This work examines some of the stories in 1 Sam. 16-25 with the particular focus placed on Saul, Doeg, Nabal and the "son of Jesse." It seeks to discover new meaning in the structure as well as in the characters' functions in the narratives by studying the stories synchronically and diachronically.


One of the mysterious characters in 1 Samuel that has puzzled many a scholar is Nabal the Calebite. This study scrutinizes the elements of his characterization in 1 Sam. 25 and considers his abuses of the "son of Jesse", the contextual role of the geographic setting and political environment during King Saul's reign. Similarly, this volume studies the function of the character of Doeg the Edomite in 1 Sam. 21 and 22 regarding his Edomite origin, his particular business in Nob and his official status in Saul's court.


The phrase the "son of Jesse" is quite important in 1 Samuel and serves a particular purpose in the thematic development in the second half of the book. Viewed against the background of the Saul/David relationship, it underscores the superiority of the Davidic person in advancing the divine plan for the nation of Israel.


The determination of the book's historical context is the key to understanding the multilayered messages. The roles of history and ideology in making these stories are also considered with the proposal that the making of the book(s) of Samuel after the Exile (5th c. B.C.) might have been instigated by the writer's desire to create the context needed for further development of the messianic ideas.

Ineke Buskens is a Cultural Anthropologist with a passion for research methodology and women's empowerment and a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and individual human uniqueness. Graduated in Leiden, the Netherlands, she has lived in Ghana, India, and Brazil and since 1990 she has lived in South Africa. After having been Head of the Centre for Research Methodology at South Africa's Human Science Research Council for 5 years, she founded Research For the Future in 1996. Ineke works as an independent international research and process facilitation consultant. In her research she focuses on emancipatory approaches that envision a sustainable, just and loving world; in her research training on bringing out the genius in every participant; in her facilitation work, on gender awareness and authentic collaboration. Ineke is a student of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment in Yelm, Washington, USA and this learning journey inspires her to become all she can be.

Anne Webb's commitment to feminist qualitative research is rooted in participatory action research approaches. She has worked with communities and research teams for the past fifteen years pursuing the reduction of inequalities. Trained in sociology, adult education and gender studies in Toronto (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) and Den Hague (Institute for Social Studies), her education has involved people from all walks of life and locations, formally and informally, in Canada, Europe and Southern Africa, and is a continually enriching process. Anne currently resides in Hull, Quebec, Canada.