Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Samuel gjorde som Herren hadde sagt. Da han kom til Betlehem, gikk byens ledere skjelvende imot ham og spurte: «Kommer du i et fredelig oppdrag?» Samuel beroliget dem og svarte: «Ja, det gjør jeg. Jeg er kommet for å ofre til Herren. Innvi dere og bli med meg til ofringen!» Så lot han Isai og sønnene hans innvie seg, og deretter inviterte han dem med på ofringen.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, Samuel follows God's instructions and visits Bethlehem. The town elders are scared when Samuel arrives and ask if he comes in peace. This shows Samuel's authority and the people's fear of God.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek and the seeker comes to your house. You might feel nervous and ask if they're just looking for you or something else. That's how the elders felt when Samuel came to Bethlehem. They were scared but polite.
Historical Background
This verse is from the book of 1 Samuel, written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad around 930 BC. It was written for the Israelites to understand God's choice of kings and to trust in divine guidance.
Living It Out Today
When a respected leader comes to your community, people often feel nervous. Imagine if a well-known environmental activist visited your school. The staff might be worried about what they might say or do, just like the elders were with Samuel.
Why were the elders of Bethlehem scared when Samuel came?
The elders were scared because Samuel was a well-known prophet and leader, and they knew his visits often meant important messages or decisions from God.
What does it mean to come 'peaceably' in 1 Samuel 16:4?
Coming 'peaceably' means coming without harm or violence, indicating that Samuel's intentions were not to cause trouble but to deliver a message from God.
How does this verse show Samuel's importance?
This verse shows Samuel's importance because even the elders of a town tremble at his arrival, indicating his significant influence and the respect he commands.
What can we learn about God's guidance from this verse?
This verse teaches that God guides His people through His chosen leaders, like Samuel, who follow divine instructions and bring messages from God to the people.