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1 and 2 Samuel: The Rise of Kingship
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Lesson OneOverview of 1 and 2 Samuel (1 Samuel 1–3, 8)19 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 1 Samuel 1–3, 8
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In | Workbook: Hannah and Elizabeth, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Hannah and Elizabeth, Part 2
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In | Overview
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In | Monarchy in the Torah and 1 and 2 Samuel, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Monarchy in the Torah and 1 and 2 Samuel
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In | Monarchy in the Torah and 1 and 2 Samuel, Part 2
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In | The Slow Emergence of Monarchy
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In | Prayer of Hannah and Song of David
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In | Tragedy and Comedy
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In | The Sons of David
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In | Kingship
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Behind | The Philistine Threat
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Behind | Onsite: Failed Leadership in Israel
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In Front | The Real King of Israel
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In Front | Workbook: Prayer of Hannah and Song of Mary
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In Front | Workbook: Our Expectations and God’s Hopes
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoSamuel and Kingship (1 Samuel 4–12)24 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 1 Samuel 4–12
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In | Workbook: The Corruption of Priests
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In | The Death of Eli’s Sons
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In | Workbook: Deaths of the Sons of Eli and Saul
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In | Deaths of the Sons of Eli and Saul
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In | The Ark’s Journey
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In | Mapping the Ark’s Journey, Part 1
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In | Request for a King
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In | Workbook: The Price of Kingship, Part 1
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In | Workbook: The Price of Kingship, Part 2
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In | Workbook: Monarchy in 1 Samuel
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In | Final Thoughts In the Text
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Behind | Ancient Near Eastern Kingship
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Behind | The Question of Sources for 1 and 2 Samuel
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Behind | Superstition, Magic and the Ark of YHWH: Dr. Catherine McDowell
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Behind | Onsite: Ashkelon - One of the Five Mighty Philistine Cities
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Behind | God in a Box
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Behind | Gods and Ritual Objects, Part 1
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Behind | Workbook: Gods and Ritual Objects
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Behind | Gods and Ritual Objects, Part 2
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In Front | Father and Sons
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In Front | Workbook: God in a Box, Revisited
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeSaul’s Demise (1 Samuel 13–19, 28–31)25 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 1 Samuel 13–19, 28–31
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In | The Spirit of God and Saul, Part 1
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In | Workbook: The Spirit of God and Saul
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In | The Spirit of God and Saul, Part 2
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In | Saul’s Call
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In | The Judges and Saul
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In | Workbook: Saul’s Fatal Errors
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In | Saul's Failure
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In | David and Jonathan
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In | Death and Doom in Samuel
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In | Workbook: The Death of Saul
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In | The Death of Saul
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In | Body Parts in the Mail
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In | Workbook: An Echo from Judges
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In | An Echo from Judges
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Behind | The Tribe of Benjamin
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Behind | Philistines vs. Israelites
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Behind | Onsite: Father and Son at Michmash
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Behind | International Territory
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In Front | Workbook: Reading Paul in the Time of Saul
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In Front | Reading Paul in the Time of Saul
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In Front | Two Ways of Facing “Competition”
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In Front | Workbook: Playing a Supporting Role
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourDavid’s Rise (1 Samuel 16–27, 29–30)26 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 1 Samuel 16–27, 29–30
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In | Workbook: Looks and Appearances
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In | Looks and Appearances
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In | What’s in a Number?
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In | Workbook: What’s in a Number?
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In | Workbook: David’s Two Introductions
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In | Respecting the Lord’s Anointed
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In | Narrative Lament
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In | Shame to Exoneration
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In | A Covenant Pattern
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In | Comedies and Tragedies
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Behind | David and the Philistines
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Behind | The Valley of Elah
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Behind | 360 View: Valley of Elah
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Behind | Onsite: Families, Flocks and Fields - Understanding David’s World
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Behind | Onsite: From Ruth to David to Jesus - In Bethlehem’s Shepherd’s Fields
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Behind | Onsite: David's Detour from Royalty - Exploring the Caves of Adullam
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Behind | The Wise Woman, Abigail: Dr. Carol Meyers
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In Front | A Tension of Strategy and Miracle
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In Front | Taking a Risk on God's Name
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In Front | The Exoneration of William Wilberforce
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In Front | Workbook: The Exoneration of William Wilberforce
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In Front | Workbook: Taking a Risk on God’s Name
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In Front | “Cave of Adullam” by Sara Groves
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveDavid's Reign (2 Samuel)23 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 2 Samuel
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In | David’s Power Consolidated
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In | Workbook: David’s Power Consolidated
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In | A Defense of David’s Legitimacy in 1 and 2 Samuel, Part 2
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In | Workbook: What’s in a Name?
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In | What’s in a Name?
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In | David's Fall
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In | Family Trouble
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In | Workbook: Joab’s Story
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In | Joab’s Story
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In | The Census
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In | David and Jesus
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Behind | Onsite: Taking the City of Jerusalem - Joining Joab Inside the Canaanite Tunnels
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Behind | Onsite: Jerusalem - An Orientation: Archaeologist Dr. Gabriel Barkay
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Behind | Onsite: David’s Palace and Neighborhood - Archaeologist Dr. Gabriel Barkay
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Behind | Jerusalem: City of David
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Behind | David’s Reign: A Hermeneutic of Suspicion
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Behind | David’s Story and Ancient Propaganda
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In Front | Prerogatives and Pretense
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In Front | The Adulteries of King David and a U.S. President
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - 1 and 2 Samuel
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 13
Lesson 4, Activity 4
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In | Looks and Appearances
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Lesson Progress
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Last lesson we noted the appeal of Saul to the people—tall, handsome and from a tribe of warriors. Saul represents an ideal ancient Near Eastern leader. But as we’ve seen time and again, God’s values and His view of history are often different than our own.
When Samuel is sent to Bethlehem to anoint David, God tells Samuel He has already chosen the next king. 1 Samuel 16:1 reads most literally, “I have seen for myself a king among (Jesse’s) sons,” and then the themes of “looking” and “appearances” continue throughout the chapter.
We’re told that David is “a handsome man” but also one whom the “LORD is with.” The most important factor for YHWH is something quite different than looks and appearances:
The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart.
1 Samuel 13:14 (NASB)
David is chosen by God foremost for his heart, though he also appeals to people for being “ruddy” and “handsome.” God uses cultural appeal to reinforce a more essential requirement.
Reference and translation of 1 Samuel 16:1: Victor P. Hamilton, Handbook on the Historical Books, 2001, pp. 253-254.