The book of First Samuel

When Nahash the Ammonite threatens to gouge out the eyes of the men of Jabesh-gilead, the Spirit of God empowers Saul to rally all Israel, crush the Ammonites in a surprise attack, and unite the nation in a celebration of kingship at Gilgal.

Samuel privately anoints Saul and gives him three confirming signs; later, Saul is publicly chosen by lot at Mizpah, where he is found hiding among the baggage, eventually acclaimed as king but facing some opposition.

While searching for his father’s lost donkeys, Saul is providentially led to the prophet Samuel, who reveals that Saul is God’s choice to be the first king of Israel and honors him at a feast.

The elders of Israel, citing Samuel’s age and his sons’ corruption, demand a king to be like other nations; despite Samuel’s warning about the oppression and taxation a monarchy will bring, God allows them to reject His direct rule and choose a human king.

After twenty years of spiritual stagnation, Samuel leads Israel in national repentance at Mizpah, resulting in a miraculous, thunderous victory over the Philistines and the establishment of the “Ebenezer” stone of help.

The Philistines return the Ark to Israel using a test involving two milk cows and a cart of golden guilt offerings; the cows miraculously head to Beth-shemesh, where the Israelites celebrate but are subsequently struck down for irreverently looking into the Ark.

The captured Ark of the Covenant wreaks havoc in Philistia, toppling the idol Dagon and afflicting the cities of Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron with a deadly plague of tumors until the Philistines beg to return it.

Israel suffers a catastrophic defeat by the Philistines, losing 30,000 men, the corrupt priests Hophni and Phinehas, and the Ark of the Covenant, leading to the death of Eli and the birth of Ichabod, marking the departure of God’s glory.

In a time of spiritual silence, God calls the young boy Samuel to succeed the corrupt priesthood of Eli, entrusting him with a hard message of judgment and establishing him as a prophet to all Israel.

Hannah praises God for His sovereign reversals while Eli’s sons corrupt the priesthood, leading to a divine curse on Eli’s house and a promise of a future faithful priest.