1 Samuel 25:1
And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֣מָת
died
H4191
וַיָּ֣מָת
died
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
1 of 16
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
and all the Israelites
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
and all the Israelites
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 16
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וַיִּסְפְּדוּ
and lamented
H5594
וַיִּסְפְּדוּ
and lamented
Strong's:
H5594
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as middle easterners do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail
בְּבֵית֖וֹ
him in his house
H1004
בְּבֵית֖וֹ
him in his house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
9 of 16
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וַיָּ֣קָם
arose
H6965
וַיָּ֣קָם
arose
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
11 of 16
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וַיֵּ֖רֶד
and went down
H3381
וַיֵּ֖רֶד
and went down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
13 of 16
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
Cross References
1 Samuel 28:3Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.Deuteronomy 34:8And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.Numbers 20:29And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.2 Chronicles 33:20So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.Acts 8:2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.Genesis 21:21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.Numbers 10:12And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.1 Kings 2:34So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.Numbers 13:3And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
Historical Context
Samuel had served as prophet, priest, and judge for decades, guiding Israel through the transition to monarchy. Ramah was his lifelong home and the site of his prophetic ministry. The wilderness of Paran was distant territory near Sinai, suggesting David sought maximum distance from Saul.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the loss of a spiritual mentor affect those who depended on their guidance?
- What does David's movement after Samuel's death teach about navigating seasons of transition?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
Samuel's death marks the end of an era in Israel's history. The Hebrew 'vayyeasefu' (gathered together) describes national assembly for mourning—all Israel recognized Samuel's significance. The phrase 'lamented him' (vayispedu lo) indicates formal mourning rituals. Burial 'in his house' followed ancient practice of family tombs within residential compounds. David's departure to Paran, far south toward Sinai, suggests the prophet's death removed a protective presence. Samuel had anointed David and provided spiritual covering; now David moved deeper into wilderness, away from Israel's center. The transition from Samuel's death to David's journey foreshadows the leadership transition Samuel initiated but would not see completed.