Why Do I Have To Share You?

The Daily Reading For Today Is 1 Samuel 1:

Why does Samuel use Ramathaim-zophim as the name of the city of his father for the starting point, then chooses to use the common name Ramah for the remainder of his account? What's his point? (v.1, 19)

Does it have anything to do with his two wives and the customs of the Israelite lords that abide in the hills of Ephraim? (v.2)

Deuteronomy 21:15–17 (NKJV)

15 "If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, 16 then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn. 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

What is Samuel laboring to expose in the culture of their traditions that are not compatible with the new covenant? (v.3-5)

Therefore what was tainted about Elkanah's worship? (v.5)

And what was the effect or fruit of that tainted worship? (v.6)

And did it help him at all? (v.7)

But did it stop the LORD from fulfilling His vow? (v.8)

Wasn't true love enough, Hannah? Why do you have to measure your blessedness by how others perceive the curse in you? "Am I not better than ten sons?"

Romans 3:9 (NKJV)

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

Romans 7:14 (NKJV)

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

But was Elkanah really better to her than the LORD? (v.9)

"Why do I have to share you with another woman?" (v.10)

Therefore how was the LORD "at work" in all of this internal persecution? (v.11)

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV)

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

And what is the wisdom with which she prays, knowing the witchcraft of the hills of Ephraim? (v.1, 12-13)

How does this exalt her trust in the exclusivity of the one Mediator between God and men? (v.13)

How do we know the men of Ephraim were corrupt (Levite) "watchers" that would orchestrate the promises through manipulation for their own interests?

Joshua 21:20 (NKJV)

20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, the rest of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot from the tribe of Ephraim.

Joshua 21:26 (NKJV)

26 All the ten cities with their common-lands were for the rest of the families of the children of Kohath.

1 Chronicles 6:33–38 (NKJV)

33 And these are the ones who ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

Judges 8:1 (NKJV)

1 Now the men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?" And they reprimanded him sharply.

Judges 12:1 (NKJV)

1 Then the men of Ephraim gathered together, crossed over toward Zaphon, and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the people of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you with fire!"

Judges 12:4 (NKJV)

4 Now Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, "You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites."

Judges 17:1 (NKJV)

1 Now there was a man from the mountains of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

Judges 19:1 (NKJV)

1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

Judges 19:16 (NKJV)

16 Just then an old man came in from his work in the field at evening, who also was from the mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas the men of the place were Benjamites.

Judges 5:14 (NKJV)

14 From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek.

Therefore how much of her prayers were the business of the priests? (v.15)

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 (NKJV)

9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

And therefore, was Eli qualified to make such a judgment "over her" in such a manner? (v.16)

1 Timothy 3:2

2 A bishop then must not be (an overreacher), the husband of one wife,

1 Timothy 3:2 (SBLGNT)

2 δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον (ἀνεπίλημπτον) εἶναι,

How did this help remind Eli to trust the One who sits on the mercy seat to answer her prayers? (v.17)

And why does her vow sound like a page out of Samson's testimony? Wasn't Samson a one-woman man? (v.11)

Therefore who was Elkanah to annul her vow? (v.1, 23)

Numbers 30:1–16 (NKJV)

1 Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: 2 If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 3 "Or if a woman makes a vow to the Lord, and binds herself by some agreement while in her father's house in her youth, 4 and her father hears her vow and the agreement by which she has bound herself, and her father holds his peace, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement with which she has bound herself shall stand. 5 But if her father overrules her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows nor her agreements by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the Lord will release her, because her father overruled her. 6 "If indeed she takes a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself, 7 and her husband hears it, and makes no response to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself shall stand. 8 But if her husband overrules her on the day that he hears it, he shall make void her vow which she took and what she uttered with her lips, by which she bound herself, and the Lord will release her. 9 "Also any vow of a widow or a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her. 10 "If she vowed in her husband's house, or bound herself by an agreement with an oath, 11 and her husband heard it, and made no response to her and did not overrule her, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement by which she bound herself shall stand. 12 But if her husband truly made them void on the day he heard them, then whatever proceeded from her lips concerning her vows or concerning the agreement binding her, it shall not stand; her husband has made them void, and the Lord will release her. 13 Every vow and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband may confirm it, or her husband may make it void. 14 Now if her husband makes no response whatever to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all the agreements that bind her; he confirms them, because he made no response to her on the day that he heard them. 15 But if he does make them void after he has heard them, then he shall bear her guilt." 16 These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter in her youth in her father's house.

And how does her response demonstrate that she had left her complaint fully in the hand of the sovereign power of the LORD to grant her desire to raise up a better man than Samson, whose weapons of warfare were carnal? (v.18)

2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (NKJV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Matthew 6:5–8 (NKJV)

5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:16–18 (NKJV)

16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

And why didn't she raise him herself like the mother of Samson, who knew nothing of the Nazarite vow? (v.11, 22-23)

Judges 13:13–14 (NKJV)

13 So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe."

But why didn't the LORD remember her "until now"? What does she now see that she did not see before in the corruption of the Patriarchal traditions? (v.19)

Psalm 119:71 (NKJV)

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

Therefore why does she name the boy Samuel? What does this further say about what she asked from the LORD? (v.20)

[Shâmuwʾel /sehm·oo·ale/] n pr m. From the pass part of 8085 and 410; GK 9017; 140 occurrences; AV translates as "Samuel" 137 times, and "Shemuel" three times. 1 son of Elkanah by his wife Hannah and judge or prophet of Israel during the days of Saul and David. 2 son Ammihud and the prince of the tribe of Simeon who was chosen to divide the land of Canaan between the tribes. Spelled 'Shemuel'. 3 son of Tola and grandson of Issachar. Spelled 'Shemuel'. Additional Information: Samuel = “his name is El”.

