1 Samuel (The Forms of the Old Testament Literature

by Antony F. Campbell

Antony Campbell’s valuable form-critical analysis of 1 Samuel highlights both the literary development of the text itself and its meanings for its audience. A skilled student of the Hebrew Scriptures and their ancient context, Campbell shows modern readers the process of editing and reworking that shaped 1 Samuel’s final form. As Campbell’s study reveals, the tensions and contradictions that exist in the present text reflect a massive change in the way of life of ancient Israel. Samuel, the first prophet, here emerges to preside over the rise of Saul, Israel’s first king, to be the agent of Saul’s rejection, and to anoint David as Israel’s next king and the first established head of a royal dynasty. The book of 1 Samuel captures the work of God within this interplay of sociopolitical forces, and Campbell fruitfully explores the text both as a repository of traditions of great significance for Israel and as a paradigm of Israel’s use of narrative for theological expression.

Paperback

First published June 6, 2003

About the author

Antony F. Campbell, S.J. is a Jesuit priest and Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Jesuit Theological College within the United Faculty of Theology in Parkville, Australia.

Reviews

[Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is there to say about books like this? The ideas are incredibly interesting, the reading is arduous.
The coolest concept presented seems to have been argued for in previous books, ie the STORY OUTLINE. It’s the cool idea that text (itself a collection from many oral sources) is shaped to provide structure for future storytellers to add to
I do wish this idea had been fought for a tad more. Most of the citations about it are Campbell’s own work. He does his best to remind us that we shouldn’t make an argument just because it’s possible, so it primed me to be more skeptical of his own new ideas, and he didn’t spend time bolstering them
He has a recurring reminder that possibility does not mean probability is refreshingly but looking too closely at it makes all the wheels come off of the whole practice. There are times it feels noble and times it feels like a way to save time in a book that already could have use a stricter editor