Bible: Old Testament: English Standard Version

1 Samuel picks up the story roughly where the book of Judges left off. Samuel is born through an act of divine intervention in answer to Hannah his barren mother’s prayer. Samuel is entrusted to the priests at the tabernacle and given over to a life of dedication to God. As he grows up, he becomes a great prophet and judge for Israel, adjudicating people’s disputes and speaking the word of God. During this period, the Philistines are a rising threat to the scattered Israelite settlements, so the people clamor for a king to lead a more organized defense. This would be a significant change in Israelite society, but God permits it, so Samuel anoints a young man named Saul to be the first king of the united people of Israel. Saul at first exercises his kingship with an eye toward following the commands of God, but he eventually shows himself to be too headstrong in ways that lead to disobedience, so God rejects him as king. Although Saul continues to hold the office until his death, God has already selected the next king of Israel: a boy named David, from the town of Bethlehem. David, who is also Saul’s son-in-law, rises to prominence through his military prowess, most famously shown in his victory over the Philistine giant Goliath using only a sling and some stones.