Book of 1 Samuel - Bible Survey
Answered from the commentary of Morrish Bible Dictionary, Hamilton Smith, Walter Scott and 12 others
First Samuel shows the failure of the priesthood, the people’s rejection of God as their King, and the rise and rejection of Saul, making way for David, the king of God’s choice. It begins with God’s grace at work in Samuel’s birth and service, and with Samuel established as prophet when Eli’s house and the priesthood have failed. When Israel is humbled, turns from its idols, and seeks the Lord, He delivers them from the Philistines through Samuel’s intercession. But the people ask for a king “like all the nations,” showing their unbelief and rejection of the Lord’s rule; though warned of the king’s burdens, they persist, and God grants their request in judgment. The authors agree that the people’s demand was wrong, while also saying that kingship itself belonged to God’s purpose: some stress this purpose and its fulfilment through the king God chose, while others chiefly emphasize the demand as rejection of God and the sorrowful course it began.
Saul is the king the people desired, but his disobedience and self-will bring his rejection; “to obey is better than sacrifice”. David is anointed by God, yet must suffer and wait while Saul holds the throne. The book thus sets human failure alongside God’s sovereign grace: Saul fails, but God brings forward David, the king after His own heart and a type of Christ.
Verses: 1 Samuel 1:1, 1 Samuel 8:1, 1 Samuel 15:1, 1 Samuel 15:2, 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 15:4, 1 Samuel 15:5, 1 Samuel 15:6, 1 Samuel 15:7, 1 Samuel 15:8, 1 Samuel 15:9, 1 Samuel 15:10, 1 Samuel 15:11, 1 Samuel 15:12, 1 Samuel 15:13, 1 Samuel 15:14, 1 Samuel 15:15, 1 Samuel 15:16, 1 Samuel 15:17, 1 Samuel 15:18, 1 Samuel 15:19, 1 Samuel 15:20, 1 Samuel 15:21, 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Samuel 15:24, 1 Samuel 15:25, 1 Samuel 15:26, 1 Samuel 15:27, 1 Samuel 15:28, 1 Samuel 15:29, 1 Samuel 15:30, 1 Samuel 15:31, 1 Samuel 15:32, 1 Samuel 15:33, 1 Samuel 15:34, 1 Samuel 15:35, 1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Samuel 16:2, 1 Samuel 16:3, 1 Samuel 16:4, 1 Samuel 16:5, 1 Samuel 16:6, 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Samuel 16:8, 1 Samuel 16:9, 1 Samuel 16:10, 1 Samuel 16:11, 1 Samuel 16:12, 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 16:14, 1 Samuel 16:15, 1 Samuel 16:16, 1 Samuel 16:17, 1 Samuel 16:18, 1 Samuel 16:19, 1 Samuel 16:20, 1 Samuel 16:21, 1 Samuel 16:22, 1 Samuel 16:23, 1 Samuel 17:1, 1 Samuel 17:2, 1 Samuel 17:3, 1 Samuel 17:4, 1 Samuel 17:5, 1 Samuel 17:6, 1 Samuel 17:7, 1 Samuel 17:8, 1 Samuel 17:9, 1 Samuel 17:10, 1 Samuel 17:11, 1 Samuel 17:12, 1 Samuel 17:13, 1 Samuel 17:14, 1 Samuel 17:15, 1 Samuel 17:16, 1 Samuel 17:17, 1 Samuel 17:18, 1 Samuel 17:19, 1 Samuel 17:20, 1 Samuel 17:21, 1 Samuel 17:22, 1 Samuel 17:23, 1 Samuel 17:24, 1 Samuel 17:25, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:27, 1 Samuel 17:28, 1 Samuel 17:29, 1 Samuel 17:30, 1 Samuel 17:31, 1 Samuel 17:32, 1 Samuel 17:33, 1 Samuel 17:34, 1 Samuel 17:35, 1 Samuel 17:36, 1 Samuel 17:37, 1 Samuel 17:38, 1 Samuel 17:39, 1 Samuel 17:40, 1 Samuel 17:41, 1 Samuel 17:42, 1 Samuel 17:43, 1 Samuel 17:44, 1 Samuel 17:45, 1 Samuel 17:46, 1 Samuel 17:47, 1 Samuel 17:48, 1 Samuel 17:49, 1 Samuel 17:50, 1 Samuel 17:51, 1 Samuel 17:52, 1 Samuel 17:53, 1 Samuel 17:54, 1 Samuel 17:55, 1 Samuel 17:56, 1 Samuel 17:57, 1 Samuel 17:58, 1 Samuel 24:1, 1 Samuel 24:2, 1 Samuel 24:3, 1 Samuel 24:4, 1 Samuel 