What is 1 Samuel About in the Bible?

Verses to read

• “But Yahweh said to Samuel, 'Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for I don't see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.'”

  1 Samuel 16:7

• “Samuel said, 'Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh's voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'”

  1 Samuel 15:22

Who was Samuel the prophet?

Samuel was a child who was given to God by his mother, Hannah. He grew up in the temple and learned to hear God's voice. A prophet is someone who gives God's messages to the people.

Samuel was the last judge of Israel. He was a good leader who told the people to stop praying to fake gods. He helped the people return to the one true God.

Why did Israel want a king?

The people of Israel looked at the nations around them and saw they all had kings. They felt they needed a king to lead their army and make them feel strong. They stopped trusting God to be their leader.

God told Samuel to give them a king, but He warned them. God said a king would take their land and their money. Even so, the people still wanted one, so Samuel chose a man named Saul.

What happened to King Saul?

Saul was the first king of Israel. He was tall and handsome, and he started as a good leader. But soon, Saul stopped listening to God. He became proud and did things his own way instead of obeying God's rules.

Because Saul did not obey, God chose a new person to be king. Saul became very jealous and spent much of the book trying to hunt down the man who would take his place.

How did David become famous?

David was a young shepherd boy who trusted God very much. He became a hero when he fought a giant named Goliath. While all the soldiers were afraid, David used a sling and a stone to defeat the giant because he knew God was with him.

God chose David to be the next king because David had a heart that loved God. The book of 1 Samuel shows David running from Saul and waiting patiently for the time he would finally become the king.

Common questions

Who wrote the book of 1 Samuel?

The Bible does not name one single author. Most people believe it was written by Samuel himself, along with other prophets like Nathan and Gad.

What is the main message of 1 Samuel?

The main message is that obeying God is the most important thing a leader can do. It shows that God blesses those who trust Him and humbles those who are proud.

Is 1 Samuel in the Old or New Testament?

1 Samuel is in the Old Testament. It is part of the history books that tell the story of the nation of Israel before Jesus was born.

Why are there two books of Samuel?

Originally, 1 and 2 Samuel were one long scroll. They were split into two books because the story was too long to fit on just one piece of parchment.