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The Bible · Old Testament · 31 chapters

1 Samuel

Israel moves from judges to kings. Samuel, the last judge, anoints Saul as the first king. Saul fails, and God chooses the young shepherd David, who defeats Goliath and spends years on the run from a jealous Saul.

Author
Unknown, drawing on records of Samuel, Nathan and Gad
Written
Events about 1100 to 1010 BC

Chapters

  1. 11 Samuel 1Hannah, childless and taunted, prays in anguish at Shiloh. God answers, and she gives her son Samuel to serve the Lord.
  2. 21 Samuel 2Hannah’s song of praise. Eli’s sons are wicked priests, while young Samuel grows in favour with God and people.
  3. 31 Samuel 3God calls the boy Samuel in the night: “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel becomes a prophet to all Israel.
  4. 41 Samuel 4Israel takes the ark into battle like a lucky charm, and the Philistines capture it. Eli’s sons die, and Eli falls and dies at the news.
  5. 51 Samuel 5The Philistines put the ark in the temple of their god Dagon, whose statue falls on its face. Plagues strike their cities.
  6. 61 Samuel 6The Philistines send the ark back on a cart with a guilt offering, and it returns to Israel.
  7. 71 Samuel 7Samuel calls Israel to repent. God throws the Philistines into confusion, and Samuel sets up a stone called Ebenezer: “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
  8. 81 Samuel 8Israel demands a king like the other nations. Samuel warns what a king will take, but God tells him to give them one.
  9. 91 Samuel 9Saul, looking for his father’s lost donkeys, meets Samuel, who tells him he will be king.
  10. 101 Samuel 10Samuel anoints Saul, who prophesies with the prophets, and he is publicly chosen as king while hiding among the baggage.
  11. 111 Samuel 11Saul rescues the city of Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites, and the kingship is confirmed.
  12. 121 Samuel 12Samuel’s farewell speech reminds Israel of God’s faithfulness and calls them and their king to serve the Lord.
  13. 131 Samuel 13Saul grows impatient waiting for Samuel and offers a sacrifice himself. Samuel says the Lord has sought a man after his own heart.
  14. 141 Samuel 14Jonathan and his armour-bearer bravely attack a Philistine outpost, and God gives Israel victory. Saul’s rash oath nearly kills Jonathan.
  15. 151 Samuel 15Saul disobeys God’s command about the Amalekites. Samuel tells him to obey is better than sacrifice, and that God has rejected him as king.
  16. 161 Samuel 16God sends Samuel to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” David plays the harp for troubled Saul.
  17. 171 Samuel 17Goliath challenges Israel’s army. The young shepherd David faces him in the name of the Lord and kills him with a sling and a stone.
  18. 181 Samuel 18Jonathan loves David as himself and makes a covenant with him. David succeeds in battle, and Saul becomes jealous and tries to kill him.
  19. 191 Samuel 19Saul orders David killed. Jonathan intercedes, and David’s wife Michal helps him escape.
  20. 201 Samuel 20Jonathan warns David of Saul’s intent using arrows as a signal. The friends part in tears.
  21. 211 Samuel 21David flees to Nob, where the priest gives him holy bread and Goliath’s sword, then pretends to be mad in Gath.
  22. 221 Samuel 22David gathers a band of the distressed and in debt at the cave of Adullam. Saul has the priests of Nob massacred.
  23. 231 Samuel 23David rescues the town of Keilah, then is hunted by Saul in the wilderness. Jonathan strengthens him in God.
  24. 241 Samuel 24David spares Saul’s life in a cave at En-gedi, cutting off only a corner of his robe, and refuses to harm the Lord’s anointed.
  25. 251 Samuel 25Samuel dies. Nabal insults David, but his wise wife Abigail stops David from taking revenge. After Nabal dies, David marries her.
  26. 261 Samuel 26David spares Saul again, taking his spear and water jug while he sleeps. Saul admits he has been a fool.
  27. 271 Samuel 27David takes refuge among the Philistines at Ziklag and deceives King Achish.
  28. 281 Samuel 28Facing the Philistines and with no answer from God, Saul consults a medium at Endor, and Samuel predicts his death.
  29. 291 Samuel 29The Philistine commanders refuse to let David fight with them against Israel.
  30. 301 Samuel 30The Amalekites raid Ziklag and take the families captive. David strengthens himself in the Lord, pursues them and recovers everything.
  31. 311 Samuel 31Saul and Jonathan die in battle on Mount Gilboa, and the men of Jabesh-gilead bury them.