1
Samuel
Summary[i]
This book represents the personal
history of Samuel, last of the Judges. It records the moral failure of the
priesthood under Eli, and of the Judges in Samuel's attempt to make the office
hereditary (1Sa_8:1). In his prophetic office
Samuel was faithful, and in him begins the line of writing prophets. Henceforth
the prophet, not the priest, is conspicuous in Israel. In this book the
theocracy, as exercised through judges, ends (1Sa_8:7),
and the line of kings begins with Saul.
The book is in four parts:
1. The story of Samuel to the death of Eli (1
Samuel 1:1 - 4:22).
2. From the taking of the ark to the demand for
a king (1 Samuel 5:1 - 8:22).
3. The reign of Saul to the call of David (1
Samuel 9:1 - 15:35).
4. From the call of David to the death of Saul
(1 Samuel 16:1 - 31:13).
The events recorded in First Samuel cover a period of 115 years (Ussher).