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Books of the Bible |
While commonly accepted to be Samuel, this is somewhat doubtful because the book includes some accounts from after the death of Samuel. This is often accounted for by citing Samuel as the author of ch. 1-24 and either Nathan or Gad as the author of the remainder. Others believe that a scribe assembled the writings of all three men into the unified account at a much later date.
Samuel lived around 1100 B.C., so if he wrote any part of it that is when it happened. Most scholars put the date prior to 722 B.C. because the fall of Samaria does not appear in the book.
The book of Samuel serves at least two major purposes. First, it provides a record of the rise of the monarchy in Israel and its development under Saul and David. Second, it provides a justification for the assumption of the throne by David.
The ministry of Samuel the prophet (1-7)
The birth of Samuel (1)
Samuel and the sons of Eli (2)
Samuel begins his prophetic ministry (3)
The Ark captured by the Philistines (5)
The Philistines defeated by the Israelites under Samuel (7)
The reign of Saul at the first king of Israel (8-15)
Israel demands a king (8)
Saul is anointed by Samuel (9)
Saul loses favor with God by offering an unlawful sacrifice and is rejected by God (13)
David is chosen to succeed Saul as king (16-31)
David is chosen and anointed king (16)
David defeats Goliath (17)
David's relationships with the royal family (18)
David becomes a fugitive (21)
The death of Saul (31)
The events of I Samuel take place beginning at the end of the period of the judges, roughly 1100 B.C. and continuing until the death of Saul in 1010 B.C. Samuel's period as judge in Israel would have overlapped that of Sampson.
Miraculous birth of Samuel and his dedication to the Lord; The Ark captured and returned; Saul anointed king; Saul offers an unlawful sacrifice; God rejects Saul as king; David is anointed king; David kills Goliath; David's adventures while fleeing from Saul; Saul consults the witch at En Dor; Saul's sons are killed in battle with the Philistines and Saul falls on his sword.
Elkanah & Hannah, Samuel, Eli the priest, Ichabod, Saul, Jonathan, David, Goliath, Michal - David's wife, Ahimelech the priest, Nabal & His Wife
Probably the major theological significance of I Samuel is the establishment of Israel as a monarchy instead of a theocracy. The rebellion of the people against God's rule caused them to call for a king and the king did not rule according to God's plan. Their rebellion against God's plan led to even greater disasters for the nation. In David a line of monarchs was established that would eventually lead to the messiah who would redeem Israel and return them to a state where they would be ruled by God and God alone. The anointing of David is the start of a long trail of events that will culminate with the return of Christ as King.