The Book of 1 Samuel
Israel moves from judges to kings, and God looks at the heart in choosing his leader.
- Author
- Unknown; possibly drawing on records of Samuel, Nathan and Gad
- Date
- Probably written after c. 930 BC
- Chapters
- 31
- Genre
- History
Summary
1 Samuel begins with Hannah's prayer and the birth of Samuel, the last judge and a faithful prophet. When the people demand a king like the other nations, God gives them Saul.
Saul starts well but disobeys God, and the Lord rejects him. Samuel anoints the young shepherd David, who defeats Goliath and serves Saul faithfully even while Saul tries to kill him. The book ends with Saul's death on Mount Gilboa, preparing the way for David's reign.
Outline
- Chapters 1–7 — Samuel: Israel's last judge
- Chapters 8–15 — Saul's reign
- Chapters 16–31 — David's rise and Saul's fall
Key Themes
Key Verses
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Start reading 1 SamuelBut the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”