Periodical Reviews -- By: Jefferson P. Webster

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 169:675 (Jul 2012)
Article: Periodical Reviews
Author: Jefferson P. Webster


Periodical Reviews

By The Faculty and Library Staff of Dallas Theological Seminary

Jefferson P. Webster

Editor

“Priest and King or Priest-King in 1 Samuel 2:35,” Karl Deenick, Westminster Theological Journal 73 (2011): 325-39.

A number of Bible translations render 1 Samuel 2:35 as the New American Standard Bible does: “But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.” This suggests that two individuals are referred to: “a faithful priest” and a king (“My anointed”), which follows the Masoretic pointing.

However, with a slight variation in pointing, Deenick suggests, the verse can read as follows: “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, he will do just as is in my heart and my soul. And I will build for him a sure house and my anointed one will walk before me all the days.” This translation points to the notion that the “priest” and the king (“My anointed one”) are the same, and it takes מְשִׁיחִי as the subject of the verb “will walk.”

In support of this view the author discusses (a) Old Testament examples where the grammar is similar, (b) the context of 1 Samuel 2, and (c) associations with David and the Davidic covenant. Regarding the latter, Deenick makes several observations. First, “walking before” the Lord is often used in connection with the Davidic covenant (2 Kings 2:4; 8:23, 25; 9:4; 2 Chron. 6:14, 16; 7:17). Second, the theme of establishing a house is related to the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7, and it “is used almost exclusively in connection with David or the Davidic covenant itself (1 Sam 2:35; 25:28; 2 Sam 7:16; 1 Chr 17:23)” (p. 331). Also David functioned as a priest on several occasions (2 Sam. 6:13, 17; You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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