Why study 1st. Samuel? The book of 1st Samuel is about trusting and depending upon God through difficult times in life. It is also about the results of demanding what the world wants and walking away from God. 1st Samuel relates the well-known story of David, the shepherd boy facing without fear and defeating the giant Goliath. The book also reveals that even though God may clearly lead believers into definite paths, the going will not always be easy and their will be many difficulties to overcome. The only way forward is by trusting in God every day.
The books of 1st. and 2nd. Samuel were considered one book in the earliest Hebrew Scriptures and were divided into two books when the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint was written in about 200BC. English versions have kept the division as well as also dividing Kings and Chronicles into two books each. The book of 1st Samuel relates the events of the transition from the days of the Judges to the death of Saul. This is a period approximately from 1100 to 1011 BC.
Basic Outline of 1st Samuel
The Ministry of Samuel: Chapters 1-7
The Misfortunes of Saul: Chapters 8-15
The Molding of David: Chapters 16-31
Summary of 1st Samuel
The book of 1st. Samuel begins with the birth of Samuel and his early life including his calling by God to be His prophet. Samuel became a recognized leader in Israel as the last of the Judges. During His days, the people of Israel rebelled against having God as King over them and demanded a human king. God allowed this to happen and told His covenant people of what would happen to them under a human king.
God told Samuel to anoint Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, to be the first king of Israel. Under Saul, Israel was successful in battles against their enemies during the early part of Saul’s reign. However, Saul soon became disobedient to God and this led to God rejecting him as king. God then told Samuel to anoint another king who was to be a son of Jesse in Judah. All of the older sons of Jesse were presented to Samuel and God told the prophet that these sons were not His chosen one to be king. Finally, Jesse called his youngest son in from looking after the sheep and God told Samuel that this youngest son, David was His choice to be king.
Soon after this, the Philistines and Israel faced each other engaging for battle, each positioning themselves on the mountains facing the valley of Elah. The Philistine champion and giant, Goliath of Gath, challenged the Israelites to send someone to fight against him. Whoever won this fight would have the right to have their nation to be masters over the other nation who would serve them. David came from his father to bring food to his older brothers who were soldiers in king Saul’s army. David heard the challenge of Goliath and volunteered to fight the Philistine hero. David was able to persuade Saul of his ability to fight Goliath as David knew God would be with him. Saul allowed David to face Goliath. David, armed only with a sling and five stones, killed Goliath with a sling stone. Following this, the Israelites advanced against the Philistines turning them back to deep within their own territory.
Following these events, David became a dear friend to Saul’s son Jonathan. Saul soon became very jealous of David for the people were praising the exploits of David as being more valiant in war than was Saul. Saul also had to fulfill his earlier vow to give to whoever killed Goliath his daughter in marriage to this victor. David continued to have more success in battles against the Philistines than Saul and Saul sought to kill David. David was forced to go into hiding from Saul and his forces. David had to flee to many different places as the spies for Saul told the king where David was hiding. David, however, was able to ahead of Saul and his men and on two occasions, David was able to sneak into Saul’s camp and remove items that proved that he had stood over Saul when Saul was asleep. David proved that his desire was not to kill Saul although Saul was determined to kill David.
During this period the Philistines threated Israel. Samuel the prophet had died and Saul, instead of seeking the LORD’s guidance sought a medium, from En-dor to raise Samuel from the dead. To the surprise of the medium, Samuel’s spirit appeared and told Saul that during the next day, the Philistines would defeat the Israelites and that Saul, and his sons would die in battle. At this time David was engaging the Amalekites who had captured the city of Ziglag and had captured David’s wives, Michal and Abigail. David and six hundred of his devoted followers soon overcame the Amalekites and rescued his wives and all the spoil that the Amalekites had removed from Ziglag. At this time, Saul and three of his sons were killed on Mount Gilboa by the Philistines.
Verses to Memorize from 1st Samuel (verses from the ESV)
2:1 And Hannah prayed and said, My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
2:2 There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
2:7-8 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.
3:19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
15:22 And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, you come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
Resources for studying the book of 1st Samuel
See the article on how to study the Bible for suggestions on the method of Bible study and recommended resources to obtain. Suggested commentaries and studies are listed below for a more extensive study. Some are available on-line in a pdf format.
One Hour – One Book: Scroll down to video on 1st and 2nd Samuel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrCJNW5eUWQMyVw_2VqW_w
Commentaries
Bergen, Robert D. 1, 2 Samuel. The New American Commentary, Broadman & Holman, 1996.
Chisholm, Robert B., Jr. 1 & 2 Samuel. Teach the Text Commentary series. Baker Books, 2013.
Constable, Thomas. Notes on 1 Samuel, latest edition. Online at Plano Bible Chapel.
Laney, J. Carl. First and Second Samuel. Everyman’s Bible Commentary series. Moody Press, 1982.
Merrill, Eugene H. 1, 2 Samuel. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, Victor Books, 1987.
Neely, Winfred, O. 1, 2 Samuel. The Moody Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers, 2014.
Youngblood, Ronald R. 1, 2 Samuel. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, Zondervan, 1992.
Studies
Allman, James. E. 1 Samuel 17: David: A Messianic Prototype. The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy, Moody Publishers, 2019. Pages 373-384.
Archer, G. L. Ephod, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 2, Zondervan, 1975.
Coakley, James F. 1 Samuel 2:1-10, 35: Hannah’s Song of the Messianic King. The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy, Moody Publishers, 2019. Pages 361-371.
Feinberg, C. L. Belial, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 1, Zondervan, 1975.
Hanna, Kenneth G. From Moses to Malachi: Exploring the Old Testament. 2nd ed. CrossBooks, 2014.
Heater, Homer, Jr. A Theology of Samuel and Kings. In A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, Moody Press, 1991.
Heater, Homer Jr. Young David and the Practice of Wisdom. In Integrity of Heart, Skillfulness of Hands, Baker Book House, 1994.
Hindson, Edward E. The Philistines and the Old Testament. Baker Studies in Biblical Archaeology series. Baker Book House, 1971.
Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests. Baker Book House, 1987.
Swindoll, Charles R. David: A Man of Passion and Destiny. Great Lives from God’s Word Series. Word Publishing, 1997.
Thiele, Edwin R. The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1965.
Wood, Leon J. A Survey of Israel’s History. Revised by David O’Brien. Zondervan Publishing House, 1986.
This survey in .pdf format is posted below for downloading to your computer.