In | Deaths of the Sons of Eli and Saul

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The two death descriptions are shown below in a table. As in other places, the presence of conventional features in these accounts doesn’t make them fictitious. It clues us in to the norms and rhythms of biblical prose and improves our ability to look for patterns in the text.

The sons of Eli (1 Samuel 4:12-17, NASB)	The sons of Saul (2 Samuel 1:1-4, NASB)
Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road eagerly watching (4:12-13).	Now it came about … when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites … On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head (1:1-2).
When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the noise of this commotion mean?”… The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today” (4:14-16).	Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel” (1:3).
And he said, “How did things go, my son?” (4:16).	David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me” (1:4).
Then the one who brought the news replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people” (4:17).	And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead” (1:4).
“… and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead” (4:17).	“… and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also” (1:4).

The repetition of these two accounts reinforces the ominous sense in 1 Samuel that Israel has a leadership crisis—without and with a king. Eli was a faithful leader, but his sons were not. Saul was not a faithful leader, but his son was. In both cases, their “dynasty” came to an abrupt end. We are building anticipation for a new kind of leader, whose dynasty will last. But what kind of king is he going to be?

Reference: P. Kyle McCarter Jr., 1 Samuel, 1980, p. 113.

1 and 2 Samuel: The Rise of Kingship

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In | Deaths of the Sons of Eli and Saul

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