- Theme of the year 2012
The Book of
I Samuel
The Book of I Samuel
The book of I Samuel continues the historical
narrative from the book of Judges and the book
of Ruth.
The book of I Samuel is a key book that takes us
from the time of the Judges to the era of the
United Kingdom with Kings Saul and David.
The book of I Samuel gets its name from
Samuel (a prominent character in the book)
who served as a prophet and was the last Judge
of Israel (I Samuel 7:15-17).
I Samuel 7:15-17 - And Samuel judged Israel all the days of
his life.
16 He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal,
and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.
17 But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was
there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar
to the LORD.
The Book of
I Samuel
The Book of I Samuel
The Person Samuel
The name Samuel means asked of God. He was
the son of Elkanah and Hannah. Hannah prayed
for a son, and God blessed her with Samuel
(I Samuel 1:1-23).
Samuel was dedicated to the Lord for service
before his birth. When he was weaned, he was
taken to serve in the Tabernacle with Eli the
High Priest (I Samuel 1:24-2:18).
God called Samuel at a young age to serve as
prophet to the children of Israel, “So Samuel
grew, and the LORD was with him and let none
of his words fall to the ground.” (I Samuel 3:18).
The Book of
I Samuel
The Book of I Samuel
The Person Samuel
The Survey of I Samuel
The History of The Kings
Eli /Samuel
Chapter 1-7
Samuel/Saul
Chapter 8-15
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 1:1 - 4:18
Eli /Samuel
Chapter 1-7
Eli / Samuel
• Hannah’s prayer, Samuel’s birth, and
prophecy to Eli (I Samuel 1:1-2:36).
• Samuel’s call and the prophecy
concerning Eli (I Samuel 3:1-21).
• Philistines conquer Israel, taking the
ark; death of Eli (I Samuel 4:1-18).
I Samuel 4:12-18 - Then a man of Benjamin ran from the
battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his
clothes torn and dirt on his head.
13 Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by
the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of
God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all
the city cried out.
14 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, "What
does the sound of this tumult mean?" And the man came
quickly and told Eli.
15 Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim
that he could not see.
16 Then the man said to Eli, "I am he who came from the
battle. And I fled today from the battle line." And he said,
"What happened, my son?“
17 So the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled
before the Philistines, and there has been a great
slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni
and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been
captured.“
18 Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of
God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the
gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man
was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 1:1 - 4:18
Eli /Samuel
Chapter 1-7
Eli / Samuel
• Hannah’s prayer, Samuel’s birth and
prophecy to Eli (I Samuel 1:1-2:36).
• Samuel’s call and the prophecy
concerning Eli (I Samuel 3:1-21).
• Philistines conquer Israel, taking the
ark; death of Eli (I Samuel 4:1-18).
I Samuel 4:19 - 7:17
Samuel
• Philistines suffers and sends the ark
back to Israel (I Samuel 4:19-7:2).
I Samuel 5:1-5 - Then the Philistines took the ark of God
and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it
into the temple of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the
morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth
before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it
in its place again.
4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was
Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of
the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its
hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's
torso was left of it.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who
come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon
in Ashdod to this day.
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 1:1 - 4:18
Eli /Samuel
Chapter 1-7
Eli / Samuel
• Hannah’s prayer, Samuel’s birth and
prophecy to Eli (I Samuel 1:1-2:36).
• Samuel’s call and the prophecy
concerning Eli (I Samuel 3:1-21).
• Philistines conquer Israel, taking the
ark; death of Eli (I Samuel 4:1-18).
I Samuel 4:19 - 7:17
Samuel
• Philistines suffers and sends the ark
back to Israel (I Samuel 4:19-7:2).
• Samuel calls for Israel to turn to God;
the Philistines war but God confuses
them with thunder (I Samuel 7:3-17).
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 8:1-15:35
Samuel / Saul
Chapter 8-15
Samuel / Saul
• Israel calls for a king. God commands
Samuel to anoint Saul to be king of
Israel (I Samuel 8:1-12:25).
• In two years, Saul disobeys God
sending up a burnt offering instead of
waiting for Samuel. Saul’s decline
begins (I Samuel 13:1-14).
I Samuel 13:7-14 - And some of the Hebrews crossed over
the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he
was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him
trembling.
8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by
Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the
people were scattered from him.
9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings
here to me." And he offered the burnt offering.
10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished
presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul
went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul
said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from
me, and that you did not come within the days appointed,
and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
12 "then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me
at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.'
Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.“
13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You
have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God,
which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have
established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 "But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD
has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the
LORD has commanded him to be commander over His
people, because you have not kept what the LORD
commanded you."
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 8:1-15:35
Samuel / Saul
Chapter 8-15
Samuel / Saul
• Israel calls for a king. God commands
Samuel to anoint Saul to be king of
Israel (I Samuel 8:1-12:25).
