Book introduction
The book of 1 Samuel
1 Samuel tells how Israel moved from judges to kings. It follows Samuel the prophet, Saul the first king, and the rise of a young shepherd named David.
Read 1 Samuel 16Start at chapter 1
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
The author is not named. Samuel cannot have written it all, since his death is recorded in chapter 25. Most scholars see 1 and 2 Samuel as one work drawing on court records and stories, finished later.
When was it written?
Covers about 1100–1010 BC. Written down in its final form during the time of the kings or later.
Main themes
- God looks at the heart
- He chooses David, not the tallest or oldest.
- Obedience over show
- “To obey is better than sacrifice.”
- Waiting on God’s timing
- David refuses to take the throne by killing Saul.
Outline of 1 Samuel
Key verses
There is no one holy like Yahweh; there is no one besides you; there is no rock like our God.
Samuel said, Does Yahweh delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen is better than the fat of rams.
But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at how tall he is, for I have rejected him. Yahweh does not see the way a human being sees. People see what meets the eye, but Yahweh sees into the heart.”
and everyone gathered here will know that Yahweh does not save by sword and spear. The battle belongs to Yahweh, and he will hand you over to us.
Quoted from the Lumin Translation.
Where to start
Chapter 16 brings David in. Read on through Goliath in chapter 17.
How well do you know 1 Samuel?
Ten questions on the book of 1 Samuel, from “Who was Samuel’s mother?” on. Each answer shows its verse.
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Questions about 1 Samuel?
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