Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au>]

Andrew C Smith wrote:

> Samuel and Gad are listed as "seers" in I Chronicles 29:29, but Nathan is
> listed as a prophet. Why?

I Sam 9:9 lets us know that prophets used to be called "seers" in the olden 
days. That
probably just means before the kings came onto the scene. In I Sam 9, Samuel 
is
specifically referred to as a "seer" rather than a prophet because his career 
comes
before the time of the kings.

As for Gad, I'm not sure. Perhaps he was somehow connected to the old order 
of seers
rather than the new order of prophets? Nathan was certainly a prophet because 
he is
associated with fully fledged monarchy. He has to do with affairs of State, 
whereas
Gad is really only associated with David himself as a person, not a monarch.

Best regards,
GEORGE ATHAS
Dept of Semitic Studies,
University of Sydney
- Email: gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au
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