I had the blessing of presenting some research and writing I am working on in 1 Samuel at one of those breakout sessions. I have included a video screen recording with audio above, along with a PDF of the slides and an MP3 version below. Please let me know if you have any questions, as this is an ongoing area of active research for me.

Wisdom, Words, And Woven Narratives In 1 Samuel 25 Greek And Hebrew For Life 2025

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I will argue in this paper that the author of Samuel utilized previous characters and events to shed light upon the transition taking place in 2 Samuel 10–14. I will demonstrate that the author connects the characters and events to previous characters and events in Samuel, as well as those in Genesis and Judges. Various studies of David’s characterization have recognized intertextuality in Samuel’s presentation of David (see Clines, Jacobs, Firth, Westbrook, Bodner, and others). Yet, observations of this narrative technique have been underdeveloped in studies of David’s Sin in particular and the general unraveling that takes place in 2 Samuel 10–14.

Regarding methodology, I will establish author-intended parallels that connect the events and characters of 2 Samuel 10–14 with those found elsewhere. I will begin with the previous events and characters in Samuel and then expand into Genesis–Judges. While earlier narratives in Samuel recount the humbling of David’s enemies, this unit of Samuel begins the reversal of David himself. Some of David’s actions align him with Eli, Saul, and others. Moving out from Samuel, the events surrounding David and his Sons are also connected with those of Dinah (Gen 34), Tamar (Gen 38), Joseph (Gen 37; 39), the Levite with his Concubine (Judges 19–21), and others. Consistent author-intended intertextual connections provide clarity to the characterization of David in 2 Samuel 10–14 and color to the narrative presentation of David’s sin.

Several scholars have highlighted comparative analogies in Samuel that contribute to the characterization of David and of secondary characters (See Alter, Bodi, Garsiel, and Gilmour). In this paper, I will build on these observations and principles as I argue that the author intends to idealize allegiance to David by providing key elements of correspondence between Abigail, Jonathan, and Abner.

The declarations of allegiance that proceed from the mouths of Jonathan, Abigail, and Abner all share common elements. Each character (1) experiences a transition of allegiance, (2) brings gifts to David, (2) exemplifies faith in David’s future, (4) recognizes the Lord’s action for David, and (5) desires future preservation by the hand of David. I will therefore analyze the direct speech of these characters, highlighting these five elements of commonality. In the final part of this paper, I will then connect this textual analysis to the overall intent of the author from my perspective: The writer provides these declarations as examples for emulation.

Auerbach, Alter, Berlin, and Sternberg have provided principles of literary analysis that lay the foundation for a more detailed characterization analysis. More recently, Bodner and Johnson’s monograph (Characters and Characterization in the Book of Samuel) has done much to apply these principles to the text of Samuel. In his monograph, Jonathan Jacobs takes a principle from Uriel Simon that minor characters exist to illuminate details about the major characters. Jacobs works this principle out in detail by displaying the literary correlation between Michal and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 19 (166). Rachelle Gilmour has also provided further analysis and comparative work relevant to my study. This paper will build on these works and apply a similar methodology of character analysis to prove that the author intended his readers to see literary correspondence between Abigail, Jonathan, and Abner.

Also, see these related resources from SBTS Online:

1. How to Apply the Original Languages To Your Heart Without Losing Your Mind

2. Things To Do (And Not Do) When Learning A Biblical Language

Watch the Presentation: https://instructure-7.wistia.com/medias/m90ns7dylc