the rest of his life, beliefs and dedication to Yahweh? How do people today use God’s commandments as reasons for questionably ethical behavior? Have you experienced such inclinations in yourself or others?