History · 31 stories
Stories
Hannah's Prayer and Samuel's Birth
Barren and mocked, Hannah prays desperately at Shiloh, receives Eli's blessing, conceives Samuel, and returns to dedicate him to God with a song of praise.
8 parts
The Corruption of Eli's House
Eli's corrupt sons bring doom on his priestly house while the child Samuel grows faithfully in their shadow, setting the stage for a new priesthood.
6 parts
God Calls Samuel
A boy sleeping in God's temple hears a mysterious voice, learns to answer it, receives a hard message of judgment, and grows into Israel's recognized prophet.
9 parts
The Ark Is Captured
Israel's two defeats by the Philistines end in catastrophe as the ark is captured, Eli's sons are slain, and Eli himself dies upon hearing the news.
7 parts
The Ark Among the Philistines
Captured by the Philistines, the ark brings plague and terror to every city that holds it until, after seven months, the Philistines return it to Israel with a guilt offering.
10 parts
The Ark Returns to Israel
When men of Beth Shemesh look inside the ark, Yahweh strikes seventy of them dead, and the terrified survivors cry out, 'Who can stand before this holy God?' and beg Kiriath Jearim to take the ark away — so the men of that town carry it up to Abinadab's house on the hill, where it comes to rest.
3 parts
Samuel Judges Israel
After twenty years of longing, Samuel leads Israel to repentance at Mizpah, and when Philistines attack, God thunders them into defeat—Samuel marks the victory with a stone called Ebenezer and judges Israel faithfully for years.
8 parts
Israel Demands a King
Israel's elders demand a king despite Samuel's warnings of tyranny, and God reluctantly permits it, directing Samuel to appoint one.
7 parts
Saul Anointed King
A simple search for lost donkeys leads Saul to Samuel, who anoints him prince, confirms his calling with signs, and sees him transformed by God's Spirit.
8 parts
Saul Chosen as King
At Mizpah, Samuel selects Saul by lot, finds him hiding among baggage, and presents Israel's first king to mixed acclaim and silent contempt.
5 parts
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
Nahash's cruel ultimatum against Jabesh-Gilead spurs Saul's Spirit-empowered rise: he rallies all Israel, routs the Ammonites, and the kingdom is joyfully renewed at Gilgal.
6 parts
Samuel's Farewell Address
Samuel challenges all Israel to name any wrong he has done and is publicly vindicated, then rehearses God's repeated rescues to show that demanding a king was a betrayal; when he calls down unseasonable thunder and rain the terrified people confess their sin, and Samuel closes by pledging continued prayer while warning that further wickedness will destroy both them and their king.
3 parts
Saul's Kingdom Rejected
Saul's reign unravels as a Philistine crisis exposes his fear, a rash sacrifice, and Samuel's verdict that his dynasty is finished.
4 parts
Jonathan's Victory Over the Philistines
Jonathan's lone faith-driven raid on a Philistine garrison sparks a miraculous rout, but his father's rash oath nearly costs him his life before the people intervene to save him.
8 parts
Saul Rejected by God
Saul's failure to fully destroy Amalek — sparing king Agag and the best livestock — leads Samuel to declare his rejection as king and execute Agag himself.
9 parts
David Anointed King
Samuel secretly travels to Bethlehem, where God overrules outward impressions to choose the youngest shepherd boy David, whose anointing draws the Spirit to him as it departs from Saul.
4 parts
David Soothes Saul
After an evil spirit begins tormenting Saul, young David is summoned to court and his harp-playing brings the king relief whenever the spirit strikes.
3 parts
David and Goliath
A young shepherd boy named David volunteers to face the giant Goliath alone, defeats him with a sling and stone, and routs the Philistine army.
12 parts
Jonathan and David's Friendship
A deep bond springs up instantly between Jonathan and David, sealed when Jonathan strips off his own robe, sword, and weapons and gives them all to David; but as David's fame grows and the women's victory songs rank him above Saul, the king's warmth curdles into jealousy — he hurls his spear at David twice, then removes him from his presence and makes him a captain, fearing him because Yahweh is with David and no longer with Saul — until finally it is Saul's own daughter Michal who lowers David through a window in the night so he can flee with his life.
8 parts
David Flees From Saul
When Saul's murderous rage drives David to Samuel at Naioth, God's Spirit falls on every group of soldiers sent to seize him—and on Saul himself, who strips naked and prophesies helplessly before Samuel—buying David time to flee to Jonathan; there the two friends devise a secret signal, Jonathan confirms at the feast that Saul is truly set on killing David, and they part in tears, their covenant renewed before they go their separate ways.
6 parts
David at Nob
David secretly obtains sacred bread from Ahimelech at Nob while Doeg the Edomite watches, setting a deadly witness against the priests.
2 parts
David Flees to Adullam
David flees Saul into enemy Gath, escapes by feigning madness, and draws four hundred outcasts to his side at Adullam's cave.
4 parts
Massacre of the Priests at Nob
Doeg's accusation triggers Saul's massacre of Nob's priests, but Ahimelech's son Abiathar escapes and finds refuge with David.
4 parts
David Rescues Keilah and Escapes
David rescues Keilah from the Philistines, then evades Saul's pursuit through divine guidance, a covenant with Jonathan, and a providential Philistine raid.
3 parts
David Spares Saul at En-Gedi
David spares Saul's life in a cave at En-Gedi, then confronts him with proof of his mercy, and Saul tearfully acknowledges David's righteousness and future kingship.
3 parts
Abigail Saves David
When churlish Nabal insults David and triggers his wrath, quick-witted Abigail intercedes with gifts and wisdom, sparing innocent blood—and soon becomes David's wife after Nabal dies.
4 parts
David Spares Saul Again
David infiltrates Saul's camp by night, spares the sleeping king, and confronts him from afar with proof, winning Saul's admission of guilt before they part ways.
4 parts
David Among the Philistines
Fleeing Saul, David seeks refuge with Philistine king Achish, secures the town of Ziklag, and wins Achish's trust through raids and deception.
3 parts
Saul and the Medium of Endor
Desperate before battle, Saul disguises himself and consults a medium at Endor, where Samuel's ghost rises to pronounce his doom.
3 parts
David Defeats the Amalekites
Sent home by the Philistines, David returns to find Ziklag burned and families taken, then pursues the Amalekite raiders, recovers every captive and all plunder, and establishes a lasting rule of equal shares.
6 parts
The Death of Saul
Israel's king Saul and his sons fall in battle against the Philistines, whose victory humiliates Israel until loyal men of Jabesh-Gilead reclaim and honor the fallen.
12 parts