1 Samuel
The book of 1 Samuel begins with the story of Hannah, a childless woman who prayed to God for a son and vowed to dedicate him to God's service. God answered her prayer, and she bore a son named Samuel, who became a prophet and priest. As Samuel grew old, the Israelites asked for a king, despite God's warnings, and Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. However, Saul disobeyed God's commands and was eventually rejected as king. Meanwhile, David, a young shepherd, was anointed by Samuel as the future king of Israel. David became a successful military leader under Saul, but Saul grew jealous of David's popularity and sought to kill him. David fled from Saul and eventually found refuge with the Philistines, but he continued to trust in God and ultimately defeated the Philistines. The book ends with the death of Saul and his sons in battle against the Philistines, and the Israelites' recognition of David as their future king.
Chapter 1
Elkanah, an Ephraimite, had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, but Hannah was childless due to the Lord closing her womb. Hannah's rival, Peninnah, provoked her, causing her to weep and not eat. Hannah prayed to the Lord at the temple, vowing to give her child to the Lord if she were granted a male child. Eli, the priest, initially thought Hannah was drunk but later blessed her and told her the Lord would grant her petition. The Lord remembered Hannah, and she conceived and bore a son, Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord after weaning him.
Chapter 2
Hannah praises God for answering her prayer, acknowledging His power and holiness. She notes that God brings death and life, poverty and wealth, and humbles and lifts up. The sons of Eli, the priest, are corrupt and do not know the Lord, taking the best parts of the sacrifices for themselves. In contrast, Samuel, a young boy, ministers before the Lord and is pleasing to Him. Eli's sons continue in their wicked ways, despite their father's warnings, and a man of God prophesies that Eli's house will be punished for their sins, but a faithful priest will be raised up in their place.
Chapter 3
The Lord called to Samuel three times while he was sleeping in the temple, but Samuel thought it was Eli calling him. Eli eventually realized the Lord was calling Samuel and instructed him to respond with "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." When the Lord called again, Samuel responded as instructed, and the Lord revealed to him that He would judge Eli's house for their iniquity, as Eli had failed to chastise his sons for their shameful behavior. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli insisted that he reveal the word of the Lord, and Samuel told him everything.
Chapter 4
The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, and despite Israel's initial defeat, they brought the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, believing it would save them from their enemies. However, the Philistines, though initially afraid, were encouraged to fight and ultimately defeated Israel, capturing the ark and killing Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Eli, upon hearing the news of the ark's capture and his sons' deaths, fell backwards and died. His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, gave birth to a son, whom she named Ichabod, lamenting the loss of the ark and the glory of Israel.
Chapter 5
The Philistines took the ark of God and placed it in the temple of Dagon, but the next day Dagon was found lying on the ground before the ark. The Philistines set Dagon back in its place, but the next day they found Dagon beheaded and handless, with only its trunk remaining. The Lord then afflicted the Ashdodites with tumors and mice, causing a great tumult and death in the city. The Philistines sent the ark to other cities, but the Lord continued to afflict them with tumors and death, until they finally decided to return the ark to its own place.
Chapter 6
The Philistines, after having the ark of the Lord for seven months, consulted their priests and diviners on how to return it to its place. They were advised to fashion five gold cysts and five gold mice as a guilt offering to the God of Israel, and to place the ark on a new cart with two cows that had given birth but had never been yoked. The cows were released and went directly to Beth-shemesh, where the ark was received with offerings and sacrifices, but the Lord struck down 70 men and 50,000 of the common people for looking into the ark. The men of Beth-shemesh then sent for the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim to come and take the ark.
Chapter 7
The ark of the Lord remained in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years, and the Israelites eventually returned to the Lord, removing their idols and serving Him alone. Samuel gathered the Israelites at Mizpah, where they fasted and confessed their sins, and he offered a holocaust to the Lord on their behalf. The Philistines attacked, but the Lord thundered against them, causing them to be defeated by the Israelites. The Philistines were subsequently humbled and no longer entered Israel's borders, and Samuel judged Israel for the rest of his life, traveling to various cities to do so.
