I Samuel Chapters 1-3

Why was Hannah harassed by the other wife of her husband, and who does Hannah’s situation parallel from the Bible narrative? (I Samuel 1.6).

Hannah’s prayer acts as a descriptive piece in which she describes who or what “the LORD” may be to her.  Is her definition of “the LORD” consistent with other descriptions throughout the Bible narrative? Explain (I Samuel 2).

What did Samuel’s mother make for Samuel and what specific character from the Bible narrative does this parallel? (I Samuel 2.19; Genesis 37.3).

What did Eli’s sons do while being priests of Israel? (I Samuel 2.14; 2.22).

The narration states the following: “Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?” (I Sam.2.27).  Who or what was the “man of God” who visited Eli, and who was “the LORD” that was mentioned?

When called, Samuel answered, “Here I am” (I Sam.3.4-3.5).  Samuel’s response is consistent with other notable characters such as Abraham, Esau, and Joseph (Genesis 22.1; 27.1; 37.13).  How did Abraham, Esau, and Joseph live their lives and what does Samuel’s use of similar language suggest about the situation he is about to experience?

How did Eli die? (I Samuel 4.17-4.18).

What reason is given for the Israelites’ heavy loses against the Philistines?

What specific news did Eli hear that led to his death?

What were the circumstances surrounding Ichabod’s birth? What does Ichabod’s mother’s reaction to her son’s birth indicate about the plight of the Israelites as a whole during this time?

After the Philistines captured the Ark, what happened to them that was similar to what had happened to the Egyptians during the time of the plagues? (Exodus 9).

Soon after the Philistines returned the Ark, the narration states the following: “Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD.  He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with great slaughter” (I Sam. 6.19).  Who was the masculine “LORD” that slaughtered so many people?  

Why were people to not look into the ark of the LORD?

Compare the events in I Samuel 7.1 with Numbers 27.18-27.19.  What is similar in both situations?

Compare the events in I Samuel 7.3 with Judges 10.15-10.16. What is similar in both situations?

Throughout the Bible, water has been emphasized as the source of all life.  When floods occur, as in the time of Noah and during the Red Sea crossing, the flood waters marked a rebirth for all who survived.  The narration notes the following: “So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, ‘We have sinned against the LORD.’ And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah” (I Sam. 7.6).  What was the symbolic purpose of using water in this manner?  

Who was “the LORD” the people noted they had “sinned against”?

The narration notes the following: “And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him” (I Sam.7.9).  Who or what was “the LORD” with whom Samuel interacted?

What was the state of the children of Israel during the time that Samuel judged Israel? (I Sam. 7.13-7.14).

As Samuel grew old, his sons were described.  How were Samuel’s sons similar to the priest Eli’s sons, who were described at the beginning of this narrative?

What specific reason do the Israelites give for wanting a king, and how does this contradict all that has been spoken to this family, Israel, since its creation in Genesis? (I Sam. 8.5; 8.20).

Examine Samuel’s warning to the people about the actions of future kings.  What kinds of actions will future kings take as described inI Samuel 8.11-8.18?

What does Samuel ultimately prophesize will happen to the people once they have a king? (I Sam. 8.18).

What do the people ask to have so as to be like other nations in chapters 8 and 9? (I Samuel 8.6).

Why was Saul chosen to be king of Israel? (I Samuel 9.2).

Consider I Samuel 9.15-9.16 in relation to I Samuel 9.3 and 9.6. What do these verses suggest about the identity of “the LORD” with whom Samuel previously spoke?

After anointing Saul with oil, Samuel prophesized three events were to happen when Saul left his presence.  What did Samuel predict would happen?

The narration states the following: “So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day” (I Sam. 10.9).  Who or what is the “God” that “gave him another heart”?

When speaking to the people, Samuel said the following: “But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversaries and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans” (I Sam. 10.19).  Who or what is the “God” and “LORD” who Samuel references?

What does the fact that Saul was “hidden among the equipment” at the time that Samuel went to present him to the people as their king suggest about Saul’s character? (I Sam. 10.22).

