The Sunday Mail
Dear Reader
IS the Gospel of Luke’s full narration of Yahoshua’s conception not an exact copy of I Samuel?
In the article, the Authorised King James Version (AKJV) has been used and the following substitutions have been done, “God/the Lord” changed to “the Divine”; “Jesus” changed to “Yahoshua; “Mary” changed to “Myriam; “Zacharias” changed to “Zachariah.” Previous articles already explained the reasons behind the changes.
Characters in I Samuel — Hannah, Elkanah, Eli and Samuel and those of the Gospel of Luke – Zachariah, Myriam, Joseph and Yahoshua.
1. Woman meets priest
Hannah was a sad woman, because she had no children (1 Samuel 1:10). She was also sad, because she had to share her husband with another woman who had several children, and the other woman often teased Hannah about that. (1 Samuel 1:6-7).
Hannah returns to the temple alone and prays for a son, vowing that she will devote him to the priesthood. Eli, the chief priest, discovers her weeping and silently pleading near the Ark of the Covenant. Eli takes pity on her and asks (the Divine) of Israel to hear her petition. (1 Kings 1:9–17).
After they had eaten in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the chief priest (whose sons stole sacrifices and had sex with women who worked in the temple tent) was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple (I Samuel 1:9).
The chief priest watched Hannah pray and her mouth made the words, but her voice was silent. (1 Samuel 1:12-13).
The priest thought she was drunk and he warned her, “Stop your drinking! Throw away your wine!”(1 Samuel 1:14).
Myriam is a temple maiden where there is the chief priest.
2. Maid conceives
When childless but married woman, Hannah, went to the Temple to pray, she said, “O Lord of Hosts, if you really will look on your servant’s woe and remember me, and forget not your servant and give your servant male seed, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, no razor shall touch his head (a Nazirite).” — I Samuel 1:11.
When she went to the temple to pray for a child, Eli the chief priest of Shiloh, the last Israelite judge before the rule of the kings, wondered if she was drunk. She said “No, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit, I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the (Divine). Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belia, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.” (1 Samuel 1:15-16). The priest answered and said, “Go in peace, and (the Divine) of Israel grant thee thy petition that you have asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17).
She answered, “Let your maidservant find favour in your eyes” (I Samuel 1:18). Does this not suggest not only that Eli might find her physically attractive, but that he was also able to facilitate her wish of the prayer? Is this when and how Samuel (spelt ‘Shmuel’ in Hebrew) was conceived? Samu-El means “heard by the Divine.”
On Myriam’s 12th birthday (‘Bat Mitzvah’), the priests held council and said to the chief priest named Zacharias, “See, (Myriam) has become 12 years old in the Lord’s temple. What then shall we do with her, to keep her from being defiled?” He told her, “You have stood on the Lord’s altar. Go in and pray about her, and we will do whatever (the Divine) reveals to you.” — Protoevangelium Gospel of James (Gnostic Gospel of James).
Zachariah went in and he prayed about her. Is this not when an illicit sexual relationship happened between the chief priest Zachariah and Myriam? She said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38.
3. Returns to husband
Then the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance (facial expression) was no longer sad.I Samuel 1:18.
In those days, (Myriam) rose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zachariah. — Luke 1:39-40. And (Myriam) remained with Elizabeth about three months, and returned to her home. – Luke 1:56.
4. Proclamation
“My horn is exalted in (the Divine); my mouth derides my enemies because I rejoice in thy salvation.” – I Samuel 2:1.
“He…has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.” – Luke 1:70.
5. Prophesy
“The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.” – I Samuel 2:4-5.
And Hannah prayed, and said…mine horn is exalted in (the Divine): my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. – I Samuel 2:1.
In the iconography of almost all ancient cultures (Egypt, Sumer, Babylon, Mesopotamia and Greece), animal horns symbolise abundance, fertility and high-ranking or divine lineage. Ancient Egyptian Isis wore a headset of large horns, Greek coins show Alexander the Great, Mesopotamia deities are horned, and Moses was also sculpted with horns.
“He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.” – Luke 1:52-53.
Benedictus – Blessed be (the Divine) of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. – Luke 1:68-69.
The “horn of salvation” mentioned by Zachariah signifies the priestly bloodline. The “horn of salvation” that is “raised up” is the priestly child born from a union between agents of the “(the Divine) of Israel” – Zachariah, the “blameless” priest-and the “house of his servant David” – Myriam, the temple maiden.
6. Piety
Samuel’s mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. — I Samuel 2:18-19.
Now (Yahoshua’s) parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. — Luke 2:41.
7. Formative years
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with (the Divine) and with men. – I Samuel 2:2.
And (Yahoshua) increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with (the Divine) and man. – Luke 2:52.
8. Song of praise at “annunciation”
By Hannah – My heart rejoiceth in the Divine, mine horn is exalted in (the Divine): my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as (the Divine): for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our (Divine). Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for (the Divine) is one of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The (Divine) killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The (Divine) maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Divine’s, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the (Divine) shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the (Divine) shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. – I Samuel 2:1-10.
By Mary – My soul doth magnify (the Divine), And my spirit hath rejoiced in (the Divine) my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. – Luke 1:46-55.
References:‘Secrets of the Holy Family’ (2009) and ‘The Virgin and The Priest’ (2008) both by Mark Gibbs.
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