The Serpent in Samuel: A Messianic Motif

by Brian A. Verrett, Jason S. DeRouchie (Foreword)

In this study, Brian A. Verrett argues that 1-2 Samuel contains a serpent motif by practicing biblical theology and literary criticism. This motif derives from the serpent in Genesis 3, and its function within the Samuel narrative is to heighten the reader's anticipation in the coming messiah, who is the son of David and the seed of the woman from Genesis 3:15. This messiah will defeat the serpent and inaugurate his glorious reign over a renewed world. When 1-2 Samuel is read in this way, one appreciates previously unnoticed features of the text, understands aspects of the text that were formerly confusing, and rightly sees that the whole of 1-2 Samuel is a messianic document.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Brian Verrett gives a convincing argument for a serpent motif that runs throughout the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. This motif runs in contrast to the messianic motif highlighted throughout Samuel and culminating in 2 Sam. 23:1-7. I had a ton of fun reading through this short book. I found it to be a little repetitive, as Verrett really drives home his points repeatedly each chapter and cites numerous scholars and sources to bolster his argument. However, repetitiveness aside, I think this book is excellent. I particularly enjoyed the first few chapters, in which Verett draws attention to the serpentine characteristics of Samuel’s primary antagonists and the snake-crushing acts of the potential messianic figures. I highly recommend this book as a fun dive into Samuel with Genesis 3:15 in mind.

[José F. de León · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Fantástico! Ojalá hubiera un libro así para cada libro de la Biblia. Aunque el autor conecta con otros libros para reforzar y ampliar su argumento. Este libro está en la línea “toda la Escritura habla de Jesús” y “la Biblia es una historia unificada que lleva a Jesús”. ¡Súper recomendado!

[Randy Mccracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verrett is to be congratulated for a very thorough study of the serpent motif in Samuel. The book demonstrates a good working knowledge of the books of Samuel, as well as an acquaintance with the pertinent scholarly literature. The book is also well written and easy to understand. One does not have to be a scholar to appreciate the many insights offered, although this book is definitely for the more mature student, pastor, or teacher. Among the strengths of this book is an awareness of a serpent motif in Scripture, and a greater sensitivity toward the messianic theme of the books of Samuel.

While Verrett has convinced me of the possibility of a serpent motif in Samuel, I must say with some regret, I am not totally persuaded....(for the entire review see my post at https://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2...

[Jacob Gane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verrett does mostly solid exegesis through interpreting Samuel intertextually. This method of interpretation is what gets me the most excited about biblical scholarship but it runs into the issue of not having clear criteria for what is an allusion and what isn’t. Verrett is able to concede that some of his insights are being made tentatively but are supported by other intertextual hooks.

Favorite chapters were the Goliath chapter and the one that explains why Saul and David are clearly not the promised seed of the woman in Gen 3:15 despite performing actions that bring to mind this archetype.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting look at the serpent motif in Samuel. A little too academic for my taste, lots references that were over my head. But I love seeing themes from Genesis throughout the whole of scripture. I love it when a narrative thread from Gen-Rev is pulled on and analyzed, I think it makes reading the whole of scripture a little bit of a treasure hunt knowing there could be little Genesis Easter eggs woven in some random text.

[Jonathan Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some really neat information in this book, especially if you've never considered this theme before. The explanations of certain characters as serpentine based on their names, behavior, character, context, etc. was really neat. But the book is written too much like a term paper. Instead of just writing, Verrett keeps telling the reader what he's going to write (a common thing in essays). He is very repetitive and summarizes way too much. This book could be about half its current length without losing any valuable substance. By the last few chapters, I felt like he was just reemphazing the same point and conclusion over and over again without adding to the total understanding of the text.

[Micah Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated and am fully convinced of the thesis of this book. That being said, besides being the whole conversation together together into a single text I’m not sure how much this book contributed or genuinely added to the conversation.

He does well to send his reader off to another book rather than wasting space on a tangential point like Goliath’s height. This gives the text a succinct, tight flow or argumentation. And many of his arguments showcase a high level of competency in Hebrew grammar and syntax.

