Analyzing the Plot of 1 Samuel 7:3-17 through Discourse Analysis

The typical word order in Biblical Hebrew is verb – subject – object, characterized by the use of the vav consecutive form. Of course, Old Testament narratives employ various word orders and verb forms beyond the typical pattern to demonstrate narrative structure. Discourse analysts explain that the harmonious elements of the text function to maintain the consistency of the text. That is, narrative encompasses both the form of expression and the form of content, representing an organized whole rather than mere editing. Each element of the text is considered a component that constitutes and cohesively binds the discourse. Furthermore, discourse functions are classified into topic, focus, and markedness shift. Topic and focus are crucial elements conveying the meaning of a sentence and are revealed within the context. Markedness shift theory manifests through the recognition of textual components and their arrangement. In the syntactic approach, the order and quantity of sentence information are crucial for discerning the author’s intent. At the biblical Hebrew syntactic level, the author’s intent is inferred through the quantity of sentence construction. Verb order and form are significant features in Hebrew narratives. Parallelism indicates sentence consistency, while repetition of identical meaning serves to emphasize the reader’s attention. From a pragmatic perspective, the function of focus indicates important information to the reader, with the emphasized element varying according to context. The topic enhances sentence cohesion and discourse consistency. Markedness shifts indicate changes in the form and order of entities based on context, grounded in their association with evolving information. The plot of the text unfolds around Israel’s repentance, God’s salvation, and Samuel’s leadership. Discourse analysis examines the continuity and discontinuity within the text to present the plot of 1 Samuel 7:3-17. This study anticipates that discourse analysis will provide a methodological foundation contributing to Old Testament narrative research.