“Eye-Opening Dinners with a Dead prophet, a Beauty, and a Witch: The Influence of Samuel in 1 Samuel 25 and 28 via the Motifs of Food and `Seeing’”

Bibliographic information:

Yap. Timothy. “Eye-Opening Dinners with a Dead prophet, a Beauty, and a Witch: The Influence of Samuel in 1 Samuel 25 and 28 via the Motifs of Food and `Seeing.’” Restoration Quarterly 63, no. 2 (2021): 211–23.

Description:

Description
Why is the death notice of Samuel repeated twice almost verbatim in 1 Samuel 25:1 and 28:1? The purpose of this article is to suggest that the double death notices of Samuel are not just isolated notices. Rather, the death notices encourage us to read 1 Samuel 25 and 28 in the light of the narratives involving Samuel. In a time when Israel’s leadership is in crisis, Abigail and the witch of Endor step up to avert the impending disasters. Specifically, these two ladies take on two leadership qualities that are integral to the prophet Samuel: the ability to use “food” as a means of persuasion and the ability to “see.” On one hand, Abigail utilizes both of these qualities to steer an impetuous David back on course, redeeming the future king of unnecessary bloodshed. On the other hand, the necromancer of Endor uses the same dual qualities to help seal Saul’s fate in demise and death.

Publisher:

Restoration Quarterly (website: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/restorationquarterly/)

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