I. Eli and Samuel chs. 1-3
A. The change from barrenness to fertility 1:1-2:10
1. Hannah's condition 1:1-8
2. Hannah's vow 1:9-18
3. Hannah's obedience 1:19-28
4. Hannah's song 2:1-10
B. The contrast between Samuel and Eli's sons 2:11-36
1. Eli's sons' wickedness 2:11-17
2. Hannah's godly influence on Samuel and its effect 2:18-21
3. Eli's lack of influence on his sons and its effect 2:22-26
4. The oracle against Eli's house 2:27-36
C. God's first revelation to Samuel ch. 3
1. Samuel's call 3:1-18
2. Samuel's ministry 3:19-4:1a
II. The history of the ark of the covenant 4:1b-7:1
A. The capture of the ark 4:1b-22
1. The battle of Aphek 4:1b-11
2. The response of Eli 4:12-18
3. The response of Phinehas' wife 4:19-22
B. Pagan fertility foiled by God ch. 5
C. The ark returned to Israel by God 6:1-7:1
1. The plan to terminate God's judgment 6:1-9
2. The return of the ark to Bethshemesh 6:10-18
3. The removal of the ark to Kiriath-jearim 6:19-7:1
III. Samuel and Saul 7:2-15:35
A. Samuel's ministry as Israel's judge 7:2-17
1. Samuel's spiritual leadership 7:2-4
2. National repentance and deliverance 7:5-14
3. Samuel's regular ministry 7:15-17
B. Kingship given to Saul chs. 8-12
1. The demand for a king ch. 8
2. The anointing of Saul 9:1-10:16
3. The choice of Saul by lot 10:17-27
4. Saul's effective leadership in battle 11:1-11
5. The confirmation of Saul as king 11:12-12:25
C. Kingship removed from Saul chs. 13-15
1. Saul's disobedience at Gilgal 13:1-15
2. Saul's struggle against the Philistines 13:16-14:23
3. Saul's cursing of Jonathan 14:24-46
4. Saul's limited effectiveness in battle 14:47-52
5. Yahweh's final rejection of Saul ch. 15
IV. Saul and David 1 Sam. 16-31
A. David's rise as the new anointed 16:1-18:5
1. God's selection of David for kingship ch. 16
2. The reason for God's selection of David ch. 17
3. The results of God's selection of David ch. 18:1-19:17
B. David driven out by Saul 19:18-20:42
1. God's deliverance in Ramah 19:18-24
2. Jonathan's advocacy for David ch. 20
C. David in exile chs. 21-31
1. David's initial movements chs. 21-22
2. Saul's pursuit of David ch. 23
3. David's goodness to two fools ch. 24-26
4. The end of Saul's reign 27-31
(Continued in notes on 2 Samuel)
