AUTHOR: Unknown

THE HISTORY centres around Three characters

(1) Samuel, the last of the Judges.
(2) Saul, the first King of Israel.
(3) David, Israel’s Versatile King.

THE PERIOD One of Transition;-the rule of the Judges ends, the kingdom is established.

LEADING TOPICS AND EVENTS
The Birth and Dedication of Samuel, ch. 1 # 1Sa 1:1
The Failure of Eli as Judge and Parent # 1Sa 2:12-36
Samuel’s Call and remarkable Boyhood, ch. 3 # 1Sa 3:1
The Capture and Return of the Ark of the Covenant, chs. 4-6 # 1Sa 4:1- 6:1
The Defeat of the Philistines through the Prayer of Samuel, ch. 7 # 1Sa 7:1
The Clamour of Israel for a King, ch. 8 # 1Sa 8:1
Saul Chosen, and Anointed King, chs. 9,10 # 1Sa 9:1 – 10:1
Saul’s First Battle, ch. 11 # 1Sa 11:1
Samuel proclaims the Kingdom, and warns the people concerning their presumption in demanding a King, ch. 12 # 1Sa 12:1
Saul’s Self-will, and Samuel’s Prophecy, ch. 13  # 1Sa 13:1
Jonathan’s Deliverance of Israel # 1Sa 14:1-16
Obedience is Better than Sacrifice # 1Sa 15:1-23
David Anointed King, ch. 16 # 1Sa 16:1
David Slays the giant, Goliath, ch. 17 # 1Ch 17:1
The Friendship of David and Jonathan, ch. 18 # 1Sa 18:1
The Persecution of David by Saul # 1Sa 18:9 – 27:4
The Last Years of Saul’s reign, and his Suicide, chs. 26-31  # 1Sa 26:1 – 31:1

SPIRITUAL MESSAGE, –Prayer, the Dominating Element in the life of Samuel.

(a) Born in answer to prayer # 1Sa 1:10-28
(b) Name means “Asked of God,” # 1Sa 1:20
(c) His prayer brings deliverance at Mizpah # 1Sa 7:2-13
(d) His prayer, when Israel insisted on having a king # 1Sa 8:21
(e) His unceasing prayer for his people # 1Sa 12:23

FIVE DEVIATIONS FROM THE DIVINE LAW which resulted in misery.

(1) Polygamy # 1Sa 1:6
(2) Parental Indulgence # 1Sa 2:22-25 8:1-5
(3) Trust in Sacred Objects # 1Sa 4:3
(4) Impatience # 1Sa 13:8,9