Why do the books of Samuel pack such broad appeal? Taken together as a single narrative, they certainly offer something for everyone: kings and prophets, great battles and greater heroes, action and romance, loyalty and betrayal, the mundane and the miraculous. In Samuel, we meet Saul, David, Goliath, Jonathan, Bathsheba, the witch of Endor, and other unforgettable characters. And we encounter ourselves. For while the culture and conditions of Israel under its first kings is vastly different from our own, the basic issues of humans in relation to God, the Great King, have not changed. Sin, repentance, forgiveness, adversity, prayer, faith, and the promises of God---these continue to play out in our lives today. Exploring the links between the Bible and our own times, Bill T. Arnold shares perspectives on 1 and 2 Samuel that reveal ageless truths for our twenty-first-century lives. Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from our world to the world of the Bible. But they leave us there, assuming that we can somehow make the return journey on our own. They focus on the original meaning of the passage but don't discuss its contemporary application. The information they offer is valuable---but the job is only half done! The NIV Application Commentary Series helps bring both halves of the interpretive task together. This unique, award-winning series shows readers how to bring an ancient message into our postmodern context. It explains not only what the Bible meant but also how it speaks powerfully today.
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Why do the books of Samuel pack such broad appeal? Taken together as a single narrative, they certainly offer something for everyone: kings and prophets, great battles and greater heroes, action and romance, loyalty and betrayal, the mundane and the miraculous. In Samuel, we meet Saul, David, Goliath, Jonathan, Bathsheba, the witch of Endor, and other unforgettable characters. And we encounter ourselves. For while the culture and conditions of Israel under its first kings is vastly different from our own, the basic issues of humans in relation to God, the Great King, have not changed. Sin, repentance, forgiveness, adversity, prayer, faith, and the promises of God—these continue to play out in our lives today.
Exploring the links between the Bible and our own times, Bill T. Arnold shares perspectives on 1 and 2 Samuel that reveal ageless truths for our twenty-first-century lives.
Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from our world to the world of the Bible. But they leave us there, assuming that we can somehow make the return journey on our own. They focus on the original meaning of the passage but don’t discuss its contemporary application. The information they offer is valuable—but the job is only half done!
The NIV Application Commentary Series helps bring both halves of the interpretive task together. This unique, award-winning series shows readers how to bring an ancient message into our postmodern context. It explains not only what the Bible meant but also how it speaks powerfully today.
About the Author
Bill T. Arnold (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is director of Hebrew studies and professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author of Encountering the Book of Genesis, and coauthor of Encountering the Old Testament, and A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. He and his wife, Susan, have three sons and live in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Bill T. Arnold (Ph.D., Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion) is the Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary. Among his publications are Genesis: The New Cambridge Bible Commentary (Cambridge, 2009), Who Were the Babylonians? (Atlanta, 2004), A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (with John H. Choi; Cambridge, 2003), 1 and 2 Samuel: NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, Mich., 2003), and Encountering the Old Testament (with Bryan E. Beyer; Grand Rapids, Mich.: 1999 [second edition, 2008]). He has also edited The Face of Old Testament Studies (with David W. Baker; Grand Rapids, 1999 [paperback, 2005), and the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books (with H. G. M. Williamson; Downers Grove, Ill.: 2005).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful commentary, but not the best.,
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This review is from: 1 & 2 Samuel (NIV Application Commentary) (Hardcover)
I'm a Pastor who is consulting this work to help me teach a Bible study. Like all commentaries, this one has its strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, the commentary is stronger on the original meaning than on application. (whereas many in the series give you application while the exegesis is left somewhat wanting.) Arnold even admits in the introduction that he is so engulfed in Ancient Near East studies that he doesn't have the best idea what's happening in contemporary culture. His applications aren't bad or wrong, they're just unexpected.
For instance, his application for I Samuel 4 deals largely with the idea of "holy war" or a Christian's stance on war. (Pacificism, etc...) While that is an interesting discussion, and somewhat pertinent to I Sam. 4, it's not an immediate application I would have drawn. Fortunately if you understand the Original meaning the Samuels are usually very easy to draw applications from. This is a good commentary, and probably worth the price for the original meaning/ bridging context material, but for the most part you will do a better job working at application on your own. I will say that the work is very readable, and would be useful to most laypeople.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good!,
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This review is from: 1 & 2 Samuel (NIV Application Commentary) (Hardcover)
I have found Arnold's work to be great in the Contemporary section as well as the Bridging the Gap section. To me, there is a tremendous amount of material one can use to illustrate a point; if what he has offered does not quite fit my (our) circumstance, I have found that some of the ideas he presents spring new thoughts in me. I find this to be tremendous!
With respect to the exegetical consideration, I like what he has offered, but I think this work is best used in conjunction with two other book: The Expositor's bible Commentary and by Robert Gordon. In my office, these are my primary sources (all three). One other point; I would include the New English Translation (NET) with the multitude of notes. Very Good!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid exegetical resource with creative application,
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This review is from: 1 & 2 Samuel (NIV Application Commentary) (Hardcover)
Same consistent results from this soon to be "classic" commentary series. When teaching English Bible courses at a Christian college, I frequently went to the NIVAC to expose my students to a "good exegetical voice". The students were never disappointed.
1-2 Samuel is a lot of material to cover, but Arnold does a great job of "getting to the point" without excluding important details to help you get to his conclusions. This point alone makes it a great resource not only for the busy pastor, but also a Sunday School teacher or small group leader. Due to the fact of their consistent providing of satisfaction with past purchases, I'll continue to pick up additional copies of the NIVAC to complete my library as the need arises and the budget allows!
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