Analysis.

  I. Career of Samuel, Chs. 1-7.

   1.  His birth and call, Chs. 1-3.

   2.  His conflict with the Philistines, Chs. 4-7.

 II.  Career of Saul to his rejection, Chs. 8-15.

   1.  Chosen as King, Chs. 8-10.

   2.  Wars with Philistines, Chs. 11-14.

   3.  He is rejected, Chs. 15.

III.  Career of Saul after his rejection.  Chs. 16-31.

   1.  While David is at his court, Chs. 16-20.

   2.  While David is a refugee in Judah.  Chs. 21-26.

   3.  While David is a refugee in Philistia.  Chs. 27-31.

For Study and Discussion. (1) The story of Eli and his sons. (2) The birth and call of Samuel. (3) The anointing of Saul. (4) The anointing of David. (5) The evils of jealousy as seen in Saul. (6) The importance of respect for existing forms of government-see David’s attitude toward Saul. (7) How a man’s attitude toward God and his servants can make or mar his destiny. (8) Examples of how God uses both good and bad carrying forward his purposes.

Second Samuel.

In this book, there is given the story of the career of David while king of Israel.  He was the strongest king Israel ever had and was characterized as a fine executive, a skillful soldier and of a deeply religious disposition.  He was not without his faults, but in spite of them developed a great empire.

Analysis.

  I. His Reign Over Judah a Hebren, Chs. 1-4.

 II.  His reign Over All Israel, Chs. 5-10.

III.  His Great Sin and Its Results, Chs. 11-20.

 IV.  An Appendix, Chs. 21-34.

For Study and Discussion. (1) How David became king. (2) His victories in war. (3) His great sin and some of its consequences. (4) His kindness toward his enemies (see also his attitude toward Saul recorded in First Samuel). (5) The kindness of God as illustrated by the story of David’s kindness to Mephibosheth, Ch. 9. (6) David’s psalm of praise, Chs. 22-23. (7) The different occasions when David showed a penitent spirit (8) The great pestilence.  Ch. 24.

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Chapter IX.

First and Second Kings.

Name.  The name is taken from the Kings whose deeds they narrate.

Contents.  It takes up the history of Israel where Second Samuel left off and gives the account of the death of David, the reign of Solomon, the Divided Kingdom, and the captivity.

Purpose.  The political changes of Israel are given in order to show the religious condition.  Everywhere there is a conflict between faith and unbelief, between the worship of Jehovah and the worship of Baal.  We see wicked kings who introduce false worship and righteous kings who bring about reforms and try to overthrow false worship.  Israel yields to evil and is finally cut off, but Judah repents and is restored to perpetuate the kingdom and to be the medium through which Jesus came.