1 Samuel

The book of 1 Samuel tells the story of the transition from the period of the judges to the period of the kings in Israel. It begins with the story of Hannah, who prays for a son and dedicates him to the Lord's service, and her son Samuel grows up to become a prophet and priest. The Israelites ask for a king, and God grants their request, leading to the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel. However, Saul disobeys God's commands and is rejected as king, leading to the anointing of David, a young shepherd, as the new king. The book follows the story of David's rise to power, his conflicts with Saul, and his eventual ascension to the throne after Saul's death in battle against the Philistines.