24:5, 1 Samuel 24:6, 1 Samuel 24:7, 1 Samuel 24:8, 1 Samuel 24:9, 1 Samuel 24:10, 1 Samuel 24:11, 1 Samuel 24:12, 1 Samuel 24:13, 1 Samuel 24:14, 1 Samuel 24:15, 1 Samuel 24:16, 1 Samuel 24:17, 1 Samuel 24:18, 1 Samuel 24:19, 1 Samuel 24:20, 1 Samuel 24:21, 1 Samuel 24:22, 1 Samuel 28:1, 1 Samuel 28:2, 1 Samuel 28:3, 1 Samuel 28:4, 1 Samuel 28:5, 1 Samuel 28:6, 1 Samuel 28:7, 1 Samuel 28:8, 1 Samuel 28:9, 1 Samuel 28:10, 1 Samuel 28:11, 1 Samuel 28:12, 1 Samuel 28:13, 1 Samuel 28:14, 1 Samuel 28:15, 1 Samuel 28:16, 1 Samuel 28:17, 1 Samuel 28:18, 1 Samuel 28:19, 1 Samuel 28:20, 1 Samuel 28:21, 1 Samuel 28:22, 1 Samuel 28:23, 1 Samuel 28:24, 1 Samuel 28:25, 1 Samuel 31:1, 1 Samuel 31:2, 1 Samuel 31:3, 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 31:5, 1 Samuel 31:6, 1 Samuel 31:7, 1 Samuel 31:8, 1 Samuel 31:9, 1 Samuel 31:10, 1 Samuel 31:11, 1 Samuel 31:12, 1 Samuel 31:13
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What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Inasmuch as the first book of Samuel contains the record of Samuel's labors and the anointing of the first two Kings of Israel, Saul and David, Saul's reign and David's exile, we divide the book into three sections. In the first section we find the birth, childhood and judgeship of Samuel; in the second, the anointing and coronation of Israel 's first King, Saul, his reign and rejection. In the third section David, his anointing, and exile are before us. We give these sections and subdivisions as we shall follow them in our analysis and annotations.
The first book of Samuel covers a time of about 90 years starting at Samuel's birth around 1100 BC unto the death of Saul around the year 1010 BC. The second book of Samuel describes the reign of David (around 1010 to 970 BC).
The Books of Samuel contain the account of the cessation of Israel's original relationship with God, founded on their obedience to the terms of the old covenant, and the special prescriptions of the Book of Deuteronomy; the sovereign interference of God in prophecy; and the setting up of the king whom God Himself had prepared, with the circumstances which preceded this event. It is not merely that Israel failed under the government of God: they rejected it.
The First Book of Samuel shows a solemn change in the manifest relationship of Israel with God. Not only had the priest failed in the house of Eli, but the ark of the covenant, the symbol of Israel's relationship with God, was in the hands of their enemies, this being permitted by God to bring things to an issue. He raised up a faithful prophet in Samuel, who also in a measure acted as priest, thus providing in grace a means of communication with his unfaithful people. Their demanding a king was virtually refusing God as their sovereign, though we know that according to the purpose of God there was to be a king as type of the Lord Jesus, King of Israel. The history of their first king shows that royalty, as everything else committed to man, was quickly followed by failure.
The first book of Samuel records the failure of the priest, the prophet, and the king of man's choice, making way for the sovereign grace of God to bring man into blessing by establishing His anointed Man — the Christ — as King, of whom David is a type. Thus at last it will be made manifest to the whole universe that all blessing for Israel, and the nations, will depend upon the faithfulness of Christ as King. Man will be blessed, but all the glory of the blessing will rest upon Christ. The glory of Christ is the end of the purpose of God.
