Anglo Saxon Colored Pencil Folk Art Bible- 1st Samuel

Anglo Saxon Colored Pencil Folk Art Bible- 1st Samuel
18" X 24" on Sketch Paper

Book 9 Poster 9

Samuel, Saul
Leadership in Transition

Saul and David
Leadership in Exile

To me in this book there is a change from Judges to Prophets and Kings being the communications between God and man.
Samuel is depicted in the center wearing the yellow I assigned to the tribe of Ephraim in the drawing of Numbers and the banners. He is also wearing a "plaid" collar. I will use this collar in future pictures to denote a prophet.  The figure on the right side of the picture represents a Philistine. It could be Goliath or any of many Philistines that warred with Israel and took away the Ark of the Covenant at one point. The people wanted a king like all the others around them and Samuel was sent out by God to find the one he had chosen. From the tribe of Benjamin Saul was chosen. Thus he and his son Jonathan are shown here in the red color I used for their tribes banner. David is the "ruddy" or red haired freckled one in blue.
Saul fought many battles with many enemies but didn't fully obey God's commands. At one point Saul even takes on the duties of the priestly office and offers sacrifice depicted by the offering on the stone alter behind him. Samuel told Saul then that his kingdom would not endure.  God had Samuel anoint David to reign in his place of leadership even while Saul was still alive. That is why I show both Saul and David in this picture. Jonathan becomes David's dearest friend and even he recognizes that David will be the next king and offers to help save his life by sending him messages about his father hunting to kill him.  With three arrows sent from his bow Jonathan gives David the signal to flee for his life. There is a staff between Saul and David. It could be being held by either person.
At the top of the picture where the grass color changes from greens to yellows I attempted to show, as in a comic strip conversation bubble, the things Samuel saw. He saw the war with the Philistines, the capture of and eventual return of the ark, the process of searching for a king through the lost donkeys, the loaves of bread and jug of wine, and the prophets playing instruments that would all lead to the finding of Saul and the anointing him as the first king. If you look closely at the small figures in the top right portion of the picture you will see Samuel, in yellow, holding a small red vile of oil gathered with others anointing Saul king. At the bottom the larger figure of Samuel is holding a blue vile of oil for David. In the small figures at the top right Samuel is holding a crown over Saul's head. At the bottom he is holding it over David's.