| Testament: | Old |
| Description: | 1 Samuel is the ninth book of the Bible and details the transition of Israel from a loose confederation of tribes to a monarchy. It narrates the stories of Samuel the prophet, the rise and fall of King Saul, and the anointing and early exploits of David. Themes include the importance of obedience to God, the consequences of disobedience, and the establishment of the Davidic dynasty. |
| Chapters: | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| Author name: | Unknown (Traditionally attributed to Samuel, Nathan, and Gad) |
| Written date: | Around 930-700 BC |
| Location: | Israel |
| Genre: | Historical |
| Chapter count: | 31 |
| Verse count: | 810 |
| Language: | Hebrew |
| Audience: | The people of Israel |
| Theme: | Transition from judges to monarchy; the life of Samuel and the reign of Saul |
| Key verses: | 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Samuel 17:45; 1 Samuel 30:6 |
| Summary: | 1 Samuel is the ninth book of the Bible and details the transition of Israel from a theocracy led by judges to a monarchy. It focuses on the life of Samuel, the rise and fall of Saul, and the anointing of David. |
| Outline: | I. The Birth and Call of Samuel (1:1-3:21)
II. The Ark Narrative and the Rise of Samuel (4:1-7:17)
III. The Rise and Fall of Saul (8:1-15:35)
IV. The Rise of David and Saul's Jealousy (16:1-31:13) |