Chapter 8
As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel, but they were corrupt and accepted bribes. The elders of Israel asked Samuel to appoint a king to judge them like other nations, which displeased Samuel and led him to pray to the Lord. The Lord instructed Samuel to listen to the people's request and to warn them of the consequences of having a king, which would include heavy taxation, loss of freedom, and servitude. Despite Samuel's warnings, the people insisted on having a king, and the Lord instructed Samuel to appoint one.
Chapter 9
Kish, a Benjaminite, had a son named Saul who was an exceptional man, and Kish's donkeys went missing. Kish sent Saul and a servant to search for the donkeys, and after an unsuccessful search, they decided to visit a man of God in the land of Zuph, who was actually Samuel. Samuel had been told by God the day before that he would meet a man from Benjamin whom he would anoint as leader over Israel. When Saul met Samuel, Samuel revealed that the donkeys had been found and invited Saul to eat with him, giving him a special portion of food.
Chapter 10
Samuel anointed Saul as the first ruler of Israel, and Saul was given signs to confirm his anointing, including meeting two men who would tell him the donkeys he was seeking had been found, meeting three men who would give him two loaves of bread, and prophesying with a group of prophets. After these signs occurred, Saul was changed into another man and prophesied with the prophets. Samuel then called the people together and, through a process of elimination, identified Saul as the chosen king. Saul was taller than the rest of the people and was chosen by God, and the people cried out in support of him.
Chapter 11
Nahash the Ammonite attacked Jabesh Gilead, and the city's leaders offered to surrender if Nahash would spare their lives, but Nahash demanded that he be allowed to gouge out their right eyes as a condition of surrender. The leaders asked for a seven-day delay, during which they sent messengers to Saul, who was enraged by the news and rallied the Israelites to defend Jabesh Gilead. Saul led the army to victory, defeating the Ammonites and saving Jabesh Gilead. After the victory, the people reaffirmed Saul as their king at Gilgal, where they made sacrifices and celebrated.
Chapter 12
Samuel, now old and gray, addresses the Israelites, asking them to testify before the Lord and his Christ that he has not taken anything from them or oppressed them, and the people confirm his integrity. Samuel then recounts the history of Israel, from their deliverance from Egypt to their current state, highlighting their repeated disobedience and God's continued mercy. He reminds them that they have chosen a king, despite God's reign over them, and warns them that if they do not fear and serve the Lord, they and their king will suffer. Samuel then calls upon the Lord to send thunder and rain as a sign of their evil in requesting a king, and the people, fearing the Lord and Samuel, ask for his intercession.
Chapter 13
Saul, the king of Israel, chose 3,000 men to fight against the Philistines, with 2,000 under his command and 1,000 under his son Jonathan's command. Jonathan attacked a Philistine garrison, prompting the Philistines to gather a large army against Israel. As the Philistines approached, the Israelites hid in fear, and Saul, waiting for Samuel to arrive, offered a holocaust without Samuel's presence, which Samuel condemned as disobedience to God's command. As a result, Samuel told Saul that his kingdom would not last, and God would seek another leader according to His own heart.
Chapter 14
Jonathan, the son of Saul, and his armor bearer, secretly went to the Philistine garrison, trusting that God would deliver them into their hands. When the Philistines invited them to ascend, Jonathan took it as a sign from God and they attacked, killing about twenty men. This led to a panic among the Philistines, and the Israelites, led by Saul, joined the battle, resulting in a great slaughter. However, Saul had sworn an oath that no one would eat until evening, which led to the people being faint and weak. Jonathan, unaware of the oath, ate some honey and was refreshed, but later discovered the oath and was willing to accept the consequences. The people, however, intervened and saved Jonathan from death.
Chapter 15
The Lord instructed Samuel to tell Saul to destroy Amalek, killing every person and animal, but Saul disobeyed, sparing the king and the best livestock. When Samuel confronted Saul, he claimed to have obeyed the Lord, but Samuel pointed out that obedience is more important than sacrifice, and that Saul's disobedience was like the sin of paganism. Saul admitted his sin and asked Samuel to forgive him and return with him to worship the Lord, but Samuel refused, saying the Lord had rejected Saul as king. Samuel then had Agag, the king of Amalek, brought before him and executed him as punishment for his sins.
