History
1 Samuel
The last judge, Samuel; the first king, Saul; and the rise of David.
First and Second Samuel were one book in the Hebrew Bible. The chronicler says the acts of David were written “in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer” (1 Chronicles 29:29). The book speaks of “the kings of Judah” (1 Samuel 27:6), so its final form came after the kingdom divided in 975 BC.
Kinds of writing
- Narrative 96%
- Discourse 3%
- Song and psalm 1%
Key verses
Speak, for your servant hears. Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”
1 Samuel 3:10 (World English Bible)
Israel asks for a king. Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.”
1 Samuel 8:7 (World English Bible)
To obey is better than sacrifice. Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22 (World English Bible)
Yahweh looks at the heart. But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 (World English Bible)
The battle is Yahweh's. and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.
1 Samuel 17:47 (World English Bible)
People
HannahEliSamuelSaulJonathanDavidGoliathAbigail
Places
ShilohGibeahGilgalBethlehemValley of ElahGathZiklagMount Gilboa
On the timeline
Hannah's prayer; Samuel bornGod calls the boy SamuelThe ark captured; Eli diesIsrael asks for a king; Saul anointedSaul rejected as kingSamuel anoints DavidDavid and GoliathSaul and Jonathan die on Mount Gilboa
Dating notes
Spans are estimates; the compiler is unknown. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.