Table of Contents
| Book | Summary | Interpretations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Samuel 1 | Hannah prays for a son at the tabernacle; she vows to dedicate him to God; Samuel is born and weaned, then given to Eli the priest. | From direct divine rulership to human-centered political system |
| 1 Samuel 2 | Hannah's prayer of thanksgiving; Eli's sons sin as corrupt priests; God promises judgment on Eli's house and raises a faithful priest. | |
| 1 Samuel 3 | God calls young Samuel in the night; Eli instructs him to respond; God reveals judgment on Eli's family for their sins. | |
| 1 Samuel 4 | Philistines defeat Israel and capture the ark; Eli's sons die; Eli falls and dies upon hearing the news. | |
| 1 Samuel 5 | The ark in Philistine territory causes plagues on Dagon's temple and cities; Philistines suffer tumors and seek to return it. | |
| 1 Samuel 6 | Philistines return the ark with guilt offerings on a cart pulled by cows; it arrives in Beth-shemesh, but some die for looking inside. | |
| 1 Samuel 7 | The ark stays in Kiriath-jearim; Samuel leads Israel to repent; Philistines are defeated at Mizpah with God's thunder. | |
| 1 Samuel 8 | Israel demands a king like other nations; Samuel warns of a king's burdens; God allows it, as they reject His kingship. | Overthrow YHWH |
| 1 Samuel 9 | Saul, seeking lost donkeys, meets Samuel; God reveals Saul as the future king; Samuel hosts and anoints him privately. | |
| 1 Samuel 10 | Samuel anoints Saul king, gives signs, and publicly selects him by lot at Mizpah; some doubt, but Saul returns home. | |
| 1 Samuel 11 | Saul rescues Jabesh-gilead from Ammonites, uniting Israel; his kingship is renewed at Gilgal with celebrations. | |
| 1 Samuel 12 | Samuel's farewell address reviews God's faithfulness; warns against disobedience; thunder confirms his words during harvest. | |
| 1 Samuel 13 | Saul offers unauthorized sacrifice awaiting Samuel; Samuel rebukes him, foretelling loss of kingdom; Philistines prepare for war. | |
| 1 Samuel 14 | Jonathan and his armor-bearer defeat Philistines; Saul's rash oath causes issues; God saves Israel despite confusion. | |
| 1 Samuel 15 | Saul commanded to destroy Amalekites but spares Agag and livestock; Samuel rebukes him; God rejects Saul as king. | |
| 1 Samuel 16 | Samuel anoints David as future king; David enters Saul's service as musician to soothe his evil spirit. | |
| 1 Samuel 17 | David defeats Goliath with a sling; Philistines flee; Saul inquires about David's family after the victory. | Goliath was from somewhere else |
| 1 Samuel 18 | Jonathan befriends David; Saul grows jealous of David's success and popularity, attempting to kill him with a spear. | |
| 1 Samuel 19 | Saul orders David's death; Jonathan warns him; Michal helps David escape; he flees to Samuel in Ramah. | |
| 1 Samuel 20 | Jonathan tests Saul's intentions toward David; they covenant friendship; David flees after Jonathan's signal. | |
| 1 Samuel 21 | David receives bread and Goliath's sword from Ahimelech at Nob; he feigns madness in Gath to escape danger. | |
| 1 Samuel 22 | David gathers followers in Adullam cave; Saul kills priests at Nob for aiding David; Abiathar escapes to David. | |
| 1 Samuel 23 | David saves Keilah from Philistines; Saul pursues him; Jonathan encourages David; David evades capture in the wilderness. | |
| 1 Samuel 24 | David spares Saul's life in a cave at En-gedi, cutting his robe; Saul acknowledges David's righteousness and future kingship. | |
| 1 Samuel 25 | Samuel dies; David seeks provisions from Nabal, who refuses; Abigail intervenes, averting disaster; Nabal dies, David marries Abigail. | |
| 1 Samuel 26 | David spares Saul again in camp, taking his spear and jug; Saul repents temporarily and blesses David. | |
| 1 Samuel 27 | David defects to Philistines in Gath; Achish gives him Ziklag; David raids enemies while misleading Achish. | |
| 1 Samuel 28 | Philistines muster against Israel; Saul, abandoned by God, consults a medium at Endor; Samuel's spirit predicts defeat. | |
| 1 Samuel 29 | Philistine lords distrust David; Achish sends him back to Ziklag to avoid fighting against Israel. | |
| 1 Samuel 30 | Amalekites raid Ziklag, capturing families; David pursues, recovers all with Egyptian guide's help; shares spoil equally. | |
| 1 Samuel 31 | Philistines defeat Israel at Mount Gilboa; Saul and his sons die; Israelites flee, and Philistines desecrate their bodies. |
Through the lens of many gods
Who moved David to count Israel? (2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1)
And again the anger of the יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh · Strong’s H 3068The personal name of the God of Israel, often read as Yahweh; KJV prints it as LORD.Read more was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2 Samuel 24:1 (KJV)
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
1 Chronicles 21:1 (KJV)
Harmonizers say God allowed Satan to tempt David.
The same event is told twice. The older book says YHWH moved David. The later book says Satan did. The later writer seems to have been unhappy with YHWH doing this and gave the act to another being.
I keep coming back to this pair. You can watch a later writer move an act from one power to another.
See also The Gods in the Bible and 1 Samuel.
