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In 1 Samuel 12, Samuel gives his farewell speech to the people. He claims that he has not abused his position in any way, and asks the people to confirm this, citing Yahweh and "His anointed" as witnesses in his defense. Who is the "anointed"? Clearly, it is someone distinct from Yahweh, for Samuel is calling on a "double witness" to support his claim. Possibly Saul the Lord's anointed, since he is already king. But how could Saul confirm Samuel's claims? How could he know whether or not Samuel has abused his position as judge? I suspect that "His anointed" in 1 Samuel 12 is the same as the "Anointed" of 1 Samuel 2:35, where the "anointed" is one before whom a priest "walks." This is not the king, but a personage that both is and is not identified with Yahweh, a person whom a priest serves but who is distinct from Yahweh. He is the archetype of anointed king. Psalm 132:10, where David calls on God to "turn not away the face of thine anointed," may be speaking of the same person. In short, the distinction between "Yahweh" and "His anointed" is an OT hint of plurality within the life of God.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, August 28, 2003 at 01:19 PM
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