Samuel, completed by the prophets Nathan and Gad (according to tradition, cf. 1 Chr 29:29). Written: Probably completed shortly after the division of the kingdom (around 930 BC)

History · Old Testament · 31 chapters

The book of 1 Samuel

From the last judge to the first king

Author: Samuel, completed by the prophets Nathan and Gad (according to tradition, cf. 1 Chr 29:29)
Written: Probably completed shortly after the division of the kingdom (around 930 BC)
Time covered: About a century, from the birth of Samuel (around 1105 BC) to the death of Saul (around 1010 BC)
Key word: Kingship

Hannah, barren, obtains Samuel through prayer and dedicates him to the LORD. Samuel grows up at Shiloh while the house of Eli grows corrupt; the ark is captured by the Philistines, then returned. Having become judge and prophet, Samuel brings Israel back to God. The people demand a king: Samuel anoints Saul, an imposing Benjamite. But Saul disobeys and God rejects him. Samuel then anoints David, a young shepherd of Bethlehem, who kills Goliath. Jealous, Saul hunts David for years; David spares him twice. Abandoned by God, Saul consults the medium of Endor and dies with his sons on Mount Gilboa.

Main theme

Israel passes from the judges to the monarchy: God lifts up the humble and brings down the proud, rejects Saul who disobeys and chooses David, a man after his own heart.

Outline

1 Samuel 1-3 — Birth and call of Samuel
Hannah’s prayer, the corruption of Eli’s house and Samuel’s call in the night.
1 Samuel 4-7 — The ark captured and returned
Israel is defeated, the ark passes to the Philistines, then Samuel leads the people to repentance and victory.
1 Samuel 8-15 — Saul, the first king
Israel demands a king; Saul is anointed and wins victories, but his disobedience gets him rejected.
1 Samuel 16-26 — David anointed and persecuted
David is anointed, kills Goliath, then flees Saul’s murderous jealousy, refusing to kill him.
1 Samuel 27-31 — The fall of Saul
David among the Philistines, Saul at Endor, and the death of the king on Mount Gilboa.

Key points

Hannah prays in bitterness, God gives her Samuel, and she dedicates him to the LORD for his whole life (1:11, 20, 28).
In an age when the word of God is rare, Samuel answers: “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (3:1, 10).
The ark is not a talisman: Israel is defeated, but Dagon falls face down before it (4:10-11; 5:3-4).
By asking for a king “like all the nations,” Israel rejects the LORD as king (8:5-7).
Saul loses the kingship through partial obedience: “to obey is better than sacrifice” (15:22-23).
God chooses David, Jesse’s youngest son, because “the LORD looketh on the heart” (16:7, 13).
David defeats Goliath in the name of the LORD of hosts, not by sword or spear (17:45-47).
David spares Saul twice and leaves it to God to judge the LORD’s anointed (24:6; 26:9-11).

Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

1 Samuel 2:30 — A principle running through the whole book: God honors the one who honors him, and despises those who despise him.

And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

1 Samuel 3:10 — The model response of God’s servant: listen before acting.

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben–ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

1 Samuel 7:12 — Ebenezer: a memorial to the faithfulness of God, who helps his repentant people.

Jesus in 1 Samuel

Hannah’s song already announces the king and “his anointed” of the LORD (2:10), that is, the Messiah, and Mary’s song will echo it (Luke 1:46-55). David, shepherd of Bethlehem, anointed by God but rejected and persecuted before reigning, prefigures Jesus, the Son of David born in Bethlehem, rejected before being raised to the throne. Jesus himself cites David eating the showbread at Nob (Matt 12:3-4).

Did you know?

In the Hebrew Bible, 1 and 2 Samuel form a single book; the Greek translation, the Septuagint, divided it in two and linked it to the books of Kings.
In Saul’s time there was not a single blacksmith in Israel: only Saul and Jonathan had a sword and a spear (13:19-22).
Hannah’s song already speaks of the LORD’s “king” and “his anointed” (2:10), though Israel does not yet have a king.

Quiz on 1 Samuel

What is the name of Samuel’s mother?

What does Samuel finally answer when the LORD calls him in the night?

Which son of Saul becomes David’s faithful friend?

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.