Article
The story of Samuel and the foundation of the monarchy up until the days before the death of King David is told in the two books of Samuel. The central theme is the tension between a theocratic and a pragmatic monarchy, between Kings as representatives of YHWH and as weak human beings. The following is a summary of the two Books with passages marked with an asterisk for reading in full:
1 Samuel
- 1 Elkanah married Peninnah and Hannah who was barren but when she promised to dedicate her first-born to the Lord she conceived Samuel
- *2.1b-10 Hannah thanks God in words which inform the Magnificat (Luke 1.46-55)
- 2.11-36 The priest Eli's sons are wicked and he is warned of impending disaster while Samuel grows in the service of the Lord
- *3 The Lord calls Samuel who confirms Eli's doom
- *4 The Philistines defeat Israel and capture the Ark of the Covenant; Eli's sons are killed and he dies of shock
- 5.1-7.14 The Philistines suffer in the presence of the Ark and return it.
- 7.15-8.3 A (strange, misplaced) summary of Samuel's life implying that a King was sought because of his impending death
- *8.4-22 Demand for a King
- *9.1-10.24 The anointing and proclamation of Saul
- 10.25-11.15 War with the Amonites; kingship reaffirmed
- 12 (Improbable) farewell of Samuel
- 13.1-7 Preparations for war
- *13.8-14 Saul fails to obey Samuel (and the Lord)
- 13.15-14.52 Saul battles on; Jonathan surprises the Philistines; Saul makes a rash oath
- *15 Saul, Samuel and the Amalekites
- *16 The anointing of David; David and Saul
- *17 David and Goliath
- *18 Palace politics
- 19-20 Saul tries to kill David who is saved by his friendship with Saul's son, Jonathan
- *21.1-9 David and the Priest Ahimilech
- 21.10-2210 David flees to Gath, then Moab
- *22.11-22 Saul kills the priests
- 23 Skirmishing
- *24 David reveres Saul's kingship
- 25.1 Samuel dies
- 25.2-2 The (charming) story of David and Abigail
- 26 David (again reveres Saul's kingship and spares his life
- 27.1-28.2 David (again) in Gath
- 28.3-25 Saul consults a medium and "brings up" Samuel
- 29-30 Saul prepares for (his final) battle; David and Ziklag
- *31 Death of Saul
2 Samuel
- *1 (Slightly different) death of Saul; David's lament
- 2.1-3.25 Civil war
- *3.26-39 The politics of Abner and Joab
- 4 David and Saul's family
- 5 David (cursorily) crowned; war
- *6 The Ark arrives in Jerusalem
- 7 The Lord's covenant with David
- 8 (More) war
- 9 David and Mephibosheth
- 10.1-11.1 David and the Ammonites &c
- *11.2-12.25 David, Bathsheba and the birth of Solomon
- 13.1-15.6 the rape of Tamar by Amnon who is killed by her brother, and David's favourite son, Absalom who is exiled, returns and waxes
- 15.7-19.8 Absalom's rebellion, initial triumph, conflicting counsel; David harried in retreat; resurgence and victory; Absalom's death and David's regret
- 19.9-end Miscellany.
KC III/10
Related Study Sheets…
Added: 19th January 2008
Added: 19th January 2008