Books of Samuel
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| Central Theme: | |
|---|---|
| Synopsis: | The third of the Nevi'im |
| Series: | The Bible |
| Preceded by: | Book of Judges |
| Followed by: | Book of Ruth |
| First published: | In its current form, sixth century BCE |
The ninth and tenth books of The Bible.
The first book tells the story of Samuel who is dedicated by his mother to the priesthood. He grows up to be the most important religious figure of his day and helps establish the Israelite kingship.
The second book tells of the kingship of David, Israel's greatest king and ancestor of Jesus.
The Books of Samuel are followed by the Books of Kings.
Tropes used in Books of Samuel include:
- And That Little Girl Was Me: Nathan tells David a story about a rich man who stole a poor man's pet lamb. But when David expresses outrage, Nathan reveals that the rich man was an allegory for David's Uriah Gambit and lays down a Reason You Suck Speech.
- Batman Gambit: David pulled one off when he hid in Philistine territory and almost got discovered as the guy who killed so many of their dudes. He pretended to be a total madman when the guy who got suspicious came around, figuring (successfully) he wouldn't be suspected as a guy with a body count in the "tens of thousands".
- Combat by Champion: David Versus Goliath, the most famous example in history.
- Evil Prince: David's sons Amnon (raped his half-sister) and Absalom (led a rebellion).
- Heterosexual Life Partners: David and Jonathan.
- Lampshade Hanging: "As I served your father, so shall I serve you."
- Law of Inverse Fertility: Penninah has children, and lords it over Hannah, who has none. Hannah eventually does conceive, but not without divine intervention.
- Mistaken For Drunk: When Hannah is praying for a child, Eli (the priest) assumes she's drunk. When she corrects him, he apologizes, and says something along the lines of "May God grant you what you ask for."
- Naked First Impression: David and Bathsheba.
- Offered the Crown: Saul, then David.
- Our Giants Are Bigger: The Rephaim, including Goliath. David and friends make a name for themselves by killing a few of these in battle.
- Polyamory: The story begins with Elkanah, who had two wives, Penninah and Hannah.
- Also, David has Michal and Bathsheba, plus several other women.
- The Purge
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: David's Mighty Men.
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Saul's attempts at killing David and saving his dynasty end up dooming it.
- Shotgun Wedding: Though passed off by David as an Honorable Marriage Proposal; he married Bathsheba (after killing her husband off) because he got her pregnant.
- Twenty Bear Asses: "The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies."
- The Uriah Gambit: Trope Maker and Trope Namer, but not in the same event. The Trope Maker is Saul sending David on missions to get him killed (unsuccessful), whereas the Trope Namer is David sending Uriah to his death.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Nathan reaming out David for his adultery.
- Before, Samuel laid down several on Saul.