Book of Samuel

This paper studies the Call of Samuel (1 Sam 3) using Narrative Analysis. The paper is written under the guidance of Prof. J.L. SKA.
It deals with the verious subtle nuances found in the passage, revealed especially through narrative analysis.

i ,• Rcccnsi11ncs 159 rata traduzione dei testi con commento e note, offre anchc una gradita introduzionc a tale Ictteratura, basandosi sugli studi ddl 'oricntalista amaica no David Pingree. M ARCO OBILF. EMIL Sc110RER, Storia def popolo gi11daico al tempo di Ges1i Cristo (175 a.C-135 d.C.), vol. IH/2 (Biblioteca di storia e storiografia dei tempi biblici; Brescia. Paideia, 1998) pp.911 -1498, £ 11 0.000, ISBN 8 -394-0550-X

This thesis seeks to contribute to the theory and practice of theological interpretation by explicating the inner coherence of B. S. Childs' "canonical approach" and by exemplifying that approach in an interpretation of Psalm 24. Part 1 concerns the theory. In this section I argue that Childs' approach rests upon a particular understanding of the nature of the Biblical text. In short, it has a twofold function, that of witnessing to the reality of God and that of shaping the community of faith in light of that reality. The God to whom it witnesses is himself involved in this witnessing activity in that he both evokes and infuses the tradition with his Spirit so that he may be known. The hermeneutical implication is that interpretation must attempt to grasp the reality "behind" the text while respecting the particular form in which that reality has been rendered. The result is a multi-level approach to interpretation involving a continuous dialectic between the witness (verbum) and its content (res). The affirmation of the nature of Scripture as an ongoing vehicle of revelation also implies the significance of the history of faithful Christian interpretation. Part 2 seeks to exemplify this approach by showing how such a multi-level interpretation of Psalm 24 is both possible and fruitful for our understanding of the reality to which it witnesses. I achieve this by moving through several stages. After reviewing contemporary methodology, I first provide a poetic analysis of the Psalm and conclude that it witnesses to the economy of God in a bid to call Israel to realize its true identity. I then provide a hypothesis of how the final form of the psalm is a result of a tradition historical process with its roots in the pre-exilic temple liturgy. This historical perspective not only clarifies the poetic shape of the psalm, it provides a bridge to discussing the question of the nature of the reality experienced within Israel's cult. I conclude that there is a parallel between the structure of this reality and the shape of Ps 24. I then both confirm and attempt to deepen our understanding of this reality by following canonical pointers internal to the psalm to three other bodies of text: Samuel, the Psalter, and Isaiah. Key to this broader context is the agency of the David found in Ps 24's superscription. I conclude my analysis by suggesting how a better grasp of the divine economy in the light of Christ may help us better understand the inner unity of Ps 24 itself. ii AUTHOR'S DECLARATION I declare that the work in this thesis was carried out in accordance with the regulations of the University of Gloucestershire and is original except where indicated by specific reference in the text. No part of the thesis has been submitted as part of any other academic award. The thesis has not been presented to any other education institution in the United Kingdom or overseas. Any views expressed in the thesis are those of the author and in no way represent those of the University.

The book demonstrates that the books of Samuel–Kings, taken together, are a result of one, highly creative, hypertextual reworking of the book of Deuteronomy. This detailed reworking consists of almost 2000 strictly sequentially organized, conceptual, and at times, also linguistic correspondences between Samuel–Kings and Deuteronomy. The strictly sequential, hypertextual dependence on Deuteronomy explains numerous surprising features of Samuel–Kings. The critical analysis of Samuel–Kings as a coherently composed Judaean hypertextual work disproves the hypothesis of the existence of the Deuteronomistic history and its variants. It also sheds entirely new light on the question of the origin of the so-called Enneateuch Genesis–Kings.