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Donald E. Hester

My Thoughts on 2 Samuel & 1 Kings

by Donald E. Hester
Donald E. Hester
Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in t
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 on Feb 23 in Christianity 0 Comments

Bible BooksThis is a continuation of my ongoing report. I recently decided to listen to the Bible in an effort to gain a closer relationship with God. I purposefully listen not with the intent to study. I have a hard time reading the Bible I just start looking things up and I don't make much progress. I am listening to the Bible Experience (http://www.inspiredby.com/) which is a dramatized NIV version with many famous African American leaders, singers, actors and artists. (Even Samuel L. Jackson) As I listen through the Bible, hopefully I will make it all the way through, I will post notes and thoughts I have.

 
2 Samuel
 
The book of Jasher (Asher) is referenced again. If it is reference, isn't it important? Some claim it was in the Dead Sea scrolls. I need to check on that.
 
Somebody's last words were recorded, I thought it was David's but then it didn't sound like it. I must have misheard.
 
I get lost in all the names of groups of people.
 
Gad and Nathan the prophet are talked about. Gad seems to have a minor roll. Do we have more info on this person?
 
God gave David 3 options. That was nice. That he had a choice is the nice part. What the options were may not have been.
 
David saw the angel of the lord when he was taking lives? Is this figurative or literal?
 
(I lost some of my notes on 2 Samuel. If I find them, I will post them and title them 'The Lost Notes on 2 Samuel')
 
 
1 Kings
 
Solomon put to death his father’s enemies. His brother for asking for a wife. Not just for asking for a wife it was the same brother who tried to take the throne before David was dead.
 
Solomon took Pharos daughter for a wife to have peace with Egypt.
 
How old was Solomon when he took the throne? Sounds like he was young.
 
Solomon asked God for wisdom. I too ask God for wisdom, although God did not ask me in a dream.
 
Much description on the building of the temple and palace. How the wood was floated in the water to be transported to the types of tools used and weights and measurements. We even see that the know π or they just measured the circumference and diameter and could have know π.
 
Many halls were built including a Hall of Justice.
 
Cherubim were used as decorations everywhere. What do they look like? Do we have any surviving examples?
 
God's response to the temple sounded like a prophecy of its destruction. He would always be there, unless Israel worshiped other gods in which case God would leave and leave the temple in rubble.
 
1 Kings 12 was a good example of servant leadership that was missed.
 
Solomon had a navy
 
Number of other books references, the annals of King Solomon, the annals of the kings of Israel and the annals of the kings of Judah. These books sound like historical accounts and make it sound as if the books of the Bible are an account of what God was doing in the midst of the historical events. If these books are found people would no doubt see what they think is not the same story and that the Bible is more speculation on the events. I could see people coming to this conclusion but I don't think it is that way.
 
Solomon married wives that God told the Israelites not to marry because they would lead them astray. How could a man of such wisdom fall into this trap?
 
It sounds like toward the end of his life he was not walking with God.
 
There is a reference in 1 Kings 14 where God took the life of a, Abijah, son of Jeroboam because he was the only good one in the family. This is an interesting twist.
 
“All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam’s family will come to the grave, because in him something good was found toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam." 1 Kings 14:13 NASB
 
Male shrine prostitutes were all over the holy land. At times, they were run out. Makes me wonder about STDs back then. People must have had major issues with STDs.
 
I think that Christians often run to fast and loose in applying some of these narrative accounts to the Church. I think we have to be very careful in doing applying Old Testament stuff to the Church, even more so when it is a narrative account. It is far too easy to take a narrative account out of context.
 
The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is great. He even taunts them. He must have had a sense of humor. "Maybe Baal is sleeping, maybe you should shout louder." The point of this story is what Elijah did was not of his own accord it was for God glory.
 
What was the issue with Elijah going down mount Horeb? Horeb is another name for Mt. Sinai and it is about 40 days or so away from Beersheba. This would be useful in locating Mt. Sinai.
 
Jezebel is a total bitch. Sorry, I don't have another word for it. She wasn't very nice or she was mean does not cut it. I have known women like this and now I know why they call some women Jezebel.
 
I will put my comments on the Ark on a different blog post.
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About the author

Donald E. Hester

Husband, father, and adventurer. A computer science instructor who dabbles in theology and philosophy. A lover of science-fiction and related genres. Given to the spirits- paranormal and distilled. A bibliophile par excellence. A short description for a life the likes of which could fill the library of congress. I give you Donald E. Hester, excelsior!
http://www.unvarnishedblog.com

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