Chapter 16
The Lord instructed Samuel to anoint a new king from among Jesse's sons, as He had rejected Saul. Samuel went to Bethlehem, where Jesse presented seven of his sons, but the Lord rejected each of them, saying He did not judge by appearance, but by the heart. The youngest son, David, was then brought before Samuel and anointed as the new king. Meanwhile, Saul was tormented by an evil spirit, and his servants suggested finding a skilled musician to soothe him. They recommended David, who was brought to Saul and became his armor bearer, playing his stringed instrument to calm the evil spirit that afflicted Saul.
Chapter 17
The Philistines, led by the giant Goliath, gathered to battle the Israelites, led by King Saul. Goliath, a skilled warrior, taunted the Israelites, challenging them to send a man to fight him one-on-one. The Israelites were afraid, but David, a young shepherd and son of Jesse, offered to fight Goliath, trusting in God's power. Despite Saul's initial doubts, David convinced him to let him fight, citing his experiences killing lions and bears while protecting his father's flock. David refused to wear Saul's armor and instead used his sling and five stones to face Goliath. When Goliath mocked David, he replied that he came in the name of the Lord, and with one stone, he struck Goliath on the forehead, killing him. The Philistines fled, and the Israelites pursued them, winning a great victory.
Chapter 18
Jonathan and David formed a close bond, with Jonathan giving David his garments and weapons as a sign of their pact. David became a successful military leader under Saul, but Saul grew jealous of David's popularity and feared he would take the kingdom. Saul attempted to kill David with a lance, but David evaded him and was later made a tribune over one thousand men. Saul offered David his daughter Merab as a wife, but she was given to another man, and instead, David married Michal, Saul's other daughter, after bringing back 200 Philistine foreskins as a dowry.
Chapter 19
Saul ordered his son Jonathan and servants to kill David, but Jonathan warned David and spoke in his defense to Saul. Jonathan's words temporarily calmed Saul, and David was able to return to his duties. However, the evil spirit from the Lord returned to Saul, and he attempted to kill David with a lance, but David escaped. Saul then sent guards to David's house to kill him, but David's wife Michal helped him escape by lowering him through a window. David fled to Samuel in Ramah and reported Saul's actions, and when Saul sent officers to seize David, they were overcome by the Spirit of the Lord and began to prophesy. Eventually, Saul himself went to Ramah, was overcome by the Spirit, and prophesied naked throughout the day and night.
Chapter 20
David fled to Jonathan, concerned that Saul sought to kill him, and Jonathan reassured David that he would not be harmed without his knowledge. Jonathan devised a plan to determine Saul's intentions, suggesting that David hide in a field while Jonathan attended a new moon feast with Saul. If Saul inquired about David's absence, Jonathan would respond that David had asked to visit Bethlehem for a family sacrifice. Jonathan also promised to send word to David about Saul's intentions, using a signal with arrows to indicate whether David should stay hidden or return. The plan was set in motion, and when Saul became angry that David was absent from the feast, Jonathan defended David and eventually sent word to him through the signal with arrows, warning him to flee.
Chapter 21
David visited the priest Ahimelech in Nob, claiming he was on a secret mission from King Saul, and asked for food and a sword. Ahimelech gave David holy bread and the sword of Goliath, which David had previously used to defeat the Philistine. David then fled from Saul and went to the king of Gath, Achish, but the servants recognized him and David became afraid, so he pretended to be insane to avoid detection.
Chapter 22
David fled to the cave of Adullam, where his family and about 400 men joined him, including those in distress or oppressed. David then left his parents with the king of Moab for their safety, and he went to the forest of Hereth after being advised by the prophet Gad. Meanwhile, Saul became enraged and ordered his servants to kill the priests of the Lord, believing they were conspiring with David, but his servants refused. However, Doeg the Edomite carried out the order, killing 85 priests and the entire city of Nob, except for Abiathar, who escaped and joined David.
