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A Hope in Total Darkness: A Hidden Messianic Hope in the Book of Samuel

A Hope in Total Darkness: A Hidden Messianic Hope in the Book of Samuel

Tony HK SHER

Deuteronomic History, composed of the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, is considered to be written in the 6th century BC at the time of the destruction of the Israelite kingdoms, with the main purpose of explaining to the survivors the reason why the disaster has fallen upon them. But is the only purpose of this masterpiece merely to pass a pessimistic message to its readers telling them the disaster that came to them was because of their and their fathers' sinful deed, as proposed by Martin Noth , the advocate of the Deuteronomic Historical theory? This paper argues that a Messianic hope is embedded in a crucial episode of the work, ie the book of Samuel, in particular in the three songs of the book, the Song of Hannah, the Song of David, and the Last Word of David. All these songs fit in with their literary contexts, yet at the same time creating tension with them. This tension directs the readers away from the time and events narrated in the stories surrounding these songs to events to come—a hope for the future. It is this embedded hope that is most needed in the time of darkness for the survivors to face up to their current hardship and to repent and return to the proper path of faith.

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