What action did Saul recreate when he went to unite Israel in a battle against the Ammonites, who were descendants of Lot and his daughter? (see I Samuel 11.7; Judges 19.29).

Samuel told the people, “However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers” (I Sam. 12.15).  Who or what is “the LORD” who Samuel references?

What did Saul do that led Samuel to tell him, “You have done foolishly.  You have not kept the commandments of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever” (I Sam. 13.13).

The narration states, “So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven” (I Sam. 14.23). Who was “the LORD” who “saved Israel that day”?

What oath did Saul make that his son Jonathan broke?

Who saved Saul’s son Jonathan from being killed? 

How does Saul’s inability to follow through with an oath diminish his power as king over the people?

The narration states, “Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.’ And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night” (I Sam. 15.10). Who or what is “the LORD” referenced in this passage?

What did Samuel do to Agag king of the Amalekites at the conclusion of the chapter and why?

Throughout the introduction of David, he is described very specifically.  Examine the following verses: 16.11, 16.12, 16.18, 17,12, 17.14, 18.12, 18.14, 18.16.

How is David described and what may David symbolically represent via these descriptions?

Examine I Samuel 16.14. What was it that departed from Saul, and what was it that troubled him?

Upon hearing Goliath’s words, what was the prevailing sentiment among all of Israel? (I Samuel 17.4). When has this sentiment flourished in the past, and who were the individuals who helped to “save” them? What do these saviors all have in common?

When referring to Israel, David repeatedly chastised Goliath for defying “the armies of the living God” (I Samuel 17.36). What may David have meant?

What are the symbolic undertones of the location from which David drew the stones that killed Goliath? (I Samuel 17.40).

Saul and David: What is the driving force behind Saul’s anger towards David? (I Samuel 18.7-18.8). Considering who or what Saul symbolically represents, what does Saul’s motivation suggest?

How did David have the opportunity to marry Saul’s daughter even though Saul disliked him?

What did Saul want to do to David and what is the significance of Saul’s vow in I Samuel 19.6? Who is “the Lord” Jonathan may have been referring to when he had his father, Saul, make this vow?”

Consider the “covenants” that have been made throughout the Old Testament narrative.  Who has been involved in previous covenants?

What covenant is being made in I Samuel 20.12-20.17, and what does the word “covenant” imply?

What did David eat as he fled from Saul?

As David fled from Saul, how did David act when he sought refuge with King Achish, and why did he act this way? (I Sam. 21.10-21.15).

As David fled Saul’s repeated attempt to kill him, David accumulated a following among particular groups of people. Who were David’s primary followers, and why did these members of society find such acceptance with David? (I Sam. 22.5).

Why did Saul order the death of the priests?

The narration begins with the following words: “Then they told David, saying, ‘Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.’ Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’” (I Sam. 23.1-23.2).  Who or what is “the LORD” with whom David inquired?

What did David do when he had the opportunity to kill Saul, who was attempting to kill him, on two separate occasions? (I Samuel 24; 26).

Why was David angry at Nabal?

How did Nabal’s wife Abigail save Nabal’s life?

With whom did David unite in marriage, and what did Saul do with his daughter Michal, who was David’s wife as well?

How did David spare Saul’s life for a second time?

What notable things did Saul tell David when David informed Saul that he could have killed him? (I Sam. 26.21; 26.25).

What did David do while he was allied with the Philistines? (I Samuel 27.9-27.12).

At this time in David’s life, he was allied with the Philistines.  Examine early Genesis, who were the Philistines in relation to the people of Israel, who descended from Noah’s son Shem’s great-to-the-seventh-degree grandchildren Abraham and Sarah? (Genesis 10.6-10.13; 11.10-11.26).

When Saul went to a medium, who did he call up and what did this person tell him? (I Samuel 28).

Why did Achish tell David to separate from him? (I Samuel 29).

The Amalekites were descendants of Esau’s grandson Amalek (Genesis36.12).  Esau was the elder twin brother of Jacob, who was Israel. What did David achieve in his conflict with the Amalekites? (I Sam. 30.18).

How did Saul die?

What happened to Saul’s body after he was killed? (I Samuel 31.9).