BIBLE SUMMARY: SAMUEL-1
Book of Samuel-1 Synopsis: Statistics And Summary of Main Topics.
Book of Samuel-1 Chapter by Chapter Summary.
SAMUEL-1 TOTAL CHAPTERS: 31
SAMUEL-1 TOTAL VERSES: 810
TOTAL WORDS: 25,061
DATE WRITTEN: 930 BC
AUTHOR: Samuel
SAMUEL-1 THEME:
Reign Of Saul, Kingship – God’s People are to be led by a king.
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
Samuel, Saul, David, Jonathon, Bathsheba, Joab, Absalom, and Nathan
BOOK OF SAMUEL-1 KEY VERSES:
8:6-7: But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us, this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king
13:13-14: You acted foolishly,’ Samuel said. ‘You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.
15:22-23: But Samuel replied: ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.
SAMUEL-1 SUMMARY
Samuel-1 is the first of two historical books which describe Israel’s transition from a group of tribes to a strong and united nation. It deals with the transition from the period of judges ruling in Israel to the time of kings. Samuel-1 tells the story of three significant men in Israel’s history, Samuel, Saul and David. The book can be neatly divided into two sections: the life of Samuel chapters 1-12 and the life of Saul. The book starts with the miracolous birth of Samuel in answer to his mother’s prayer. Samuel was born to Hannah, a barren woman, after she prayed to God and Eli (The main priest) also asked God to help her. Samuel mother dedicated him to God. It describes the anointing of the first king of Israel, Saul, by a great prophet, Samuel. It recounts the degenerating reign of Saul and the succession to his throne of David.
CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY:
Chapter# 1 – Childless Hannah prays to God and the Birth of Samuel. Gives him to God in Shiloh
Chapter# 2 – Hannah praises God. Sins of Eli’s two sons. Samuel served the Lord. A prophet condemned the house of Eli.
Chapter# 3 – Samuel serves in temple of God, hears God’s voice. The Lord told Samuel that he was about to judge the house of Eli.
Chapter# 4 – Israel fights with Philistines. Philistines capture the Ark. Eli’s sons were killed. Eli died after hearing that the ark had been captured.
Chapter# 5 – Philistines put the ark in the temple of their god. The god fell on his face before it. People got sick and started dyeing.
Chapter# 6 – Philistines return the Ark to Israel with a trespass offering. The people of Beth Shemesh found it and rejoiced.
Chapter# 7 – The Ark in Kiriathjearim. Samuel urges Israel to serve only God. Israel defeated Philistines
Chapter# 8 – Israel demands a king. God displeased. Samuel warned them what it would mean. The LORD told Samuel to give them a king.
Chapter# 9 – Saul was looking for his father’s sheep. Samuel meets with Saul. God told Samuel to anoint him ruler of Israel. Samuel invited Saul to eat with him.
Chapter# 10 – Saul anointed to be king. Saul prophesied. Saul was chosen to rule the Israelites.
Chapter# 11 – Saul defeats the Ammonites. The people made Saul king at Gilgal.
Chapter# 12 – Samuel gave sermon to Israel about Israel’s history and how He brought their fathers out of Egyptian slavery. Now the Lord has given you the king you asked for. Fear Him and serve him.
Chapter# 13 – Saul Rules Over Israel. Philistines make war with Israel. Saul made offerings by himself. Seeing this Samuel told Saul that his kingdom would not last long.
Chapter# 14 – Saul’s son Jonathan Jonathan & 600 men fight against Philistines. Saul joined Jonathan. Israel won. People eat meat with the blood.
Chapter# 15 – Israel Defeats The Amalekites. Samuel Announces The Downfall Of Saul. Saul repented butnot recognized as king anymore
Chapter# 16 – God sent Samuel to anoint Jesse’s son David as king. Saul In Torment evil spirit on him. David played music for Saul
Chapter# 17 – Philistines gathered against Israel. David accepts the Goliath challenge. David defeats Goliath.
Chapter# 18 – Jonathan & David friendship. David’s victories make Saul jealous. Saul attempts to kill David. David married Saul’s daughter Michal.
Chapter# 19 – Saul continues to hate David and tried to kill David many times. David escapes from Saul. Jonathan & Michal protected David.
Chapter# 20 – Saul Feast. David avoided. Saul was angry with Jonathan when David was not at the feast.
Chapter# 21 – David came to priest Ahimelech got holy bread & sword. David fled to King Achish of Gath and pretended he was mad.
Chapter# 22 – David at Adullam and Mizpeh. Saul ordered that all the priests be killed because they helped David.
Chapter# 23 – David fights with Philistines. Jonathan strengthens David.David Hides In The Wilderness. Saul Chases David.
Chapter# 24 – David spares Saul’s life. Saul repented. Saul wept and said, “You shall surely be king.
Chapter# 25 – Samuel died. Nabal insulted David so his wife Abigail pleaded for restraint. Abigail becomes David’s wife.
Chapter# 26 – Saul came after David again. David again spares Saul’s life. Saul repented David.
Chapter# 27 – David’s Backsliding in Philistine.
Chapter# 28 – The Philistines gathered for war. Saul went to a fortune teller.
Chapter# 29 – David and his men marched with Achish. Philistines mistrust David. Philistines sent David & his men away from battle
Chapter# 30 – Amalekites raid and burn Ziklag. David & men pursue after Amalekites. David and his men rescued the women and divided the spoils.
Chapter# 31 – The Philistines fought Israel. Deaths of Saul three sons. Saul commited suicide. The Israelites fled.
