03.09. 1Samuel
Walking Thru The Bible 1 & 2 SAMUEL
AUTHOR: Much of these two books were written by the prophet whose name the books bear, Samuel. But not all of it could be authored by him, for it records his death and some subsequent events. 1 Chronicles 29:29-30 provides the information for us that the material in this time of Israel’s history was recorded by Samuel, and the prophets Nathan and Gad who followed him.
Samuel was Judge, Prophet and Priest. He was a Levite, a descendant of Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:26; 1 Chronicles 6:33), and was not redeemed at birth but was dedicated to the Lord from his infancy (thus he belonged to God and God’s use). Geographically he was an Ephraimite.
DATE: First Samuel begins with the birth of Samuel in about 1100 BC to the death of King Saul in 1010 BC. Second Samuel begins at that time frame and continues with Israel’s history till the death of David in 970 BC.
STRUCTURE: The events of 1st and 2nd Samuel cover roughly 130 years. The lives of three great men of this period overlap in the first book. The prominent characters of FIRST SAMUEL are:
SAMUEL: The Last of the Judges-- 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-36, 1 Samuel 3:1-21, 1 Samuel 4:1-22, 1 Samuel 5:1-12, 1 Samuel 6:1-21, 1 Samuel 7:1-17, 1 Samuel 8:1-22 SAUL:The First of the Kings-- 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 1 Samuel 9:1-27, 1 Samuel 10:1-27, 1 Samuel 11:1-15, 1 Samuel 12:1-25, 1 Samuel 13:1-23, 1 Samuel 14:1-52, 1 Samuel 15:1-35 DAVID:The Anointed Successor -- 1 Samuel 16:1-23, 1 Samuel 17:1-58, 1 Samuel 18:1-30, 1 Samuel 19:1-24, 1 Samuel 20:1-42, 1 Samuel 21:1-15, 1 Samuel 22:1-23, 1 Samuel 23:1-29, 1 Samuel 24:1-22, 1 Samuel 25:1-44, 1 Samuel 26:1-25, 1 Samuel 27:1-12, 1 Samuel 28:1-25, 1 Samuel 29:1-11, 1 Samuel 30:1-31, 1 Samuel 31:1-13 The book of SECOND SAMUEL is the "Book of David’s Reign." It opens with David reigning in Judah immediately after Saul’s death. The book closes just before David’s death when he "was old and stricken in year." Its structure looks like this:
David’s Triumphs-- 2 Samuel 1:27, 2 Samuel 2:1-32, 2 Samuel 3:1-39, 2 Samuel 4:1-12, 2 Samuel 5:1-25, 2 Samuel 6:1-23, 2 Samuel 7:1-29, 2 Samuel 8:1-18, 2 Samuel 9:1-13, 2 Samuel 10:1-19, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-31 David’s Troubles -- 2 Samuel 13:1-39, 2 Samuel 14:1-33, 2 Samuel 15:1-37, 2 Samuel 16:1-23, 2 Samuel 17:1-29, 2 Samuel 18:1-33, 2 Samuel 19:1-43, 2 Samuel 20:1-26, 2 Samuel 21:1-22, 2 Samuel 22:1-51, 2 Samuel 23:1-39, 2 Samuel 24:1-25
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS: Three great characters and many other important ones, are found in this time of Israel’s history. We are probably more familiar with the stories of this part of the Old Testament than any other.
The stories of Eli, Samuel, Saul and David stand at the forefront, but also there are the stories of Saul’s general Abner, and David’s general Joab, and of Goliath, Jonathan and the rebellion of David’s son Absalom against his father, and David and Bathsheba’s sin which all occur within the time frame of these two books of the Old Testament. There are many lessons to be learned from man’s weakness and sin and God’s love and forgiveness. We learn that obedience will be rewarded and disobedience will be severely punished.
OUTLINE: A more detailed outline of First Samuel would be:
1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-36, 1 Samuel 3:1-21, 1 Samuel 4:1-22, 1 Samuel 5:1-12, 1 Samuel 6:1-21, 1 Samuel 7:1-17, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 1 Samuel 9:1-27, 1 Samuel 10:1-27, 1 Samuel 11:1-15, 1 Samuel 12:1-25 Judgeship of Samuel
1 Samuel 1:1-28, 2 Samuel 2:1-11Birth and infancy of Samuel 1 Samuel 2:12-36, 1 Samuel 3:1-21Childhood of Samuel 1 Samuel 4:1-22Loss of the ark and end of Eli’s house 1 Samuel 5:1-12, 1 Samuel 6:1-21, 1 Samuel 7:1-17Captivity of the Ark 1 Samuel 8:1-22, 1 Samuel 9:1-27, 1 Samuel 10:1-27Installation of Saul as Israel’s first king 1 Samuel 11:1-15, 1 Samuel 12:1-25Samuel’s retirement
1 Samuel 13:1-23, 1 Samuel 14:1-52, 1 Samuel 15:1-35, 1 Samuel 16:1-23, 1 Samuel 17:1-58, 1 Samuel 18:1-30, 1 Samuel 19:1-24, 1 Samuel 20:1-42, 1 Samuel 21:1-15, 1 Samuel 22:1-23, 1 Samuel 23:1-29, 1 Samuel 24:1-22, 1 Samuel 25:1-44, 1 Samuel 26:1-25, 1 Samuel 27:1-12, 1 Samuel 28:1-25, 1 Samuel 29:1-11, 1 Samuel 30:1-31, 1 Samuel 31:1-13 Reign of Saul
1 Samuel 13:1-23, 1 Samuel 14:1-52Early days of Saul’s reign and victories 1 Samuel 15:1-35God’s rejection of Saul 1 Samuel 16:1-23David chosen as Saul’s successor 1 Samuel 17:1-58David’s meeting with Goliath 1 Samuel 18:1-30Saul’s reception of David into his court 1 Samuel 19:1-24David’s flight from Saul’s court 1 Samuel 20:1-42David’s farewell to Jonathan 1 Samuel 21:1-15David’s flight from Saul to Gath 1 Samuel 22:1-23, 1 Samuel 23:1-29Saul’s reprisals against & pursuit of David 1 Samuel 24:1-22Saul’s life spared by David 1 Samuel 24:1-22, 1 Samuel 25:1-44, 1 Samuel 26:1-25David’s continued flight from Saul 1 Samuel 27:1-12David’s second flight to Gath 1 Samuel 28:1-25, 1 Samuel 29:1-11Preparations for Saul’s last battle 1 Samuel 30:1-31David’s return to Ziklag 1 Samuel 31:1-13Saul’s last battle, his and Jonathan’s death.
Some Lessons For Us From The Book of 1 Samuel 1:1-28. From Eli, Samuel, and David we learn that it is possible for great men to fail as fathers.
2. From Saul we also learn that great advantages and remarkable opportunities do not guarantee success.
3. We learn that there is nothing that will take the place of obedience to God (1 Samuel 15:22).
4. The experiences of the past are recorded to provide lessons of warning and encouragement for the present (Romans 15:4).