September/October   SBW Syllabus

SBW - 17 BIBLE WOMEN

LESSON 17

Of the Old Testament

The Jewish Age

The Exodus to the Coronation

396 Years; Ex. 14 to 1 Sam. 10

PERIOD OF CONQUEST

(References in 1 Samuel)

PENINNAH—JEWELS; PRECIOUS STONES

1.      To whom was she married (1:1b; 2b)?

A.     God allowed polygamy then, but it was not his will. It always disturbed the peace of the family.

B.     Who was her rival (1:2a)?

2.      She was blessed with what (1:2; 4b)?

3.      What of the devoutness of her husband (1:3a)?

A.     When he sacrificed, what did he give to his wives and children (1:4)?

B.     What was meant by portions? [Essentials for offerings]

4.      What do we know of Peninnah’s character (1 Sam 1:6-7)?

A.     Name the rival sisters, both wives of Jacob.

B.     Which of them was blessed with children?

C.    Is there any indication that Elkanah felt the same way about Peninnah that Jacob did about Leah?

 

HANNAH—FAVORED

1.      She was the wife of whom (1:1b; 2a)?

2.      Who was her rival (1:2b)?

3.      What was her plight (1:2c)?

A.     What other notable women were barren (Gen. 16:1a; 25:21; 29:31b)?

B.     Who took advantage of this problem to tantalize her (1:6)?

C.    How was she affected by this provocation (1:7b)?

D.    How did her sympathetic husband seek to console her (1:8)?

4.      From which tribe was Elkanah descended (Exodus 6:24; 1 Sam 1:1; 1 Chr 6:22-24; 1 Chr 6:33-38)?

5.      Why was Elkanah called an Ephrathite (Josh 13:32-33; Josh 14:3; Josh 18:2, 5, 7)?

A.     Was Elkanah a faithful worshipper of the Lord (1 Sam 1:3)?

B.     Why did Elkanah worship at Shiloh (Josh 18:1)?

C.    In sacrifice, how did Elkanah show his partiality to Hannah (1:5)?

6.      Did Elkanah show Hannah he loved her (1 Sam 1:4-5)?

7.      What was Elkanah like as a husband and leader (1 Sam 1:8)?

8.      At the feast, in her desperation, what did Hannah do (1:10-11)?

A.     In her prayer, what vow did she make to God (1:11)?

B.     In addition to being a Levite, what was the son to be (1:11c)? Give the rules regulating the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:1-11).  An interesting study which some of you may want to pursue—name some men in the Old and New Testaments who were Nazarites.  Was Jesus a Nazarite; how do you know?

C.    Who, sitting nearby, watched her mouth and rebuked her (1:12, 14)?

D.    How was Hannah praying (1:13)?

E.     Give her most sincere reply to Eli (1:15-16).

i.        Being convinced of his error, how did Eli assure her (1:17)?

ii.      Prayerfully, and with what change of heart, did she depart (1:18)?

iii.    Hannah lived before David but her thoughts may have been similar to Psalm 62:5-8.

F.     Why was it easy for Eli to suspect Hannah (1 Sam 2:22-24; Jud. 17:6; Jud. 18:1; Jud. 21:25)?

9.      Was Hannah’s depression lifted (1 Sam 1:17-18)?

10. What was the result of Hannah’s prayer (1 Sam 1:19-20; Ps 66)?

A.     What was the usual custom for naming children (Ruth 4:13-17; Lk. 1:57-63)?

B.     Who named Hannah’s baby (1 Sam 1:20)?

C.    John the Baptist (Lk 1:11-13)?

D.    Jesus (Lk 1:30-31)?

11. How did Hannah use the time with her son before he was weaned (De 6; Nu 6:1-21)?

12. How do we know Elkanah approved Hannah’s vow (Nu 30:3-8; I Sam 1:23-25)?

13. Did Hannah keep her vow (1 Sam 1:23-25)?

14. How did Hannah react emotionally to giving up her son (1 Sam 2:1-10)?

15. How do we know Hannah trained her child well (1 Sam 2:11; 2:26; 3:19-21; 7:15-17)?

16. Describe Hannah’s life after giving her child to the Lord (1 Sam 2:19-21).

17. *Relate her speech of presentation (1:25-28).  This will be a long answer; comparisons may be highlighted or listed from the two passages.

A.     Read the song of Hannah (2:1-10)

B.     Compare the thanksgiving prayer of Samuel’s mother (1 Sam 2:1-10) with that of Jesus’ mother (Lk 1:46-55).

18. What was the duty (office) of the child Samuel (2:11b)?

19. How often did Hannah visit her child; what was made for him (2:19)?

A.     What benediction did Eli pronounce upon these parents (2:20)?

B.     How many children did Hannah bear after Samuel (2:21)?

 

POINTS TO CONSIDER:

1.      In what way does Hannah remind you of Sarah?  Student answers will vary, but keep in mind that Sarah was very old while Hannah apparently was not.

A.     When Sarah was promised a child, what did she do (Gen. 18:12-15)?

B.     How did Hannah receive the good news (1 Sam. 1:18)?

2.      Who, like Elkanah, was partial to one of his wives (Gen. 29:30-31)?

3.      Elkanah was better to Hannah than how many sons (1 Sam. 1:8)?

4.      Who loved her mother-in-law more than seven sons (Ruth 4:15c)?

5.      What lessons may be learned here on rearing children (Pro. 22:6; 23:13-14)?

6.      Considering Elkanah and Hannah, what lessons may be learned from the unison of parents?

 

PHINEHAS’ WIFE

1.      Who were the sons of Eli (1 Sam 1:3)?

A.     What were their occupations (1 Sam 1:3)?

B.     Were Eli’s sons faithful servants of God (1 Sam 2:12-17)?

2.      What is the meaning of:

A.     Daughter of Belial (1 Sam 1:16)?

B.     Sons of Belial (1 Sam 2:12)?

C.    Children of Belial (Jud 20:13)?  Review lesson 15—The Concubine of the Levite.

3.      What was the message of the Lord to Eli (1 Sam 3:11-14)?

A.     How did the Lord bring about the punishment of Eli’s sons (1 Sam 4:10-11; Ps 78)?

B.     How did the Lord bring about the punishment of Eli (1 Sam 4:12-18)?

C.    How did the behavior of Phinehas affect his wife (1 Sam 4:19-20)?

i.        Who named the newborn son of Phinehas’ wife (1 Sam 4:21)?

ii.      What was the meaning of the baby’s name (1 Sam 2:22)?

iii.    Are there any clues as to the spirituality of the wife (1 Sam 4:19-22)?

D.    Phinehas and his wife had another son whose name was Ahitub (1 Sam. 14:3).

E.     Their grandson, Ahiah, was the high priest who served Saul after he was made king (1 Sam 14:3).

 

FURTHER STUDY:

1.      What was the lineage designated by the Lord from which the priests were to be appointed (Num 3:1-4; Ex 28:1, 41; Ex 29:44; Ex 30:30)?

2.      What was the designated lineage of the assistants to the priests (Num 3:5-9; 12; 17; 32; Num 4:46, 47)?

3.      From which son of Aaron did Eli descend (1 Chr 24:1-6; 1 Sam 14:3; 1 Sam 22:9; 1 Sam 22:20-21; 1 Kings 2:26-27)?

4.      Through whom was the priesthood restored to the original lineage (2 Sam 15:35-36; 1 Chr 24:1-3; 1 Chr 18:14-16)?