Bible

In the Bible room today we begin reading a series consisting of three parts encompassing the book of 1 Samuel. The first part of this series covers Chapters 1 through 10.

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1 Samuel – Part 1

Introduction to I Samuel:

Writer: Several names have been suggested as people who may have had some role in writing parts of the two books of Samuel. Gad, Nathan, Zabud, Jeremiah, ‘D’ the Deuteronomist, ‘anonymous,’ Samuel himself, and possibly others, could be included among these. Originally one large scroll, it was divided into two scrolls several centuries before being included in the Septuagint, the Bible Jesus used. 

Scope: 1 Samuel covers the 95-year period from 1105 B.C. to 1010 B.C., from Samuel’s birth, the anointing of Saul as the first king in Israel, to the selection of David as the second king in Israel. Though Samuel is a judge in Israel his entire life, he is not included among the judges chronicled in the book of that name. From his birth, Samuel is anointed by God to be a prophet, judge, and deliverer of Israel from oppression suffered at the hands of the Philistines.  

Chapter 1. Dedication

Hannah is a praying woman; one day her prayer is answered:

• Elkanah, her husband, is also a devout follower of God;
• He has two wives, Peninnah and Hannah;
• Peninnah has children, Hannah is barren;
• Many years of prayer, Hannah asks the Lord for a son;
• A boy, Samuel, is the answer to her prayer;
• Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord’s service, for life;
• This young boy is given to Eli, the priest at Shiloh.

Chapter 2. Wickedness

In addition to Samuel, Eli has two sons, Hophni and Phinehas:

• Eli tells Hannah she will be rewarded with many more children;
• Samuel is growing up in God’s service at the tabernacle;
• Eli’s sons are wicked, defiling the priesthood;
• Stealing sacrifices, threatening worshippers is common;
• The Lord tells Eli both of his sons will die in one day;
• There will be a new priest anointed by the Lord;

Chapter 3. Established

Samuel is established by the Lord as a prophet in Israel:

• Lying near Eli in the tabernacle, Samuel hears a voice;
• Thinking it to be Eli, he checks with him three times;
• Eli tells him it is the Lord’s voice; tells him to listen;
• The Lord tells Samuel that Eli will be punished;
• He relays that information to Eli; he accepts the Lord’s will;

Chapter 4. Departed

Israel suffers defeat, the glory of the Lord has departed:

• These are years of oppression, killings by the Philistines;
• Another battle results in the capture of the Ark;
• Thirty thousand Israelite soldiers die;
• Both Hophni and Phinehas are killed on this day;
• Told this news Eli falls down breaking his neck, he dies;
• Phinehas’s wife has a son, names him ‘Ichabod’ meaning

‘The glory has departed from Israel.’ v. 21 (NKJV)

Chapter 5. Disease

The Philistines have the Ark, they are ravaged by disease:

• They set the Ark next to a statue of their idol, Dagon;
• Two times, the statue falls over, breaks into pieces;
• They move the Ark to different cities;
• Each place is ravaged with disease by the hand of God.

Chapter 6. Returned

The Philistines decide they should return the Ark to Israel:

• The diseases are too great, they return the Ark;
• As a test, they set the Ark onto a new cart;
• Two cows are yoked to the cart, set onto the road;
• Then, if the cows go straight back to Israel, it is right to do;
• The cows return the Ark back to Israelite territory.

Chapter 7. Repentance

Samuel, the prophet of God, calls Israel to repentance:

• Israel repents, offers sacrifices, turns back to God.
• Again, the Philistine army approaches, God thunders;
• Confused, the Philistine army is defeated, runs away;
• All the towns of Israel are liberated from the Philistines;
• They never challenge Israel again under Samuel.
• Samuel raises a stone, calls it Ebenezer, says

“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

• Samuel judges Israel all his life;

Chapter 8. Demand

Israel demands that Samuel install a king to lead them:

• He is old now, appoints his sons as judges in Israel;
• Joel and Abijah are ungodly, dishonest thieves, unjust;
• The people tell Samuel they want to be like other nations;
• They demand that Samuel appoint them a king;
• Samuel prays about their demand;
• Samuel is to heed their demand, explain the negatives;
• A king will draft their children into the army;
• He will take the best of their land, a tenth of their harvest;
• He will take their slaves and animals, put them to his work;
• Still the people demand a king, Samuel consents.

Chapter 9. Chosen

A tall, handsome warrior in Benjamin is sent on an errand:

• A father is missing some donkeys;
• His son, Saul, is sent out to search for them;
• Saul’s servant suggests they check in a particular city;
• Going up the hill into the city they meet Samuel;
• The Lord has told Samuel a man was coming that day;
• He tells Saul the donkeys have been found;
• Saul is chosen by God to be king in Israel.

Chapter 10. New

The new king becomes a new man, with a new heart:

• Before sending him home, Samuel anoints Saul to be king;
• He tells him that on his way home he will meet prophets;
• They will minister to him, he will become a new man;
• After that, God will give him a new heart.
• Samuel calls for a gathering of the Israelites;
• Tells them Saul is to be the first king in Israel;
• Not everyone is in favor of Saul as king.

END OF 1 SAMUEL – Part 1