1 Samuel

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Chapters in 1 Samuel

1. 1 Samuel 1: Hannah Prays for a Son

   Childless Hannah, mocked by her husband’s other wife, pours out her grief before God at Shiloh and vows to give Him any son He grants. Eli first mistakes her silent prayer for drunkenness, then blesses her; Samuel is born, and once weaned he is brought to serve the LORD for life.

2. 1 Samuel 2: Hannah’s Song and Eli’s Wicked Sons

   Hannah praises the LORD as the holy Rock who humbles the proud, lifts the needy, and will strengthen His anointed king. Eli’s sons abuse the sacrifices and ignore their father’s warning, while young Samuel grows in favor, and a man of God announces judgment on Eli’s house and a faithful priest to come.

3. 1 Samuel 3: The LORD Calls Samuel

   In a time when God seldom spoke, the LORD calls the boy Samuel by name in the night, and Eli teaches him how to answer. God’s first message confirms the coming judgment on Eli’s family; Samuel reports it all, and Israel comes to recognize him as the LORD’s prophet.

4. 1 Samuel 4: The Philistines Capture the Ark

   Beaten by the Philistines, Israel brings the ark from Shiloh into battle, hoping it will save them, but they are routed, the ark is taken, and both of Eli’s sons are killed. Hearing of the ark, Eli falls and dies, and his dying daughter-in-law names her newborn son Ichabod.

5. 1 Samuel 5: The Ark Among the Philistines

   The Philistines place the captured ark in Dagon's temple at Ashdod, and the idol is twice found toppled before it, the second time broken. God strikes Ashdod, Gath and Ekron with panic and tumors until the Philistine rulers are begged to send the ark away.

6. 1 Samuel 6: The Ark Returns to Israel

   After seven months the Philistines send the ark home on a cart pulled by two nursing cows, along with gold offerings. The cows go straight to Beth-shemesh, where the people rejoice, but God strikes men who looked into the ark, and they send word to Kiriath-jearim asking its men to come for the ark.

7. 1 Samuel 7: Repentance and Victory at Mizpah

   After twenty years Samuel calls Israel to put away its idols, and the people fast and confess their sin at Mizpah. When the Philistines attack, Samuel prays, the LORD routs them with thunder, and Samuel sets up the Ebenezer stone and judges Israel all his life.

8. 1 Samuel 8: Israel Demands a King

   Because Samuel's sons are corrupt judges, Israel's elders demand that he give them a king like other nations have. The LORD says the people have rejected Him as their King, has Samuel warn them how a king will take from them, and then grants their demand.

9. 1 Samuel 9: Saul Meets Samuel

   Saul, a tall Benjamite, goes looking for his father's lost donkeys and, at his servant's suggestion, seeks out the seer Samuel. The LORD has already told Samuel to anoint this man as ruler, so Samuel honors Saul at a sacrificial meal and prepares to give him God's message.

10. 1 Samuel 10: Saul Anointed and Chosen King

    Samuel privately anoints Saul as ruler and gives him signs that all come true, including God’s Spirit coming on him so that he prophesies. At Mizpah Samuel rebukes Israel for rejecting God; Saul is chosen, found hiding among the baggage, and acclaimed king, though some scoffers despise him.

11. 1 Samuel 11: Saul Rescues Jabesh-gilead

    Nahash the Ammonite besieges Jabesh-gilead and demands a humiliating treaty. God’s Spirit comes on Saul, who rallies Israel and routs the Ammonites, spares those who had doubted him, and is confirmed as king at Gilgal.

12. 1 Samuel 12: Samuel’s Farewell Address

    Samuel declares his integrity before the people and reviews how the LORD rescued Israel through judges, yet they demanded a king. A thunderstorm at harvest exposes their sin, and Samuel assures them God will not cast off His people, promises to keep praying, and urges faithful service.

13. 1 Samuel 13: Saul’s Unlawful Offering at Gilgal

    After Jonathan strikes a Philistine outpost, a huge Philistine army gathers and Israel’s troops hide in fear. When Samuel has not arrived by the appointed time, Saul offers the sacrifice himself; Samuel says his kingdom will not last and that God has chosen another ruler. Only Saul and Jonathan have weapons.

14. 1 Samuel 14: Jonathan's Bold Attack at Michmash

    Jonathan and one companion climb to a Philistine outpost trusting the LORD to save with a tiny force, and God sends panic among the enemy. Saul's rash ban on food leaves the troops faint, so they eat meat with its blood, and the people spare Jonathan, who unknowingly ate honey. Saul's wars and family end the chapter.

15. 1 Samuel 15: Saul Rejected as King

    Saul is sent to destroy the Amalekites but spares King Agag and the choicest animals. Samuel confronts him, teaching that the LORD values obeying Him above offerings and announcing that God has rejected Saul as king. Samuel puts Agag to death and returns to Ramah, never going to see Saul again, though he mourns him.