I think the biggest issue with the argument presented is the out of hand dismissal of Number’s Bronze Serpent to “not…be part of the serpent motif”. I find this a hard pill to swallow, especially considering Jesus’ reference to it. The excursus did little to sway my view, though it did present interesting additional background to Jesus’ comment in John. In fact, it essentially amounted to suggest that Jesus had Isaiah and Zechariah in mind in John 3 when he clearly references explicitly to Numbers rather with of these texts. This is such a large mistake in my estimation for two reasons. First, Verrett, while laying out excellent criteria from Genesis 3 for what could consist a serpent motif, he fails to show how alter texts could go beyond merely referencing Genesis 3 and onto developing the motif with new terms and images, such as hanging. He fails to see how text A (Genesis 3) is developed by text B (Numbers) which texts C (Deuteronomy’s hanging curse) and D (all the serpentine characters who are hanged in Joshua, Samuel, and Esther at least) take up and further develop the motif. Second, this results in him failing to analyze such texts in Samuel as Absalom’s hanging and subsequent piercing and the hanging of Saul’s seven sons, both of which almost certainly have serpentine and thus messianic import. He did however succeed with 2 Samuel 23 precisely where he fails with Number’s Bronze Serpent. Though it did seem like a major oversight to barely look at the Psalms, especially 110 during the Priest-King discussion.

I also found Verrett’s positive reading of 1 Samuel 11 entirely inexplicable. He does argue convincingly for some positive elements, particularly Saul’s enmity-making with Nahash. But this amounts to at best a mixed portrayal of Saul. After Joshua and Judges how could we possibly see someone who hides in the baggage like Achan and is drawn out by lot, from the tribe of Benjamin, is a man of Gibeah, and mirrors Israel’s lowest moment, which already in Judges had resonances to Sodom, how could we possibly read any portrayal of this man positively?

I appreciated his focus on the New Creation being ruled over by the Messianic serpent crusher to be the goal of all creation. I think took such issue with the things I did because at the most fundamental level I wholeheartedly agree with the main points of this book and its methodology. I just wish some of these elements would have considered more thoroughly.

[Orion · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very worthy collection of evidence for thematic continuity in scripture, drawing a line from Genesis to Jesus through several books, most obviously Samuel.

This book is heavy on dense display of evidence and argument in favor of said evidence. It also spends much of it's time anticipating and then recapping its arguments and explorations of evidence, and as such, it's not a casual recommendation. This book could use a companion piece simply stating the arguments, and using footnotes to refer to the main body for those who wish to see the evidence up close and personal for themselves. This book works as a tool for anyone wishing to support an argument for the Genesis narrative appearing in Samuel, but it's not great for a simple persuasive piece.

Some of the arguments and evidence presented are less solid than the author probably hopes. But none of them are fundamental to the core thesis. The important arguments, especially exegesis on 2 Samuel 23:1-7, are very persuasive and exciting.

This book will prove as an important guidepost to point towards for anyone arguing the narrative thread of humanity as God's anointed co-rulers in conflict with the serpent, the one opposed to God.

[Matthew McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very academic and well researched analysis of the serpent motif through the Samuel scroll. I really appreciated 2 things from this work:

1. Verrett’s biblical theology of the seed of the woman vs. the seed of the serpent. I’m starting to look for this theme in so many other stories within the Hebrew bible, and it’s astounding how so much of the conflict in the bible points back to Genesis 3.

2. The continual return to the messianic hope that Genesis 3:15 leads us with. Are the characters in the Samuel scroll (Saul, David, Solomon) the promised seed of the woman? Or do they leave us with an eager longing and anticipation for the true priest-king who will come to rule and defeat the serpent once and for all?

I gave this book 3 stars for some of the sections that were a little dry and hard to work through (I don’t know Hebrew after all), but it’s an excellent work that gets me excited about finding this theme in my own personal study of the bible! Excellent work, Brian! Thankful for your scholarship!!

[Tyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is worthy of 5 stars; however it was written on an academic level, which was not always pleasurable to read. The scholarship is very good! I am only reviewing my reading experience as a lay person.

Prior to reading this book I've only paid attention to the motif of the offspring of the woman. I never noticed that the serpent has offspring as well. The serpent is God's greatest enemy and the seed of the serpent is all who oppose the seed of the woman (Christ).

What a great resource of have on hand as I approach especially Samuel and Habbakuk in my Bible reading this year. Even as I look back on my reading of Exodus and the portrayal of Pharaoh-I have learned a lot.

Totally great book to nerd out with and at the same time incredibly illuminating.

[adan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great survey and summary

It is a book that dives greatly into the theme of the serpent in all OT and NT. It makes you ponder all the implications we see in the key stories of David and the subsequent kings, arriving at Jesus the Messiah.

[Dave Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone interested in understanding how scripture works through patterns, motifs, symbols, numbers and hyperlinks built around the Gensis-Exodus story. It’s main thesis concerns the use of the serptent motif in the book of Samuel, something scholarship has noted but as of yet hasn’t offered a definitive work. This concern intersects with how the serpent motof plays throughout scripture. It’s fascinating stuff and helps to shed a whole new light on the text, particularly where this concerns the messianic motif that stands side by side forming the necessary tension within the story, something that connects directly to how we undesrtand the Jesus story as well.