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 * The First Book of Samuel: A Beginners Guide **

** Author: ** Unknown. The Catholic Youth Bible suggests ancient court records and hero stories were used to write this book.


 * Date: ** Approximately 1080 to 1040 B.C.


 * Origin: ** Israel.



** Context: ** The first book of Samuel was set in the time where judges were being phased out and now Kings were becoming the leaders. This period in the history of the Bible is where we are introduced to Samuel, Saul and David.


 * Genre: ** Factual recall of the story of Samuel which introduces us to other important people in the Bible.

Chapter 1. · Elkahah had two wifes. His first wife was Hannah who had no children and his 2nd wife Peninnah who had children. · Peninnah would tease and provoke Hannah. This lead to Hannah crying and not eating. · Hannah prayed for a son. Hannah then conceived and gave birth to a boy who she named Samuel. · She offered Samuel to the Lord. · Samuel became a minister for the Lord.
 * Summary: **

Chapter 2. · Eli the priest repaid Hannah for offering Samuel to the Lord by giving her three sons and two daughters. · Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

Chapter 3. · Eli and his son’s were to be punished by the Lord for Eli’s sons doing wrong by the Lord. · Samuel speaks to God for the first time. · Samuel is now a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.

Chapter 4. · A war between the Philistines and Israel breaks out and the Ark of God is taken by the Philistines. · Eli’s two sons are killed. · Elis dies after hearing that the Ark of God has been captured.

Chapter 5. · The Ark of God went to Ashdod. The Lord punished their God, Dagon, and their people with tumours. · The Ark was then taken to Gath where the same thing happened. · It was then sent to Ekron where it was then decided by the Philistines that it should be returned to Israel.

Chapter 6. · The Ark is returned to Israel along with a guild offering.

Chapter 7. · The people of Kiriathjearim took the Ark to the house of Abinadab where it stayed for 20 years. · Samuel becomes the Judge of Israel. · He asks the people of Israel to serve only the Lord. · Samuel saved Israel from the Philistines and restored the land taken by the Philistines back to Israel. · Samuel’s two sons, Joel and Abijah, become Judges over Israel but did not follow in Samuel’s ways. So the elders of Israel demand a King be appointed.

Chapter 8. · Samuel was disappointed as his people had rejected him and rejected the Lord.

Chapter 9. · Saul arrives in Israel. The Lord said to Samuel that Saul was to be the new King.

Chapter 10. · Samuel anoints Saul to be the new ruler over the Lords people of Israel. · Samuel proclaims Saul as the King.

Chapter 11. · Saul defeats the Ammonites who wanted to gouge out all of the Israeli peoples right eye.

Chapter 12. · Samuel farewells Israel by addressing the people. The Lord sends down thunder and rain because the people sinned against him. The people of Israel then become scared of Samuel and the Lord.

Chapter 13. · Saul made an unlawful sacrifice which was against the commandment of the Lord. Samuel told Saul that the Lord had appointed a new ruler for his people.

Chapter 14. · Saul’s son Jonathan went to war with the Philistines and Israel won. · Jonathan went against Saul’s oath of not eating until evening or be killed. The Israelites convinces Saul that Jonathan should not be killed.

Chapter 15. · Saul failed to carry out a command from the Lord and the Lord admitted that he regretted making Saul King. · Samuel told Saul that because he had rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has also rejected you from being King.

Chapter 16. · Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new King. The youngest son David was chosen by the Lord. · Saul was now tormented by an evil spirit from the Lord. David was able to relieve Saul’s torment by playing the Lyre for him.

Chapter 17. · A very young David went up against Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, and killed him with only a sling shot and a stone.

Chapter 18. · Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. · When David returned from killing the Philistines, the Israel woman chanted “Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands”. This made Saul very angry. · The next day, Saul tried to kill David with his spear but David escaped his two attempts. · Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul told David that if he could bring him the foreskins of 100 Philistines he could marry his daughter. Saul hoped and planned that David would be killed in his attempt, instead David succeeded in Saul’s challenge. · Saul handed over his daughter to David and realised that the Lord was with David. So Saul became David’s enemy from that day on.

Chapter 19. · Saul told Jonathan and his servant about his plan to kill David. Jonathan then warned David. Jonathan was then able to change his fathers mind. · Saul tries again to kill David with his spear. That night, with help of his wife Michal, David escapes and flees from Saul.

Chapter 20. · Jonathan continues to warn David of his father. Both Jonathan and David risk their lives for each other.

Chapter 22. · Saul slaughters the Priests at Nob after accusing them of conspiring against him.

Chapter 23. · David rescues the people of Keilah from the Philistines. · David and his men hide in the wilderness and when he heard that Saul still wanted to kill him.

Chapter 24. · David had the chance to kill Saul but cut off the corner of his cloak instead, because Saul is the Lords anointed. This proved to Saul that David did not wish to harm him. Saul then daid to David that he shall be the King of Israel.

Chapter 25. · Samuel died and was buried at his home in Kamah. · David chose another wife, Abigail, after she saved her husband Nabal’s people after he offered no thanks to David and his men for looking after them. · David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s first wife to someone else.

Chapter 26. · Saul comes after David again. · David spares Saul’s life a second time. Saul admits that he has done wrong and he will never try and harm him again.

Chapter 27. · When Saul hears that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought after him. · David joins the Philistines.

Chapter 28. · The Lord no longer speaks o Saul. So Saul consults a medium to get advice from Samuel in the after life.

Chapter 29. · The Philistines reject David for fear he may become an adversary to them in battle.

Chapter 30. · David and his men arrive in Ziklag to find that the Amalekites had raided Negeb and Ziklag. The city was burnt down and the wives and children of David and his people had been taken captive. · David attacked the Amalekites and recovered all that they had taken and shared it amongst his people and the places where he and his men had roamed.

Chapter 31. · The Philistines took over Saul and his sons. Jonathan and his two brothers were killed. Saul and his armour bearer then took their own lives. · The Philistines took over their towns and found the bodies of Saul and his sons. They cut off Saul’s head and fasted his body to a wall. · When the people of Jabesh heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, they went and recovered Saul and his son’s bodies. · They burnt the bodies in Jabesh and then buried them under the Tamarisk Tree in Jabesh and they fasted for seven days.

Altar – an elevated place or structure where religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are offered to gods etc.
 * Glossary: **

Anointed – to consecrate or make sacred in a ceremony that includes the token applying of oil.

Ark of God – a vessel containing sacred items such as the Tablet of the Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed, along with Aaron's Rod and manna.

Amor Bearer – a person who carried the shield and amour of his leader as he goes into battle, often acting as his personal assistant.

Covenant – an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behaviour from them in return.

Ephod – a richly embroidered, apronlike vestment having two shoulder straps and ornamental attachments for securing the breastplate, worn with a waistband by the high priest.

Garrison – a place where troops are stationed.

Judges – an administrative head of Israel in the period between the death of Joshua and the accession to the throne by Saul.

Lyre – a musical instrument consisting of a soundbox made typically from a turtle shell, with two curved arms connected by a yoke from which strings are stretched to the body.

Oath – A formal declaration or promise to fulfil a pledge, often calling on God as a witness.

Prophecy – something that is declared by a prophet, a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.

Prophet – a person chosen to speak for God and to guide the people of Israel.

The Catholic Youth Bible [|www.dictionary.com] __ www. [|geology.com/world/ israel-satellite-image.shtml] __
 * Bibliography:  **