Unit 1: Samuel
- Week 1: Samuel hears the word of God
- Week 2: The Philistines and the Ark
- Week 3: King Saul is Anointed
- Week 4: King Saul is Rejected
- Week 5: David is Anointed
- Week 6: Saul Resents David
- Week 7: David and Jonathan
- Week 8: David spares Saul Twice
Week 1: Samuel hears the word of God
Title: Samuel hears the word of God
Objective:
- Be familiar with Samuel's parents
- Hanna's vow and the Lord's response
- Review the concept of consecration (Nazarite)
- Contrast between Samuel and Eli's children
- The Lord's calling and my response
Resources:
- Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 1-3
- Specific
- Family background (1Samuel 1:1-7)
- Hannah's vow (1 Samuel 1:8-18)
- God's fulfillment (1 Samuel1: 19-28 & 1 Samuel 1:18-21)
- Eli's sons (1 Samuel 2:12-17 & 1 Samuel 2:22-36)
- God calls Samuel (1 Samuel 3)
- Conclusion prayer
- Hanna's prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
Key verse(s):
- "‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’" 1 Samuel 3:9
Comments:
- Hannah, whose name means (compassion)or (grace) resembled the Church of the New Testament that has enjoyed the exalted compassion of God, proclaimed through the sacrifice of the cross and the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Grantor of son hood to God and communion with Him.
- God allowed it, for the soul of the pious Hannah, to get so saturated with bitterness, to cry out from the depths of her heart, to grant her the son He had prepared beforehand for her, and for all His people; whose life and ministry became an integral part of the Holy Bible.
- Hannah was in bitterness of soul (1 Samuel 1: 10); yet her anguish did not keep her from sharing with other believers, eating of the sacrifice, so that all would be reconciled together in God.
- Her bitterness of soul did not cause her to hate or envy her husband’s other wife, but made her entreat for divine help to take away her disgrace.
- Hannah became a living example - along the generations - of the power of a silent prayer.
- While many of us resort to God in the times of affliction, then forget Him in our times of joy; Hannah, on the other hand, did not forget the Lord. But she rather entered into new depths, seeing in her child a symbol of God’s work of salvation.
- Her praise came to be close to that of St. Mary, the mother of God (Luke 1: 46 - 55)
Review questions:
- How can you prove that Elkanah was very kind and cared about Hannah?
- What is required from the one who is vowed for the LORD? When did Hannah go to the temple with Samuel
her son? And what did she take with her as a sacrifice to the LORD? - What were the sins that the sons of Eli the priest doing?
- What was the sin of Eli the priest with his sons? What was God’s punishment to Eli the priest?
- How did all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognize that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD?
Homework:
- Elkanah was a man from _____ and the name of his father was _____ an _____. Elkanah married two women;
_____ (who had children) and _____ (who was barren). - What was Hannah’s vow to the LORD in the temple?
- From the praise of Hannah, one can win by:
a) his/her power b) his/her smartness c) depending on God - Under whom was Samuel ministering before the Lord?
- How many times did God call Samuel and he thought it was Eli who called him?
- So Samuel grew, and the LORD was _____ ____ and let none of his _____ fall to the ground
- How often did Elkanah go to Shiloh? And why?
- When did Hannah go to the temple with Samuel her son? And what did she take with her as a sacrifice to the
LORD? - Under whom was Samuel ministering before the LORD?
- The sin of the sons of Eli the priest was great before the LORD because:
a) they were eating a lot of meat b) they were not listening to the advice of their father Eli the priest
c) they were treating the LORD's offering with contempt - What was the message that was given to Samuel by God?
- Which verse shows that in the days of Eli the priest the Word of the Lord was rare.
