1 Samuel

The book of Samuel is actually one scroll in the Hebrew Old Testament, but it is divided into two parts in the English Bible. This first installment carries the accounts of three characters—Samuel, Saul and David—and traces the transition of Israel, in a time of social and spiritual instability, from a tribal nation into a unified kingdom.

It begins with the story of Hannah whose prayer for a son was answered by God through the birth of Samuel. In gratitude, Hannah dedicated the child to God, and her song of praise sets the tone for the rest of the book in which God worked out His purpose despite human pride and perversions, with the promise of a Messiah king who will rescue and reign over His people.

Samuel is a key figure in the book as the last judge, prophet and leader who also played a pivotal role in the rise of Saul, the first king of Israel. Samuel served the people well in recovering the ark of the covenant, returning the nation to the worship of God, and reclaiming lost territories from Israel's mortal enemy, the Philistines. Unfortunately, his sons did not measure up and so the people demanded for a king.

Saul looked promising from the start as he led the people to a few victories. His character flaws soon become apparent when he disregarded Samuel's instruction, disobeyed God, denied his mistakes and downplayed his actions with poor excuses. As a result, God rejected Saul and recommissioned Samuel to anoint young David, whose impressive debut in defeating Goliath and gaining the favor of the people, instilled a spirit of jealousy in Saul which led to his relentless pursuit and persecution of the innocent young warrior, forcing him into exile.

Saul's decline and doom is sealed after the death of Samuel. He met his demise soon after consulting a medium in a desperate bid to decipher the outcome of his last battle.

OUTLINE OF 1 SAMUEL

1. Samuel: The Last Judge (1:1-7:17)
a. First Transition: Eli to Samuel (1:1-3:21)
Hannah—Barrenness, Birth, Blessings
Eli—Father, Falter, Failure
b. Change of Leadership (4:1-7:17)
Samuel—Judge, Prophet, Leader
2. Saul: The First King (8:1-15:9)
a. Second Transition: Samuel to Saul (8:1-12:25)
Israel Rejects God | Samuel Warns Israel
Saul Rescued Gibeah from the Ammonites
Saul Anointed as King
b. Reign of King Saul (13:1-15:9)
Early Victories against the Philistines
Foolish Actions and Decisions
Incomplete Obedience
3. David: The Man of God's Choice (15:10-31:13)
a. Third Transition: Saul to David (15:10-18:9)
God Rejects Saul | God Chooses David
David and Goliath | David and Jonathan
David Praised Over Saul
b. Saul's Attempt to Rid David (18:10-20:42)
First Spear | Philistines' Foreskins
Second Spear | Michal's Escape Scheme
Samuel's Home | Jonathan's Help
c. David's Refuge and Rise (21:1-28:2)
Priest of Nob | King of Gath
Friends and Foes | Priests and Philistines
David Spared Saul | Death of Samuel
David Spared Saul Again | Saul Relented
d. Saul's Decline and Doom (28:3-31:13)
Witch of Endor | David among the Philistines
David Defeated the Amalekites
Death of Saul

Judges

Under the leadership of Joshua, the people of Israel conquered the enemies, cast lots for the land, and committed themselves to serve God. Sadly, after his death and the passing away of his generation, the nation plunged into chaos, committed idolatry and intermarriage, and was severely chastised by God for their unfaithfulness.

God remained true to His covenant. When the people erred in their ways, He allowed them to be overcome and subjugated by the remaining Canaanite tribes. When the people repented and cried out to God, He raised up champions—judges—to rescue and restore them back to Him. It's a vicious cycle from sin to salvation, repeated seven times over a period of 350 years, as the people vacillated between obedience and apostasy.

The character and morality of a people are usually a reflection of their leaders, and this is clearly seen in the depreciating quality of the judges as the book progresses. The first three—Othniel, Ehud and Deborah—are at best good and somewhat admirable, but from this point on it's all the way downhill. Gideon started out well from cowardice to courage, only to exact revenge on those who did not offer help after his victory and created an idol that later ensnared the people. Jephthah fought well but fumbled badly and ended up sacrificing his own daughter over a reckless vow. Samson misused his God-given strength for his own selfish purpose and ultimately paid the price with his sight and in the end, his life.

Judges morbidly describes the darkest period in the history of God's chosen people, when they forgot and forsook His ways over their own selfish and self-serving ways. Consequently, it was every man for himself as the book concluded with this indicting statement:

21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

OUTLINE OF JUDGES

1. The Cause (1:1-2:23)

a. Failures of the Tribes (1:1-36)

Judah | Benjamin | Joseph | Zebulun

Asher | Naphtali | Dan

b. Judgment of God (2:1-23)

Angelic Proclamation

Passing of Godly Generation

Beginning of National Decline

2. The Consequences (3:1-16:31)

a. First Cycle (3:1-11)

Othniel—Mesopotamians

b. Second Cycle (3:12-31)

Ehud—Moabites | Shamgar—Philistines

c. Third Cycle (4:1-5:31)

Deborah and Barak—Canaanites

d. Fourth Cycle (6:1-8:32)

Gideon—Midianites

e. Fifth Cycle (8:33-10:5)

Abimelech | Tola and Jair

f. Sixth Cycle (10:6-12:15)

Jephthah—Ammonites

Ibzan | Elon | Abdon

g. Seventh Cycle (13:1-16:31)

Samson—Philistines

3. The Chaos (17:1-21:25)

a. Religious Chaos (17:1-18:31)

Apostasy—Personal | Tribal

b. Moral Chaos (19:1-30)

Depravity—Personal | Tribal

c. Social Chaos (20:1-21:25)

Anarchy—National Crisis

Decimation | Indiscretions | Abductions

 

Joshua

Joshua is an action-filled account of military campaigns and strategies in the conquest of Canaan. After the death of Moses the newly appointed successor Joshua, probably now in his seventies, took up the heavy responsibility of bringing the people into the Promised Land, being one of two sole survivors of the former generation.