• In two years, Saul disobeys God by
sending up a burnt offering instead of
waiting for Samuel. Saul’s decline
begins (I Samuel 13:1-14).
• Jonathan goes against the garrison of
the Philistines, and Saul’s oath among
the army of Israel (I Samuel 14:1-52).
• God sends Saul to destroy all of Agag
(king of Amalek), but he disobeys God
(I Samuel 15:1-35).
I Samuel 15:10-23 - Now the word of the LORD came to
Samuel, saying,
11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he
has turned back from following Me, and has not
performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel,
and he cried out to the LORD all night.
12 So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet
Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul went to Carmel, and
indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has
gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.“
13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him,
"Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the
commandment of the LORD.“
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the
sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I
hear?“
15 And Saul said, "They have brought them from the
Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep
and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the
rest we have utterly destroyed.“
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you
what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him,
"Speak on.“
17 So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own
eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did
not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?
18 "Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go,
and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight
against them until they are consumed.‘
19 "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?
Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the
sight of the LORD?“
20 And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice
of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD
sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have
utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 "But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen,
the best of the things which should have been utterly
destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.“
22 Then 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
heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And
stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have
rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you
from being king."
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 16:1-31:13
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
Saul / David
• Samuel anoints David as King, and
David plays the harp before Saul
(I Samuel 16:1-23).
I Samuel 16:1-13 - Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How
long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him
from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I
am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have
provided Myself a king among his sons.“
2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will
kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and
say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.‘
3 "Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you
what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name
to you.“
4 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to
Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his
coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?“
5 And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the
LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the
sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and
invited them to the sacrifice.
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and
said, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him.“
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his
appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have
refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for
man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks
at the heart.“
8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before
Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this
one.“
9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said,
"Neither has the LORD chosen this one.“
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel.
And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen
these.“
11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men
here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest,
and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to
Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he
comes here.“
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with
bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise,
anoint him; for this is the one!“
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in
the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came
upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and
went to Ramah.
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 16:1-31:13
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
Saul / David
• Samuel anoints David as King, and
David plays the harp before Saul
(I Samuel 16:1-23).
• David goes against the Philistine giant
Goliath and leads Israel to a great
victory (I Samuel 17:1-58).
I Samuel 17:1-11 - Now the Philistines gathered their
armies together to battle, and were gathered together at
Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between
Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.
2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together,
and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in
battle array against the Philistines.
3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and
Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley
between them.
4 And a champion went out from the camp of the
Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was
six cubits and a span.
5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed
with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five
thousand shekels of bronze.
6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze
javelin between his shoulders.
7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and
his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a
shield-bearer went before him.
8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and
said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for
battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul?
Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to
me.
9 "If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be
your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then
you shall be our servants and serve us.“
10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this
day; give me a man, that we may fight together.“
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the
Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 16:1-31:13
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
Saul / David
• Samuel anoints David as King, and
David plays the harp before Saul
(I Samuel 16:1-23).
• David goes against the Philistine giant
Goliath and leads Israel to a great
victory (I Samuel 17:1-58).
• After the defeat of the Philistines, Saul
is angered by praise given to David and
plots against him (I Samuel 18:1-9).
I Samuel 18:1-9 - Now when he had finished speaking to
Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David,
and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home
to his father's house anymore.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he
loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and
gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his
bow and his belt.
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved
wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was
accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight
of Saul's servants.
6 Now it had happened as they were coming home, when
David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine,
that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel,
singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines,
with joy, and with musical instruments.
7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has
slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.“
8 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased
him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten
thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands.
Now what more can he have but the kingdom?“
9 So Saul eyed David from that day forward.
The History of The Kings
I Samuel 16:1-31:13
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
Saul / David
• Samuel anoints David as King, and
David plays the harp before Saul
(I Samuel 16:1-23).
• David goes against the Philistine giant
Goliath and leads Israel to a great
victory (I Samuel 17:1-58).
• After the defeat of the Philistines, Saul
is angered by praise given to David and
plots against him (I Samuel 18:1-9).
 Saul uses a spear to try to kill David
(I Samuel 18:10-11).
 Saul uses his oldest daughter to try
to trap David (I Samuel 18:17).
The History of The Kings
 Saul uses his youngest daughter to
try to trap David (I Samuel 18:21).
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
 Saul appealed to “Jonathan his son
and to all his servants” to kill David
(I Samuel 19:1).
 Saul tried to kill David again, “and
he drove the spear into the wall.”
(I Samuel 19:9-10).
 Saul “also sent messengers” and
tried to kill David (I Samuel 19:11).
 Jonathan goes before Saul to inquire
for David, but Saul calls for David’s
death (I Samuel 20:31).
The History of The Kings
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
• David comes to Ahimelech the priest
and receives the holy bread and the
sword of Goliath (I Samuel 21:1-9).