16. 1 Samuel 16: Samuel Anoints David

    The LORD sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons, teaching that God looks within rather than at outward looks. Samuel anoints the youngest, David, and the Spirit comes on him. As a tormenting spirit from the LORD afflicts Saul, David enters Saul's court as his harpist.

17. 1 Samuel 17: David and Goliath

    The Philistine champion Goliath taunts Israel for forty days while Saul and his army cower in fear. David, sent with food for his brothers, volunteers to fight in the LORD's name, fells the giant with a single sling stone, and the Philistines flee; Saul then learns that David is Jesse's son.

18. 1 Samuel 18: Jonathan's Covenant and Saul's Jealousy

    Jonathan binds himself to David in a covenant of loyal friendship, and David succeeds because the LORD is with him. Jealous of the women's victory song, Saul throws his spear at David and offers him Merab and then Michal, hoping the Philistines will kill him; David marries Michal, and Saul becomes his lasting enemy.

19. 1 Samuel 19: David Escapes Saul's Attempts on His Life

    Saul orders David's death, but Jonathan pleads for him and Saul briefly swears to spare him. After another spear attack, Michal helps David flee through a window, and when Saul's men and then Saul himself pursue him to Samuel at Naioth, God's Spirit overcomes them and they prophesy.

20. 1 Samuel 20: Jonathan Warns David

    Jonathan agrees to test whether Saul truly means to kill David, and the two friends renew their covenant, extending it to their families. When Saul rages at David’s absence from the New Moon feast and hurls a spear at Jonathan, Jonathan uses a prearranged arrow signal to send David away, and they part in tears.

21. 1 Samuel 21: David at Nob and Gath

    Fleeing Saul, David deceives the priest Ahimelech at Nob and receives the consecrated bread and Goliath’s sword while Saul’s servant Doeg is present. He then escapes to the Philistine city of Gath, where he is recognized and saves himself by pretending to be insane.

22. 1 Samuel 22: Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

    David gathers a band of about four hundred troubled men at Adullam, shelters his parents in Moab, and moves into Judah at the prophet Gad’s word. Acting on Doeg’s report, Saul has Ahimelech and the priests of Nob killed, and Ahimelech’s son Abiathar escapes to David, who admits his own part in their deaths.

23. 1 Samuel 23: David Rescues Keilah and Flees Saul

    Guided by the LORD, David saves the town of Keilah from the Philistines, then leaves when God reveals that its people would hand him over to Saul. Jonathan encourages him in God at Horesh, the Ziphites betray his hiding place, and a Philistine raid calls Saul away just as he closes in.

24. 1 Samuel 24: David Spares Saul in the Cave

    While Saul hunts David near En-gedi, he enters a cave where David’s band is hiding. David secretly cuts a piece from Saul’s robe but refuses to harm the king the LORD anointed, leaving judgment to God. Saul weeps, admits David will one day reign, and makes David swear to spare his family.

25. 1 Samuel 25: David, Nabal, and Abigail

    Samuel dies and all Israel mourns him. When the wealthy Nabal insults David and refuses his men food, David sets out to wipe out his household, but Nabal’s wise wife Abigail meets him with gifts and persuades him not to take revenge. The LORD strikes Nabal down, and David marries Abigail.

26. 1 Samuel 26: David Spares Saul a Second Time

    Saul again hunts David in the desert of Ziph. David and Abishai slip into the sleeping camp, but David refuses to kill the king God anointed, taking Saul’s spear and jug of water instead. From a distance he rebukes Abner and pleads with Saul, who confesses his sin and blesses David.

27. 1 Samuel 27: David Settles at Ziklag

    Fearing Saul would eventually kill him, David takes his band of six hundred and their families into Philistine territory under Achish, king of Gath. Achish gives him the town of Ziklag, and David raids Israel's enemies while telling Achish he has attacked Judah, so Achish comes to trust him.

28. 1 Samuel 28: Saul and the Medium at Endor

    As the Philistines gather for war, Saul is terrified, and the LORD gives him no answer. In disguise he consults a medium at Endor, a practice he had banned, and Samuel appears, announcing that the kingdom has gone to David and that Saul and his sons will soon die. Saul collapses, then eats and leaves by night.

29. 1 Samuel 29: The Philistines Send David Back

    As the Philistine army gathers at Aphek, its commanders object to David marching with them, fearing he will turn on them in battle to win back Saul's favor. Achish praises David's loyalty but sends him and his men home, so David is kept out of the fight against Israel.

30. 1 Samuel 30: David Recovers All from the Amalekites

    David returns to find Ziklag burned and every family carried off by Amalekite raiders, and his grieving men talk of stoning him. He draws strength from the LORD, pursues at His word, and recovers everyone and everything. He rules that supply guards share equally with fighters and sends gifts to Judah's elders.

31. 1 Samuel 31: Saul Dies on Mount Gilboa

    The Philistines defeat Israel on Mount Gilboa, killing Jonathan and two of his brothers, and the badly wounded Saul takes his own life. The Philistines dishonor his body and celebrate in their temples, but the brave men of Jabesh-gilead recover the bodies, bury them, and fast seven days.