Guiding Questions: I Samuel 8

Exploring Judaism

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

We have come across two righteous men whose sons did not follow the good of their fathers. Both in the case of Eli’s children and now in Samuel’s case, his sons do not follow his righteous example. What theological point might this literary convention be communicating?
Why was the suggestion to set up for the people “a King to judge us like all the nations” so displeasing to Samuel? Was this not a reasonable request, given the situation that the Israelites were living under? Compare this request to the Torah’s own suggestion in Parashat Pinchas (Numbers 27:16-17).
Note the pathos of I Samuel 8:8. Why did God agree to appoint a King even though God felt that the request was a rejection of Him?

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Exploring Judaism

Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).
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Perek Yomi materials originally produced by the USCJ and Dr. Morton K. Siegel.
We are grateful to be able to share this material.

Author

Exploring Judaism

Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

Post categories: Neviim (Prophets), Samuel I, Tanakh, Tanakh Yomi

Post tags: I Samuel 8, Perek Yomi (USCJ)

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Exploring Judaism is a home for the TorahRefers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, also called the Five Books of Moses, Pentateuch or the Hebrew equivalent, Humash. This is also called the Written Torah. The term may also refer to teachings that expound on Jewish tradition. of Conservative Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. There is always something to learn and explore.