OUTLINE OF I SAMUEL

I Samuel - named for one of its principal characters

1. Samuel, the last of the judges (1:1--8:3)
   
   1. The birth of Samuel (1:1--2:10)
      
   2. The service of Samuel in the tabernacle (2:11-26)
      
   3. Two warnings to Eli (2:27--3:21)
      
   4. The first battle at Ebenezer (4:1-22)
      
   5. The captivity of the ark in Philistia (5:1--6:1)
      
   6. The return of the ark to Israel (6:2--7:2)
      
   7. The second battle at Ebenezer (7:3-14)
      
   8. Summary of Samuel's ministry (7:15--8:3)
   
   
2. The rise of Saul (8:4--12:25)
   
   1. Israel requests a king (8:4-22)
      
   2. Saul anointed privately by Samuel (9:1--10:16)
      
   3. Saul chosen by Israel (10:17--11:15)
      
      1. Saul publicly appointed (10:17-25)
         
      2. Saul vindicated by victory over Ammonites (10:26--11:15)
      
      
   4. The final address of Samuel (12:1-25)
   
   
3. The decline of Saul (13:1--15:35)
   
   1. Saul intrudes into the priesthood (13:1-15a)
      
   2. Philistines defeated at Michmash (13:15b--14:46)
      
   3. Surrounding nations subdued (14:47-52)
      
   4. Saul disobeys in the Amalekite victory (15:1-35)
   
   
4. The rise of David (16:1--27:12)
   
   1. David anointed by Samuel (16:1-23)
      
   2. David delivers Israel by slaying Goliath (17:1-58)
      
   3. David flees from jealous Saul (18:1--19:24)
      
   4. Jonathan intervenes for David (20:1-42)
      
   5. David wanders as an outlaw (21:1--27:12)
      
      1. David obtains aid of high priest (21:1-9)
         
      2. David flees (21:10--22:2)
         
      3. Saul executes the priests (22:3-23)
         
      4. David delivers the men of Keilah (23:1-14)
         
      5. David spares Saul's life (23:15--24:22)
         
      6. David and Nabal (25:1-44)
         
      7. David again spares Saul's life (26:1-25)
         
      8. David settles in Ziklag (27:1-12)
   
   
5. The end of the reign of Saul (28:1--31:13)
   
   1. Saul seeks help from witch at Endor (28:1-25)
      
   2. The Philistines, not trusting him, send David back (29:1-11)
      
   3. David recovers his possessions from Amalekites (30:1-31)
      
   4. Defeat at Mt. Gilboa and death of Saul (31:1-13)