The two books of Samuel deal with the establishing, gradually, of the kingdom in Israel by war and conquest. Saul, the first king, pictures government in the hands of mere fleshly man (though head and shoulders above his contemporaries), beginning well but ending in failure and disgrace. David followed him, and was called the man after God's heart, for he is a type of Christ, gaining His ascendancy by war and bloodshed, as will be the case when the Lord Jesus, through the horrors of the Great Tribulation, will triumph over every enemy and bring settled peace to Israel.
The Books of Samuel and Kings Here we begin with the training of a man of God—Samuel. From childhood we see him marked out for service, just as we have seen with Joseph and Moses. Then we read how the people turned their backs upon Samuel, and in reality upon God, in choosing Saul, the son of Kish, to be their king. They wanted to be like the surrounding nations, and they chose by the sight of their eyes a man, head and shoulders above any of the people, as if inches meant moral worth. Again we find utter misery and failure, Saul dying by his own hand in despair on mount Gilboa.
1 Samuel This book covers a period of about one hundred years, from the birth of Samuel to the death of Saul. The first twenty-four chapters only were written by the prophet (compare 1 Chron. 29:29 with 1 Sam. 25:1); the remaining chapters, with the whole of the second book, were probably written by the prophets Gad and Nathan. This is also according to ancient Jewish tradition preserved in the Talmud. Samuel was the first of the regular prophetic order (Acts 3:21).
In the opening chapters of the first book of Samuel (1-7) we have depicted one of the darkest periods of Israel's history. The downgrade movement of the book of Judges was continued until the condition of the nation was not only evil but desperate. Such was their iniquity that it became impossible for God to continue His outward links with Israel without sanctioning their sin or sullying His glory. Thus the people enter that solemn period in their history in which God withdraws the symbol of His presence, and all outward relations with God are ended.
Verses
- 1 Samuel 1:1And there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
- 1 Samuel 8:1And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
- 1 Samuel 15:1–351And Samuel said to Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee king over his people, over Israel now therefore hearken to the voice of the words of Jehovah. 2Thus saith Jehovah of hosts I have considered what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3Now go and smite Amalek, and destroy utterly all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 4And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5And Saul came to the city of the Amalekites, and set an ambush in the valley. 6And Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, and go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. And the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7And Saul smote Amalek from Havilah as thou comest to Shur, which is opposite to Egypt. 8And he took Agag the king of Amalek alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and oxen, and beasts of the second bearing, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not devote them to destruction; but everything that was mean and weak, that they destroyed utterly. 10And the word of Jehovah came to Samuel, saying, 11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned away from following me, and hath not fulfilled my words. And Samuel was much grieved; and he cried to Jehovah all night. 12And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set him up a monument, and has turned about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. 13And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, Blessed art thou of Jehovah I have fulfilled the word of Jehovah. 14And Samuel said, What [means] then this bleating of sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of oxen which I hear? 15And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, because the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to Jehovah thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16And Samuel said to Saul, Stay, that I may tell thee what Jehovah has said to me this night. And he said to him, Say on. 17And Samuel said, Was it not when thou wast little in thine eyes that thou [becamest] the head of the tribes of Israel, and Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel? 18And Jehovah sent thee on a way and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19Why then didst thou not hearken to the voice of Jehovah, but didst fall upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of Jehovah? 20And Saul said to Samuel, I have indeed hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Jehovah thy God in Gilgal. 22And Samuel said, Has Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, As in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, Attention than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is [as] the sin of divination, And selfwill is [as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He hath also rejected thee from being king. 24And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words; for I feared the people, and hearkened to their voice. 25And now, I pray thee, forgive my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah. 26And Samuel said to Saul, I will not turn again with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah has rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27And as Samuel turned to go away, [Saul] laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28Then Samuel said to him, Jehovah has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee to-day, and has given it to thy neighbour, who is better than thou. 29And also the Hope of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent. 30And he said, I have sinned; honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah thy God. 31So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped Jehovah. 32And Samuel said, Bring ye near to me Agag the king of Amalek. And Agag came to him gaily. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. 33And Samuel said, As thy sword has made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless above women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal. 34And Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35And Samuel saw Saul no more until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned over Saul; and Jehovah repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.