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1 and 2 Samuel: The Rise of Kingship

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of 1 and 2 Samuel (1 Samuel 1–3, 8)
    19 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Samuel and Kingship (1 Samuel 4–12)
    24 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    Saul’s Demise (1 Samuel 13–19, 28–31)
    25 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    David’s Rise (1 Samuel 16–27, 29–30)
    26 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    David's Reign (2 Samuel)
    23 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Samuel’s warning to the people about the dangers of monarchy in chapter 8 used a similar language of warning. In his address to Israel at the beginning of chapter 12, he’s having an “I told you so” moment with the people. They didn’t have to worry about Samuel taking their things, but they will with Saul. If we place the two passages side by side, they look something like this: 

1 Samuel 8:10-18 (NASB)1 Samuel 12:3-4 (NASB)
He will take your sons (8:11).Whose ox have I taken (12:3)
He will also take your daughters (8:13).Whose donkey have I taken (12:3)
He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves (8:14).Whom have I defrauded? (12:3)
He will take a tenth of your seed (8:15).Whom have I oppressed (12:3)
He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work (8:16).From whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you (12:3).
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants (8:17).You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand (12:4).

Table adapted from: Victor P. Hamilton, Handbook on the Historical Books, 2001, p. 242.