Week 2: The Philistines and the Ark
Title: The Philistines and the Ark
Objective:
- The consequence of sin and corruption
- The Philistines suffer from the presence of the Ark among them
- There is no mingling between light and darkness
- The Holy thing of the Lord should not be taken lightly
Resources:
- Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty Commentary
- Catena Bible Commentary
- Fr Dadoud Lamie's Bible study
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 4-6
- Specific
- Review last week's events briefly
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 4:1-11 (Israel fights the Palestine and loses, Eli's sons die, and the Ark of the covenant is captured)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 4:12-18 (The death of Eli when he hears the news)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 5:1-12 (The Philistines suffer from the presence of the Ark among them)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 6:1-12 (The Philistines decide to return the Ark with a trespass offering)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 6:13-18 (The Israelites rejoiced and offered to the Lord)
- Conclude with what happened in 1 Samuel 6:19 & 1 Samuel 7:1 (We should not take dealing with the Holies lightly)
Key verse(s):
"But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them" 1 Samuel 5:6
Comments:
- In the book of Judges 13: 1, it was said that God delivered the children of Israel into the hand of the Philistines for 40 years; The events mentioned here probably happened during that period.
- Bringing the ark of the covenant did not imply a return to God in repentance, but a leaning on the outer formalities of worship. (We do not use the Bible, the Cross, icons, etc. as items to bring luck.
- God allowed the Philistines to capture the ark of the covenant, to chastise His people to make them realize that through corruption, they lost the dwelling of God in their midst.
- ‘Dagon’ is a name derived from the Hebrew word ‘Dag,’ namely (a fish) a Philistine god, with human-like head and hands; while the torso is that of a fish. It was considered to be a god of fertility.
- The ark of God remained in the midst of the pagans for seven months to confirm to all, that what happened to the idol Dagon, and to the people (the tumors and the destructive rats), was not a mere coincidence, but was actually a sign of God’s wrath on the pagans.
- The Philistines, despite their ignorance, had honored the ark of God, more so than the people to whom clear statutes have been given concerning it.
- God used even the pagan priests and the diviners to testify to Him
- God led the two milk cows, against their natural tendency to join their calves, to go straight toward the people of God. How amazing is God’s mercy toward us; He yearns to forget our iniquity, to rest and dwell in us!
- The stone on which the ark of the covenant was set in the field of Joshua, remained as a testimonial for the future generations, to God’s work with His people and His care for them.
Review questions:
- What happened to the Ark of God after the Israelites were defeated? And what did this mean to them?
- What happened to Eli the priest when he heard about the results of the war between the Israelites and the
Philistines? And how old was he at that time? - How did God punish the people of Ashdod? And what did they do?
- What did the people Ekron do when the Philistines decided to move the Ark of the LORD to their city?
- How can you conclude that the Philistines had a belief in the God of the Israelites?
- What did God do to the people of Beth Shemesh? Why?
- Did the Philistines believe in the God of Israel? Explain.
- What did the wife of Phinehas named her boy? And why did she give him this name?
- What happened to Dagon when they put the Ark of the LORD by it? What happened to the people in Gath
when the Ark of the LORD was moved to their city? And what did they do? - he Philistines kept the Ark in their holiest place. Why would God punish them?
- Were the Philistines sure that the God of Israel intentionally brought the plague upon them? Give proof.
- What did God do to the people of Beth Shemesh? Why?
Homework:
- How old was Eli when he died?
- Where did the Philistines put the Ark of the LORD first?
a) Gath b) Dagon's temple in Ashdod c) Ekron - The Ekronites cried out, saying, “________________________________ our people”.
- The Ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines for:
a) 40 years b) 7 years c) 7 months - The LORD struck the men of Bethshemesh because _____________________.
- What happened to the Ark of God?
- What happened to the sons of Eli the priest?
- What happened to Dagon when they put the Ark of the LORD by it?
- What happened to the people in Gath when the Ark of the LORD was moved to their city? And what did they
do? - What did the Philistines present as a Trespass Offering?
- Who were the first people from Israel who saw the Ark of the LORD coming back?
Week 3: King Saul is Anointed
Title: King Saul is Anointed
Objective:
- Repentance brings victory and success
- Israel compares itself with the other nations and why it is wrong
- Listen to God even if we don't like or understand the commandment
Resources:
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 7-10
- Specific
- Today we have 3 stories
- Story #1 (Israel defeats the Philistines)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 7:2-14
- Story #2 (Israel demands a king and Samuel is offended)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 7:15-17 then 1 Samuel 8
- Story #3 (Saul and his donkeys) anointed as king
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 9
Key verse(s):
"If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths[a] from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3
Review questions:
- What is Ebenezer? And what did it mean?
