De macrostructuur van het boek Samuël en de theologische implicaties daarvan

Abstract

1) There are two formal indications for structuring the Book of Samuel.

a) The forms of government of the leading persons constitute the main structure. These are 1.2:11-17 of Eli, 1.7:16-17 of Samud, 1.14:47-52 of Saul, Il.8:15-18 of David and Il.20:23-25 once again of David. The forms of government are presented on the peak of the leading person. The form of government for Eli is a new proposal. In this way there are six main sections. The six main sections form together a chiasm, just as the sixth and concluding section consists of a six part chiasm.
b) The number of governing years for the leading person divide a main section into two parts. These are I.4:18b of Eli,I.7:15 of Samuel, 1.13:1 of Saul, and 11.5:4-5 of David The number of governing years is presented on the bottom in the movement from one governor to the ne:x:ot ne. The form of government and the number of governing years coincide with the person of Sarnuel. The first section is divided into two on the basis of the difference in genre (narrativ / song). The sixth section is divided into two by the principle of chiasm. The fifth section is divided into two parts on the place where Jhwh himself intervenes, countering the destruction of David (II.17:14b).

2) The mac.rostructure is as follows:

1. A. 1.1:1-2:11. Introduction. The begetting of Samuel and its function.
a. 1.1. The begetting of Samuel.
b. 1.2:1-11. The song of Hanna.

2. R 1.2:12-7:17. From the peak of Eli's career to that of Samuel's.
a. 1.2:12-4:22. The end of Eli's house.
b. l.5-7. To the peak of Samud's career.

3. C. 1.8-14. From the peak of Samuel's career to that of Saul's.
a. L8:1-13:1. Towards Saul's kingdom.
b. L13:2-14:52, To the peak of Saul's career.

4. Cl. l.15-11.8. From the peak of Saul's career to that of David's career.
a. II15:1-Il.5:5. Towards David's kingdom.
b. Il.5:6-8:18. To the peak of David's career.

5. Bl. IL9-20. From the peak of David's career to his restauration.
a. Il.9:1-17:14. To the bottom of David's career.
b. II.17:15-20:26T. To David's restauration.

6. A1. IL 21-24. Conclusion: confirmation of David's restauration.
a. 11.21-22F. First witness
b. Il.23-24. Second witness.

The main structure follows the up and down movement sof the leadership in Israel. It deals with the institutions of priesthood (Eli and his sons), of propherism (Samuel and his sons) aud of kingship (Saul or David). Also David is moving toward destruction, but beacause of the intervention of  Jhwh, the fifth main part ends with David again. This is confirmed in the last main part, the conclusion. Through the chiastic structure of the book it appears that the vision of the messianic kingship in the introduction reaches its goal in the person of David aud his dynasty in the conclusion.

3)Through the work of Herbert H. Klement in 1995, the study of the structure and theology of the Book of Samuel has reached a new hight. He starts from the conclusion in II.21-24 with its six part chiastlc structure. He shows the connection between the conclusion :and the six part chiastic structure in Il.5:13-8:18 which is a part of 11.5-8, the theological peak of the book. From there he presents a total structure with many other six part chiastic structures. He comes to the oondusion that the book consists of live main parts, with the transition from Saul to David in the center.

One can ask if the work of Klement is compatible with that of my above presented structure. Klernent works with the approach of literary content and I work with formal criteria. As Klement shows that a six part chiastic structure is an  importanat approach by the author, a six part chiastic macrostructure could be in accordance with such a structure. A possible synthesis is a challenge. This task remains open.