The book of First Samuel
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1 Samuel 21
Fleeing Saul, David lies to the priest Ahimelech at Nob to get holy bread and Goliath’s sword, then escapes to the Philistine city of Gath where he feigns madness to avoid being killed by King Achish.
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1 Samuel 20
After a failed test to see if King Saul’s anger had subsided, which results in Saul attempting to kill his own son Jonathan, the two friends meet secretly in a field to renew their covenant of loyalty before weeping and parting ways forever.
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1 Samuel 19
David escapes death three times—first through Jonathan’s intercession, then through Michal’s window escape, and finally at Ramah, where the Spirit of God overwhelms Saul and his soldiers with prophetic ecstasy, preventing David’s capture.
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1 Samuel 18
As David’s fame grows and he forms a covenant friendship with Jonathan, King Saul becomes consumed by jealousy, attempting to kill David with a spear and dangerous military assignments, all of which only increase David’s success and popularity.
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1 Samuel 17
While the armies of Israel cower before the giant Goliath, the young shepherd David, trusting in the name of the Lord and armed only with a sling, defeats the champion and secures a great victory for Israel.
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1 Samuel 16
God rejects the outward appearance of Jesse’s older sons and commands Samuel to anoint the youngest, David, as the future king; meanwhile, David enters Saul’s service as a musician to soothe the king’s tormenting spirit.
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1 Samuel 15
Saul defeats the Amalekites but disobeys God by sparing King Agag and the best livestock; consequently, Samuel confronts him, declares that “obedience is better than sacrifice,” and announces God’s rejection of Saul as king.
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1 Samuel 14
Jonathan’s bold faith sparks a miraculous victory against the Philistines, but the triumph is nearly ruined by Saul’s foolish vow and legalism, which exhausts the army and endangers Jonathan’s life until the people intervene.
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1 Samuel 13
Facing an overwhelming Philistine army and deserting troops, Saul impatiently offers an unlawful sacrifice before Samuel arrives, resulting in the divine rejection of his dynasty and the prophetic announcement of a successor “after God’s own heart.”
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1 Samuel 12
In his farewell address, Samuel vindicates his integrity, rebukes Israel for demanding a king by calling down miraculous thunder during harvest, yet assures them that if they and their king obey the Lord, God will not abandon them for His name’s sake.
Bible Characters
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Mark (John Mark)
John Mark was a young disciple who overcame early failure to become a trusted companion of Paul and Peter, ultimately authoring the dynamic Gospel that bears his name.
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Matthew
Matthew was a despised tax collector transformed by grace into a devoted apostle, whose Gospel bridges the Old and New Testaments by proclaiming Jesus as the promised Messiah and King.
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Nabal
Nabal was a wealthy but foolish landowner whose arrogance and refusal to show hospitality to David led to divine judgment and his sudden death.
Biblical Events
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Mark (John Mark)
John Mark was a young disciple who overcame early failure to become a trusted companion of Paul and Peter, ultimately authoring the dynamic Gospel that bears his name.
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Matthew
Matthew was a despised tax collector transformed by grace into a devoted apostle, whose Gospel bridges the Old and New Testaments by proclaiming Jesus as the promised Messiah and King.
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Nabal
Nabal was a wealthy but foolish landowner whose arrogance and refusal to show hospitality to David led to divine judgment and his sudden death.
Bible Locations
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Jezreel
Jezreel was the fertile royal seat of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, famous for the murder of Naboth and the site where divine judgment eventually wiped out their entire dynasty.
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Aphek
Aphek was a strategic military stronghold and staging ground on the Sharon Plain where the Philistines gathered to capture the Ark and where David was providentially released from the Philistine army.
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Lachish
Lachish was the second most powerful city in ancient Judah, a mighty fortress whose dramatic fall to Assyria and Babylon serves as a pivotal moment in biblical history and archaeology.