Chapter 23
David inquired of the Lord whether he should attack the Philistines who were fighting against Keilah, and the Lord told him to go and strike them down. David and his men defeated the Philistines, but when Saul heard about it, he planned to besiege the city to capture David. David inquired of the Lord again and was told that the men of Keilah would deliver him into Saul's hands, so David and his men fled the city. Jonathan, Saul's son, met with David and strengthened his faith, and they made a pact before the Lord. Meanwhile, the Ziphites informed Saul of David's whereabouts, and Saul pursued him, but was forced to abandon the chase when the Philistines invaded the land.
Chapter 24
Saul, with 3,000 men, pursued David and his men to the desert of Engedi, where David and his men were hiding in a cave. While Saul was in the cave, David cut off the edge of his cloak but refused to harm him, considering him the Lord's anointed. David later confronted Saul, showing him the cloak and explaining that he had spared his life, and Saul acknowledged David's righteousness and wept, recognizing that David would be king and asking him to swear not to harm his offspring.
Chapter 25
David sent his men to Nabal, asking for food and supplies in return for protecting his shepherds, but Nabal refused, leading David to plan an attack on Nabal's household. However, Nabal's wife Abigail intervened, bringing gifts and apologizing for her husband's behavior, and David called off the attack. When Abigail told Nabal about the incident, he became ill and died ten days later. David then married Abigail, and also took another wife, Ahinoam of Jezreel.
Chapter 26
The Ziphites informed Saul that David was hiding on the hill of Hachilah, prompting Saul to pursue him with 3,000 men. David discovered Saul's location and, with Abishai, secretly entered the camp, finding Saul asleep. Abishai offered to kill Saul, but David refused, instead taking Saul's spear and cup of water as proof of his presence. David then called out to Abner, criticizing him for not protecting the king, and Saul eventually recognized David's voice. David asked why Saul was pursuing him, and Saul acknowledged his wrongdoing, promising not to harm David again.
Chapter 27
David, fearing for his life, fled to the Philistine king Achish in Gath with his 600 men and two wives. Achish gave David the city of Ziklag, where he and his men lived for four months. During this time, David and his men raided the Geshuri, Girzi, and Amalekites, killing everyone and taking their livestock and goods, but telling Achish they had attacked Judah, Jerahmeel, and Keni. Achish trusted David, believing he had turned against his own people and would remain his servant forever.
Chapter 28
The Philistines gathered their troops to fight against Israel, and Saul, who had previously removed magi and soothsayers from the land, sought guidance from the Lord but received no response. Desperate for answers, Saul disguised himself and visited a woman with a divining spirit at Endor, asking her to raise the spirit of Samuel. Samuel's spirit appeared, rebuking Saul for disturbing him and foretelling the downfall of Saul and his kingdom, which would be given to David. Saul, terrified by the prophecy, was persuaded by the woman to eat and regain his strength before departing.
Chapter 29
The Philistines gathered at Aphek, and the Israelites, including David and his men, made camp nearby. The Philistine leaders questioned Achish about David's presence, and Achish defended David, but the leaders were still wary of him. They ordered Achish to send David back, fearing he would turn against them in battle, and Achish reluctantly agreed, telling David to leave peacefully. David and his men departed, returning to the land of the Philistines, while the Philistines proceeded to Jezreel.
Chapter 30
The Amalekites attacked Ziklag, burning the city and taking the women and children captive, including David's two wives. David and his men pursued the Amalekites, and after consulting the Lord, they were assured of victory. They defeated the Amalekites, rescuing all the captives and recovering their stolen goods. David then divided the spoils equally among all his men, including those who had stayed behind due to weariness. He also sent gifts to the elders of Judah from the spoils, as a gesture of goodwill.
Chapter 31
The Philistines defeated the Israelites on Mount Gilboa, killing Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. Saul, severely wounded by archers, took his own life with his sword to avoid being mocked by the Philistines. His armor bearer followed suit, and the Philistines subsequently desecrated Saul's body, cutting off his head and suspending his body on the wall of Bethshan. The inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead later retrieved Saul's body and those of his sons, burning and burying them in the forest of Jabesh.
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