- What was the consequence when the Israelites returned to the LORD with all their hearts?
- What steps did the people of Israel take to restore their relationship with God?
- What was the consequence of the Israelites return to the LORD with all their hearts?
- What was Samuel’s prophecy about the king who will reign over the Israelites?
- What reasons does Israel give in their request for a king?
- Why would asking for a king be rejecting God?
- Why were the Israelites willing to ignore God’s warnings?
Homework:
- The men of ________ came and took up the Ark of the LORD. They took it to the house of _____ on the hill
and consecrated ________ his son to guard it. - The Philistines were routed before the Israelites because:
a- The Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.
b- The Israelites fasted and confessed that they have sinned against the LORD and Samuel interceded with
the LORD for them.
c- Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole Burnt Offering to the LORD and he cried out to
the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him.
d- All of the above.
e- The Israelites were so strong. - What was Samuel’s advice to the people of Israel so that the LORD can deliver them from the hands of the
Philistines? - Where did Samuel build an altar to the LORD?
- As a result of the sins of Samuel’s sons all the elders wanted:
a) to kill Samuel’s sons b) to assign two other judges c) to have a king - After what Samuel told the elders of Israel concerning what will happen to Israel when they had a king, they:
a) asked Samuel to pray for them b) asked Samuel to forget about their request c) disregarded Samuel
warning and insisted on having a king - What are the names of Samuel’s sons? What were their jobs?
- What was God’s response to Samuel’s prayer about the request of the elders of Israel?
Week 4: King Saul is Rejected
Title: King Saul is Rejected
Objective:
- Saul's rise (with God) and fall (without God)
- Discuss the reasons behind God's rejection to Saul
Resources:
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 11-15
- Specific
- The beginning
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 11 (Saul is victorious by the power of God)
- The middle
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 13:1-14 (Saul's unlawful sacrifice)
- Summarize 1 Samuel 14:1-23
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 14:24-46 (Saul's rash oath)
- The end
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 15:10-35 (
- The beginning
Key verse(s):
"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." 1 Samuel 15:23
Review questions:
- On what condition Nabash was willing to make a covenant with Jabesh?
- How did the Jabeshites mislead the Ammonites and how extensive was the defeat of the Ammonites?
- What was Saul’s ultimate sin? Why? What was the punishment for it?
- Why there was no blacksmith found in the land of Israel?
- What was Saul first foolish rash oath? And how did this affect his people?
- What did the people of Israel do wrong in verse 32? And how did Saul react to their sin?
- Why does Nahash ask for such a harsh condition of surrender?
- What did Saul’s victory mean to those who questioned his reign and what was Saul’s response?
- What was the ultimate sin that Saul did as mentioned in verses 9 through11? What was the result of Saul’s sin
as told by Samuel? - Who does verse 14 refer to? Explain.
- Saul rushed into two oaths. What were they and how did they affect his people?
- What did Saul do when God did not respond to his prayers in verse 37?
- Why do you think Saul disobeyed God’s commandments?
- What did Saul do when Samuel was leaving him? What was the consequence to that?
- What did Saul do wrong after which God regretted setting him up as a king? And why was Saul rejected to be
the king of Israel as in verse 26? - To obey is better than sacrifice. Explain.
Homework:
- When Saul heard the weep of all his people, he
a) prayed for them, (b) he was angry at them, (c) the Spirit of God came upon him and his anger was
kindled greatly. - But ________ said, “not a man shall be put to death this day: for _____________________.
- Where did the men of Israel hide?
- The wrong that the people of Israel did in verse 33 was:
a) they ate meat b) they did not obey Saul c) they ate meat with the blood - What happened to Saul when he heard the weep of all his people?
- What did Samuel do at Gilgal after the defeat of the Ammonites?
- Why did the people of Israel hide themselves in caves as mentioned in verse 6?
