The Parental Responsibility of Samuel

THE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF SAMUEL
SAMUEL AND HIS SONS (1 Samuel 8:1-5)
Samuel, son of Elkanah and Hannah was dedicated to the services of God from his infancy. This
was in fulfilment of the vow that Hannah, his mother made at Shilloh that if God gave her a son
she would dedicate the child to Him. Samuel therefore grew up in the fear of the Lord under Eli.
Samuel was a priest, a judge, and a prophet (3:19-21; 7:15-16; 9:19-25; 10:8). Naturally, when
he became old he installed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, as judges in Beersheba (8:1-2).
SINS OF JOEL AND ABIJAH

1. They did not walk in the ways of their father.
2. They followed after worldly things.
3. They took bribes and perverted justice.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE SINS OF JOEL AND ABIJAH
In reaction to the irresponsible behavior of the children of Samuel, all the elders of Israel got
together and went to Samuel. They reminded him of how he had become old and how he had
made his two sons priests over the people. Then they told him how his children were not walking
in his ways, how they took bribes and perverted justice.
For that they demanded from Samuel to give them a king like all the nations that had surrounded
them. This will bring an end to the priesthood and the reign of judges
REASONS FOR ISRAEL’S DEMAND FOR A KING

1. They wanted to be governed like other nations.
2. They wanted a king who could fight their enemies especially the Philistines who were
always a threat to them.
3. The irresponsible behaviour of the sons Samuel towards God and neighbour.
4. The sons of Samuel were not effective and inspiring as their fathers.
FAILURE OF SAMUEL AS A PARENT

1. Samuel certainly knew what his sons were doing and his apparent failure to remove them
from office contrary to the Mosaic Law gave the people the excuse they needed to
demand a king “like all the nations”.
2. Samuel, like Eli, took the priesthood and the office of judge as something hereditary. But
he failed because his sons could not live according to his expectation and a successful
father is someone whose legacy continues even in his absence. Samuel, however, could
not discipline his sons to follow the ways of the Lord. This made him a failure
THE ROLE OF SAMUEL IN THE HISTORY AND RELIGION OF ISRAEL
1. He was a keeper of the Temple.

2. He was a priest, who took over after the death of Eli and his sons.
3. Samuel also played the role of a judge who moved from one shrine to another to
administer to people and settling disputes among them.
4. Samuel was a prophet, who served as the mouthpiece of God. It was to him that God
revealed the disaster that was to befall Eli and his household.
5. He also played the role as a seer since he was able to tell the people the where about of
missing items
6. He played a leading rule in the institution of the Monarchy in Israel (from tribal
confederacy system to monarchical form of government).
WAYS IN WHICH PARENTS CAN FULFILL THEIR PARENTAL OBLIGATION TO

THEIR CHILDREN
1. Parents should provide the necessary basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter, for their
children
2. Parents should satisfy the emotional and psychological needs of their children like
exhibiting love, care and counselling to them.
3. They should ensure that their children are well educated according to their ability.
4. Parents should make sure that their children are provided with adequate healthcare.
Where there is not enough money, making sure they are enrolled with the National
Health Insurance Scheme if it is available in their country.
5. Parents have the responsibility to give the children a good moral and religious education.
6. They should prevent or restrain their children from committing scandalous actions that
can affect the entire family or the society they belong.
7. They should not be afraid to reprimand their children/ward
8. They should inculcate godly values in their children
THE EFFECTS OF BAD PARENTING
1. The children become truants, skipping school, etc.

2. The children end up in the streets.
3. They drop out of school at an early age.
4. Some may become drug addicts.
5. The girls become pregnant in their teens making the boys become pre-matured fathers.
6. It can lead to prostitution and promiscuous behaviour.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNT
1. Parents should teach their children the fear of the Lord in everything they do.
2. They should serve as role models to their children and never to be accomplice to their bad
behaviour.
3. Children should copy the good examples of their parents and heed to their advice and
corrections.
4. Parents should be swift to correct their sons and daughters as soon as they notice any
vicious behaviour in them.
5. We learnt from this episode that any disobedient or wicked act towards God and neighbor
has its negative repercussions to the doer of the act and to those around him or her.

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THE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF SAMUEL

SAMUEL AND HIS SONS (1 Samuel 8:1-5)

SINS OF JOEL AND ABIJAH

CONSEQUENCES OF THE SINS OF JOEL AND ABIJAH

REASONS FOR ISRAEL’S DEMAND FOR A KING

FAILURE OF SAMUEL AS A PARENT

THE ROLE OF SAMUEL IN THE HISTORY AND RELIGION OF ISRAEL

1. He was a keeper of the Temple.

WAYS IN WHICH PARENTS CAN FULFILL THEIR PARENTAL OBLIGATION TO

THE EFFECTS OF BAD PARENTING

1. The children become truants, skipping school, etc.

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