The Histories · Old Testament
1 Samuel
1 Samuel is book 9 of 66 and belongs to the Histories in the Old Testament. It has 31 chapters, each with source-checked General, Historical and Literary context. 77 people are indexed in its passages.
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Chapters
- 1 Samuel 1: Hannah's prayer and Samuel's dedication
Hannah's childlessness is made harder by Peninnah's repeated provocation during the family's visits to Shiloh. Hannah prays for a son and vows to… - 1 Samuel 2: Hannah's song and the judgment on Eli's house
Hannah praises the Lord who overturns human strength and raises the poor. Samuel serves at Shiloh while Eli's sons abuse the sacrifices and are… - 1 Samuel 3: Samuel hears the Lord's call
When revelation is rare, Samuel hears his name and repeatedly runs to Eli. Eli eventually recognizes that the Lord is calling and tells him how to… - 1 Samuel 4: The ark captured and Eli's house struck
After defeat by the Philistines, Israel's elders bring the ark from Shiloh, expecting it to save them. Another battle ends in a greater defeat: the… - 1 Samuel 5: The ark in the cities of the Philistines
The Philistines place the captured ark in Dagon's temple at Ashdod. Dagon falls before it twice, with his head and hands severed on the second… - 1 Samuel 6: The ark returns to Israel
After seven months, Philistine priests and diviners advise returning the ark with a guilt offering. A new cart and two cows separated from their… - 1 Samuel 7: Israel returns to the Lord at Mizpeh
The ark is brought to Abinadab's house at Kirjath-jearim. After a long interval, Samuel calls Israel to put away other gods and serve the Lord alone… - 1 Samuel 8: Israel asks for a king
Samuel's sons take bribes and distort justice. Israel's elders ask for a king to judge them like the other nations. The Lord tells Samuel that the… - 1 Samuel 9: A search for donkeys brings Saul to Samuel
Saul and a servant search for his father Kish's lost donkeys. When they consider returning home, the servant suggests consulting a man of God. Samuel… - 1 Samuel 10: Saul anointed and presented as king
Samuel anoints Saul and gives him signs concerning the found donkeys, food and a company of prophets. The signs occur, and Saul prophesies when the… - 1 Samuel 11: Saul rescues Jabesh-gilead
Nahash the Ammonite besieges Jabesh-gilead and demands the loss of the men's right eyes as a condition of submission. The town obtains time to seek… - 1 Samuel 12: Samuel calls king and people to faithfulness
Samuel asks Israel to testify whether he has defrauded, oppressed or taken bribes from them, and they clear him. He recounts the Lord's deliverance… - 1 Samuel 13: Saul offers the sacrifice before Samuel arrives
Jonathan attacks a Philistine garrison, and Israel faces a large enemy mobilization. With men scattering from him at Gilgal, Saul offers the burnt… - 1 Samuel 14: Jonathan's attack and Saul's oath
Jonathan and his armor-bearer attack a Philistine post, and panic spreads through the enemy camp. Israel joins the pursuit, and the narrator credits… - 1 Samuel 15: Saul's claim and Samuel's verdict
The text attributes to God a command to destroy Amalek, including children and animals. Saul and the people spare Agag and valuable livestock. When… - 1 Samuel 16: David anointed and brought to Saul's court
The Lord sends Samuel to Jesse at Bethlehem to anoint a new king. Samuel is warned against judging by appearance, and David is brought from tending… - 1 Samuel 17: David confronts Goliath
Goliath of Gath challenges Israel to send a fighter against him. David arrives with provisions for his brothers and hears the challenge. He tells… - 1 Samuel 18: David's growing favor and Saul's hostility
Jonathan makes a covenant with David and gives him his robe and weapons. David's success pleases the people, while the women's victory song angers… - 1 Samuel 19: Jonathan and Michal help David escape
Jonathan persuades Saul to spare David, and David returns to court. Saul later attempts to strike him with a spear and sends men to watch his house… - 1 Samuel 20: Jonathan warns David and renews their covenant
David and Jonathan arrange to test Saul's intentions through David's absence from the new-moon meal. They renew a covenant extending kindness to… - 1 Samuel 21: David seeks bread and refuge
At Nob, David tells Ahimelech that he is on a secret royal mission and asks for bread. The priest gives him the consecrated bread after discussing… - 1 Samuel 22: Saul orders the killing of the priests
David's family and about four hundred distressed, indebted or discontented men gather to him. He places his parents under the protection of Moab's… - 1 Samuel 23: David saves Keilah and escapes Saul
After twice inquiring of the Lord, David leads his men to save Keilah from Philistine raiders. Saul plans to trap him there, but another inquiry… - 1 Samuel 24: David spares Saul in the cave
Saul enters a cave where David and his men are hiding. David's men present the opportunity as the Lord's provision, but David refuses to kill Saul… - 1 Samuel 25: Abigail prevents David's vengeance
After recording Samuel's death, the chapter follows David's request for provisions during Nabal's sheep-shearing. Nabal insults his messengers, and… - 1 Samuel 26: David takes Saul's spear and spares his life
After another report from the Ziphites, Saul comes searching for David. David and Abishai enter his sleeping camp at night. Abishai offers to kill… - 1 Samuel 27: David settles under Achish at Ziklag
Fearing that Saul will eventually kill him, David takes his six hundred men and their households to Achish at Gath. Saul stops searching for him… - 1 Samuel 28: Saul seeks Samuel through the woman at Endor
Achish expects David to join the coming battle against Israel. The focus then turns to Saul, terrified by the Philistine army and receiving no answer… - 1 Samuel 29: The Philistine commanders send David back
David and his men march with Achish as the Philistine forces gather. Other commanders object that he could turn against them during battle to regain… - 1 Samuel 30: David recovers the captives and shares the spoil
David returns to find Ziklag burned and the families carried away by Amalekites. His men speak of stoning him, but he strengthens himself in the Lord… - 1 Samuel 31: Saul's death and the burial at Jabesh
Israel is defeated on Mount Gilboa, and the Philistines kill Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua. Wounded by archers, Saul asks his armor-bearer to…