- What was the ultimate sin that Saul did? What was the result of His sin as told by Samuel?
- What was Saul first foolish rush oath? And how did this affect his people?
- How did the people rescue Jonathan from death?
- Saul was rejected to be the king of Israel because: a) the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to
sacrifice unto the LORD b) Saul turned back from following God and had not performed His commandments
c) both a and b - Samuel’s advise to Saul was: a) obeying the voice of the LORD was better than sacrifice b) hearkening to the
LORD is better than the fat of rams c) rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft d) stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry e) all of the above
Week 5: David is Anointed
Title: David is Anointed
Objective:
- Show the contrast in chapter 16 between David (chosen by God) and Saul (rejected by God)
- God looks at the heart of everyone, not at the appearance
- God gives power to His children
Resources:
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 16-17
- Specific
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 16 (Contrast between David and Saul)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 17 (David and Goliath)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 16 (Contrast between David and Saul)
Key verse(s):
"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
"You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts" 1 Samuel 17:45
Review questions:
- How did God deal with Samuel’s fear of Saul? What do we learn from that?
- What happened to Saul after the Spirit of the LORD left him? What was the treatment to Saul’s problem?
- Why Saul did not want David to go and fight Goliath? How did David relief Saul’s worries?
- What was Goliath’ reaction when he saw David coming to fight him? How did David respond to Goliath?
- Why did Samuel initially think Eliab was the Lord’s anointed?
- “Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” How can we apply this on our lives today?
- What did Saul and all the people of Israel do when they heard Goliath defying them?
- Why do you think Saul seems not to know David despite the fact that David served as a musician in his court?
Homework:
- Samuel’s first choice to be the successor king to Saul from Jesse’s sons was:
a) David b) Eliab c) Abinadab - The LORD said unto Samuel; Look not on his _______, or at __________; because I have refused him: for the
LORD ______ as man sees; for man looks at _________, but the LORD looks at ________. - Goliath was defying the people of God for: a) two weeks b) 33 days c) 40 days d) 1 year
- Then David said to the Philistine, ____________________: but I come to you __________, the God of
__________, whom you have _______. This day the LORD will _________ into my hand. - Who was Samuel’s first choice to be the successor king to Saul from Jesse’s sons? Why? What was God’s
message to Samuel? - What happened to Saul after the Spirit of the LORD left him?
- What did Saul and all the people of Israel do when they heard Goliath defying them?
- What did David say to Goliath proving his great faith in the LORD?
Week 6: Saul Resents David
Title: Saul Resents David
Objective:
- Saul's ego produces hate and resentment
- God's Spirit leaves Saul and he acts in madness
Resources:
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 18-19
- Specific
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 18:1-16 (The beginning of Saul's hatred towards David)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 18: 17-30 (David marries Michal)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 19 (Saul tries to kill David and Jonathan intervenes)
Key verse(s):
"David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed." 1 Samuel 18:30
Review questions:
- Jonathan has David as his best friend.... Prove that.
- What happen to create the jealousy problem between Saul and David? Why was Saul afraid from David?
- What did Saul ask Jonathan and all his servants to do? What did Jonathan do?
- What happened to the messengers of Saul when they went to take David from Ramah?
- What did the women say that created a lot of jealousy problems between Saul and David? Why was Saul afraid
from David? - How would Milchah be a snare to David?
- The Lord was with David always and saved him from Saul …Prove that.
- How did the Lord protect David from the messengers?
Homework:
- Jonathan has David as his best friend. Write a verse that proves that.
- Saul was afraid from David because:
a) David killed Goliath b) David was a brave man c) The LORD was with David and has departed from
Saul - Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should _________. But Jonathan Saul's son
_____________. - Michal loved David and tried to save his life. True or false?
- What was David’s position as assigned by Saul?
- Why was Saul afraid of David?
- What did Jonathan do to save David’s life?
- What did David’s wife, Michal, do to save his life?