Having secured possession on the east side of Jordan with two victories over the armies of Sihon and Og, and distributed their lands to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh, Israel is poised to take on the Canaanite armies. Through three major military campaigns involving central, southern and northern Canaan under the capable and courageous leadership of Joshua, the young and inexperienced nation engaged and defeated more than thirty armies, many of whom are better equipped and superior in military might. These victories underscored an important lesson for Israel and believers alike, that faith in God and obedience to His Word are what really matter when it comes to winning any battle—physical or spiritual.

The conquest of Canaan, however, was more than fighting for possession of the land between nations; it was a 'holy war' in which God, through His people, executed divine judgment on the sins and wickedness of the inhabitants, and in the process prepared His people to occupy the land only after it had been cleansed of the filth of idolatry and immorality.

Ultimately, we will have to make up our mind which sides we want to take—God or the world, the devil and self. Joshua left no room for doubt or dispute:

24:15  Choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

OUTLINE OF JOSHUA

1. Preparation (1:1-5:15)

a. Joshua the New Leader (1:1-18)

Commissioned by God | Accepted by the People

b. Military Preparation (2:1-5:1)

Jericho City—The Two Spies and Rahab

Jordan River—Miraculous Crossing | Memorial

c. Spiritual Preparation (5:2-15)

Circumcision Performed | Passover Observed

Manna Ceased | Corn Consumed

Commander of the Lord's Armies Appeared

2. Subjugation (6:1-13:7)

a. Central Campaign (6:1-8:35)

Fall of Jericho | Ai—Defeat and Victory

b. Southern Campaign (9:1-10:43)

Gibeonites-Alliance | Amorites Annihilated

c. Northern Campaign (11:1-15)

d. Summary of Conquests

Under Moses | Under Joshua

3. Occupation (13:8-24:33)

a. East of Jordan (13:8-33)

Levi | Reuben | Gad | Half-Manasseh

b. West of Jordan (14:1-19:51)

Judah | Joseph—Ephraim and Half-Manasseh

Benjamin | Simeon | Zebulun |Issachar | Asher

Naphtali | Dan | Joshua

c. Cities for the Levities (20:1-21:45)

Cities of Refuge

Cities for Kohathites | Gershonites | Merarites

d. Covenant Renewal (22:1-24:33)

Altar of Witness | Challenge to the People

Death of Joshua and Eleazar

 

Former Prophets

The 'Former Prophets', also known as the Nevi'im Rishonim, traces the history of Israel in its transition from a loose tribal confederation under theocracy—governance under God—to a united nation under monarchy, in which men exercised rule as God's representatives.

Joshua, like his predecessor Moses, played the role of a leader and mediator between God and the people, though on a much lesser scale. Judges recorded the tumultuous and dark periods of Israel's history after the passing of Joshua and his generation in which apostasy and idolatry became rampant. God raised up deliverers such as Deborah, Gideon and Samson to free His people from their oppressors and directed them back to true worship and order.

Within the narratives of this section of the Nevi'im are the first appearances of individual prophets, such as Samuel who was also the last judge and a seer, Elijah and his successor Elisha. These 'pre-classical' prophets were very much like their later counterparts, in that they played a pivotal role in advising and admonishing the kings that ruled during the periods of their prophetic ministries.

These books, from a historical perspective, bear witness to what God promised He would do in Deuteronomy—blessings for obedience and curses for unfaithfulness—to His people. Two voices can be heard in the Nevi'im Rishonim: that of the heroic exploits of Israel's kings and judges and the covenantal acts of God in relation to the leaders and people on the basis of their fidelity to God.

Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.

 

The Prophets

This is the second major division of the Tanakh, also known as the Nevi'im in Hebrew. It is made up of two sub-groups, namely the 'Former Prophets' and 'Latter Prophets'.

The former prophets is a collection of narrative books that covers the period from the conquest of Canaan up until the Babylonian captivity. The latter prophets comprise writings of various prophets before, during and after the exile, and are divided into the major and minor prophets. Thus:

Former Prophets        Latter Prophets

Joshua                           Isaiah

Judges                           Jeremiah

Samuel                          Ezekiel

Kings                             The 'Twelve'

The book of 'Twelve' is essentially the minor prophets, namely, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. These are treated as one single book, or scroll, by the Jews.

From both historical and prophetical perspectives, the initial triumphs and incessant troubles Israel found herself embroiled in as a result of her idolatry and injustice, is a testimony to the sure Word of God based on His covenant with the unstable and unfaithful nation. But God's purpose was not overturned nor defeated despite Israel's failure.

The Holy One of Israel is the Creator of the cosmos, not just the Protector of a small nation—and any nation or people which fears Him and fulfills His demands on justice and faithfulness will, without exception, be blessed by Him.