• Saul learns that Ahimelech helped
David (unknowingly) and kills every
thing in the city of Nob, including the
85 priests (I Samuel 22:6-23).
I Samuel 22:13-19 - Then Saul said to him, "Why have you
conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that
you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired
of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in
wait, as it is this day?“
14 So Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who
among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the
king's son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is
honorable in your house?
15 "Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it
from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant,
or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew
nothing of all this, little or much.“
16 And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you
and all your father's house!“
17 Then the king said to the guards who stood about him,
"Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand
also is with David, and because they knew when he fled
and did not tell it to me." But the servants of the king
would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the LORD.
18 And the king said to Doeg, "You turn and kill the
priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the
priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a
linen ephod.
19 Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the
edge of the sword, both men and women, children and
nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep-with the
edge of the sword.
The History of The Kings
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
• David comes to Ahimelech the priest
and receives the holy bread and the
sword of Goliath (I Samuel 21:1-9).
• Saul learns that Ahimelech helped
David (unknowingly) and kills every
thing in the city of Nob, including the
85 priests (I Samuel 22:6-23).
• David, with the help of his men, deliver
Keliah from the Philistines and remains
in hiding from Saul (I Samuel 23:1-29).
• Saul goes after David, and David has
the opportunity to kill Saul but does
not. He “…cut off a corner of Saul's
robe” (I Samuel 24:1-22).
I Samuel 24:9-15 - And David said to Saul: "Why do you
listen to the words of men who say, 'Indeed David seeks
your harm'?
10 "Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD
delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and
someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and
I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for
he is the LORD'S anointed.‘
11 "Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your
robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your
robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is
neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not
sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.
12 "Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the
LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against
you.
13 "As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Wickedness
proceeds from the wicked.' But my hand shall not be
against you.
14 "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom
do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15 "Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between
you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me
out of your hand."
The History of The Kings
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
• Samuel dies, and David takes the
widow of Nabal (Abigail) to be his wife
(I Samuel 25:1-44).
• Saul goes after David again, and David
again has another opportunity to kill
Saul but does not. He “…took the spear
and the jug of water by Saul's head,”
(I Samuel 26:1-22).
I Samuel 26:13-20 - Now David went over to the other
side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great
distance being between them.
14 And David called out to the people and to Abner the
son of Ner, saying, "Do you not answer, Abner?" Then
Abner answered and said, "Who are you, calling out to the
king?“
15 So David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who
is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your
lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy
your lord the king.
16 "This thing that you have done is not good. As the
LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not
guarded your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see
where the king's spear is, and the jug of water that was by
his head.“
17 Then Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is that your
voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my
lord, O king.“
18 And he said, "Why does my lord thus pursue his
servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?
19 "Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the
words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up
against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the
children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for
they have driven me out this day from sharing in the
inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.‘
20 "So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before
the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out
to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the
mountains."
The History of The Kings
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
• Samuel dies, and David takes the
widow of Nabal (Abigail) to be his wife
(I Samuel 25:1-44).
• Saul goes after David again, and David
again has another opportunity to kill
Saul but does not. He “…took the spear
and the jug of water by Saul's head,”
(I Samuel 26:1-22).
• David takes refuge in Ziklag (Philistine
city) for a year and four months
(I Samuel 27:1-12).
• Saul seeks a medium and Samuel says,
“…tomorrow you and your sons will be
with me…” (I Samuel 28:1-25).
I Samuel 28:15-19 - Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have
you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered,
"I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war
against me, and God has departed from me and does not
answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams.
Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me
what I should do.“
16 Then Samuel said: "Why then do you ask me, seeing
the LORD has departed from you and has become your
enemy?
17 "And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by
me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand
and given it to your neighbor, David.
18 "Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor
execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD
has done this thing to you this day.
19 "Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you
into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and
your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the
army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."
The History of The Kings
• The Philistines come against Israel
refusing David (I Samuel 29:1-11).
Saul/David
Chapter 16-31
• While David was away, the Amalekites
invade Ziklag and carry all away, but
God enables David to recover
everything (I Samuel 30:1-31).
• Saul goes and fights against the
Philistines, and the sons of Saul are
killed. Saul is seriously wounded and
falls on his sword (I Samuel 31:1-13).
I Samuel 31:1-6 - Now the Philistines fought against Israel;
and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and
fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his
sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and
Malchishua, Saul's sons.
3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit
him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword,
and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised
men come and thrust me through and abuse me." But his
armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid.
Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.
5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he
also fell on his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men
died together that same day.
The Book of
I Samuel
The book of I Samuel serves as a great
example to us of the consequences of
disobeying God, and the reward of
obedience to God.
Where do you stand? Are you suffering
the consequences of disobedience, or
enjoying the blessings of obedience?
OBEY THE GOSPEL!