Week 7: David and Jonathan
Title: David and Jonathan
Objective:
- Godly friendship (David and Jonathan)
- Jonathan remains loyal to David
- David and the Holy bread (preparedness before approaching the holies)
- David moment of weakness in Gath
Resources:
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 20-23
- Specific
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 20 (The deal between David and Jonathan to reveal his father's intentions)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 21:1-10 (David and the Holy bread)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (David is fearful, forgetting God's protection)
- Rad and summarize 1 Samuel 23:14-29 (Saul pursues David in the wilderness)
Key verse(s):
Review questions:
- What danger did Jonathan face by defending David?
- What did David ask Ahimelech to give him? Was David allowed to take it?
- Why did David change his behavior before the servants of Achish, and pretend to be mad in their hands?
- How does Saul justify his anger to Jonathan?
- Do you think Jonathan did the right thing to remain loyal to David against his father’s wish? Why?
- Was it right for David to eat the holy bread? Explain.
- Why did David change go to his enemies for safety?
- Prove that God guarded David from falling in the hands of Saul.
Homework:
- How many arrows did Jonathan use to give David a signal?
- Saul tried to kill his own son Jonathan. True or false?
- David asked Ahimelech to give him five ______ of ______.
- Fill the following statements by the following words: (king, priest, Nob, Gath)
- Ahimelech was a ________ in _______.
- Achish was a ________ in ________. - Jonathan was very faithful to David; write one verse to prove that.
- What was Jonathan about to face to defend his friend David in verse 33?
- What made Achish the King think that David was insane?
- The place where David was nearly captured by Saul was called the __________ of ___________.
- How did Jonathan prove his great commitment of friendship to David?
- How were David and his people rescued from the hands of Saul and his people?
Week 8: David spares Saul Twice
Title: David spares Saul Twice
Objective:
- Lessons from David, a man after God's own heart
- Tragic ending to Saul and his sons
Resources:
Reading:
- General
- 1 Samuel 24-31
- Specific
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 24 (David spares Saul)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 25:1-39 (Nabal and his wise wife Abigail)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 26 (David spares Saul again)
- Read and summarize 1 Samuel 31 (The tragic end of Saul and his sons)
Key verse(s):
"‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’" 1 Samuel 24:10
"“May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.”" 1 Samuel 26:25
Review questions:
- What did David’s followers ask him to do to Saul while Saul was resting at the cave? Did he listen to them?
Why? - Which verses that demonstrate David’s respect for Saul.
- What did David’s young men ask Nabal for? What was Nabal’s response? What was David’s response to
Nabal’s answer to his request? - Abigail was a woman of good understanding (v. 3). Prove this statement.
- Why did David reject Abishai’s advice?
- What evidence do we have that the Lord was with David?
- Although Saul was following David for a long time to kill him, David has never thought of killing him... Why
and Prove that? - David was the anointed king by Samuel ... List his characteristics as shown in this Chapter.
- It was mentioned in verse 1 that Samuel died ... Who wrote the rest of the First Book and the Second Book of
Samuel? - Was Abigail wise in meeting with David without telling her husband? Why?
- David refuses again to kill Saul. What did he anticipate would happen to Saul?
- Show how David humbles himself in front of Saul.
- What did the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead do to the bodies of Saul and his sons?
- Why the men of Jabesh Gilead risked their lives to rescue the body of Saul?
Homework:
- How many did Saul prepare to follow David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats?
- "You are more _______ than I; for you have rewarded me with ____, whereas I have _______ you with _____.
- Where was Samuel buried?
- What is the name of Nabal’s wife?
- Who was the commander of the army of Saul?
- What did David take from Saul while Saul was sleeping?
- What did David’s followers ask him to do to Saul while Saul was resting at the cave? Did he listen to them?
- What favor did Saul ask David to do when he becomes king?
- What did David’s young men ask Nabal for?
- What did Abigail do after what happened from her husband to David?
- What did David take from Saul while Saul was sleeping?
- Was Abner a good commander? Why?
- The sons of Saul who died in the battle were _____________ ____________ and _______________ .
- The Philistines took Saul’s armor and put it in the ___________ of the ____________.
- What did Saul ask his amour bearer to do to him? Why?
- What did the Philistines do to Saul’s body?