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[shâmaʿ /shem·ah/] v. Corresponding to 8085; TWOT 3040; GK 10725; Nine occurrences; AV translates as "hear" eight times, and "obey" once. 1 to hear. 1A (P'al) to hear, have a sense of hearing. 1B (Ithpael) to show oneself obedient.

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[ʾel /ale/] n m. Shortened from 352; TWOT 93a; GK 445 and 446; 245 occurrences; AV translates as "God" 213 times, "god" 16 times, "power" four times, "mighty" five times, "goodly" once, "great" once, "idols" once, "Immanuel + 6005" twice, "might" once, and "strong" once. 1 god, god-like one, mighty one. 1A mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes. 1B angels. 1C god, false god, (demons, imaginations). 1D God, the one true God, Jehovah. 2 mighty things in nature. 3 strength, power.

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Since he was named "powerfully obedient to God," how does this help us answer the first question about why Samuel named the city (of his mother) "the highest height of the watchers"?

Acts 7:22 (NKJV)

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

Luke 24:19 (NKJV)

19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

Acts 18:24 (NKJV)

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

2 Corinthians 13:3–4 (NKJV)

3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

Doesn't Samuel, by the faith of Hannah, have something to do with bringing down the arrogance of the corrupt watchers? Doesn't he raise up David to be king and the prophet Nathan for the sanctification of the next generation?

What is the topography of Ramah? It's no higher than Gibeah, where the Levite's concubine was raped by the sodomizers! Therefore he can't be talking about a better view of the lands? (v.19)

What's Samuel saying then? Surely he's not pridefully talking about himself as he is inspired by the Holy Spirit to give us a humble account of the condition of the sons of men. Therefore he's saying the pride of the watchers (who favor Ephraim) as the tabernacle rests in Shiloh has reached its max! For behold the fruit of the children of the priesthood! (v.1, 21)

1 Samuel 2:12–17 (NKJV)

12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord. 13 And the priests' custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. 14 Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw." 16 And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force." 17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:22–25 (NKJV)

22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 23 So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. 24 No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord's people transgress. 25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?" Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.

1 Samuel 4:19–22 (NKJV)

19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. 21 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

What was the next generation of priests doing to change the customary vows that were presented year after year that offered no repentance or sanctification in the sons of Israel? For the priests continued to take on multiple wives (as the example to all the sons of Israel) to expand their territories and lands, as we see in the Ramathaim-zophim. Therefore what was Samuel raised to do but to strive for this repentance? (v.22)

Mark 10:5–12 (NKJV)

5 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God' made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. 11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Therefore was this a city in the hill country of Ephraim, or was it in Benjamin since the Levites were using their power through their special insight of the people's prayers at the tabernacle to buy up all the lands for themselves through their multiple marriages to widows or the daughters of the fathers that sold themselves into slavery because they couldn't pay their debts? It is true that Elkanah was an Ephraimite, but the phrase "a certain man of (the) Ramathaim-zophim" doesn't have to be interpreted as a place in Ephraim, but that he's presently living in Ramah, but "born of" the hill country of Ephraim. (v.1)

Leviticus 25:23–31 (NKJV)

23 'The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. 24 And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. 25 'If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. 26 Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, 27 then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. 28 But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession. 29 'If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year he may redeem it. 30 But if it is not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to him who bought it, throughout his generations. It shall not be released in the Jubilee. 31 However the houses of villages which have no wall around them shall be counted as the fields of the country. They may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the Jubilee.

Leviticus 25:32–34 (NKJV)

32 Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, and the houses in the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchases a house from the Levites, then the house that was sold in the city of his possession shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the common-land of their cities may not be sold, for it is their perpetual possession.

Numbers 3:44–51 (NKJV)

44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the Lord. 46 And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, 47 you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs. 48 And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons." 49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses gave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Therefore the LORD does confirm his word in the prophet Samuel to bring about many changes in the hearts of the sons of Israel since the priesthood was to be the example. (v.23)

1 Samuel 3:19 (NKJV)

19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

1 Samuel 4:1 (NKJV)

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.

2 Samuel 12:11–12 (NKJV)

11 Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'"

2 Samuel 20:3 (NKJV)

3 Now David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

Deuteronomy 17:17–18 (NKJV)

17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. 18 "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.

How could (the Levites) go up to honor their vows year after year and have no growth in holiness? (v.24)

Numbers 4:34–37 (NKJV)

34 And Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers' house, 35 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting; 36 and those who were numbered by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These were the ones who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

And how could Geba sit naked as a Levitical city while the Levites were dwelling all over the lands that were not appointed cities by the LORD? (v.25)

Joshua 21:17 (NKJV)

17 and from the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its common-land, Geba with its common-land,

Judges 20:33 (NKJV)

33 So all the men of Israel rose from their place and put themselves in battle array at Baal Tamar. Then Israel's men in ambush burst forth from their position in the plain of Geba.

1 Samuel 13:3 (NKJV)

3 And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

Therefore Samuel is the priest and prophet that "hears El" (God) over the voices of men. (v.26)

1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV)

22 So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

And therefore, the delight of Hannah's heart was the desire of the LORD. (v.27)

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Isaiah 58:14 (NKJV)

14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Matthew 7:7–11 (NKJV)

7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Therefore consider the real sacrifice that Hannah gave, in that she gave her only son to the LORD, to bring God joy and glory and pleasure in Israel. (v.28)

Genesis 22:2 (NKJV)

2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

John 17:13–19 (NKJV)

13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

John 3:16–18 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Ephesians 1:3–6 (NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.