I. Israel’s Need for a King (1 Sam. 1–7)

A. Shiloh Narratives (1 Sam. 1–3)

1. The Birth of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1–28)

2. Hannah’s Song and Eli’s Failure (1 Sam. 2:1–36)

3. The Call of Samuel (1 Sam. 3:1–4:1a)

B. Ark Narratives (1 Sam. 4–7)

1. The Philistines Capture the Ark of the Covenant (1 Sam. 4:1b–11)

2. Eli’s Death and Ichabod’s Birth (1 Sam. 4:12–22)

3. The Ark’s Sojourn in Philistia and Return to Israel (1 Sam. 5:1–7:1)

4. Samuel’s Call to Repentance (1 Sam. 7:2–4)

5. Israel’s Confession at Mizpah (1 Sam. 7:5–17)

II. The Rise and Fall of Saul, Israel’s First King (1 Sam. 8–15)

A. Saul Becomes King (1 Sam. 8–12)

1. Israel Demands a King (1 Sam. 8:1–22)

2. Saul Becomes Israel’s First King (1 Sam. 9:1–10:27)

3. Saul Delivers the City of Jabesh Gilead (1 Sam. 11:1–15)

4. Samuel’s Final Exhortations (1 Sam. 12:1–25)

B. God Rejects Saul (1 Sam. 13–15)

1. Saul Offers Sacrifice At Gilgal (1 Sam. 13:1–22)

2. Leadership Crisis During Philistine Wars (1 Sam. 13:23–14:52)

3. Saul Rejects the Word of the Lord (1 Sam. 15:1–35)

III. The Rise of David, Israel’s Promised King (1 Sam. 16–2 Sam. 4)

A. David in Saul’s Court (1 Sam. 16–20)

1. Samuel Anoints David (1 Sam. 16:1–13)

2. David Enters Saul’s Service (1 Sam. 16:14–23)

3. David and Goliath (1 Sam. 17:1–58)

4. Conflict Between Saul and David (1 Sam. 18:1–30)

5. David Escapes Saul’s Grasp (1 Sam. 19:1–17)

6. David Flees to Samuel At Ramah (1 Sam. 19:18–24)

7. Jonathan’s Final Attempt to Intercede (1 Sam. 20:1–42)

B. David and Saul Estranged (1 Sam. 21–31)

1. Ahimelech and the Priests of Nob (1 Sam. 21:1–22:23)

2. Saul Pursues David (1 Sam. 23:1–29)

3. David Spares Saul’s Life (1 Sam. 24:1–22)

4. David and Abigail (1 Sam. 25:1–44)

5. David Spares Saul Again (1 Sam. 26:1–25)

6. David and His Men Settle in Philistia (1 Sam. 27:1–12)

7. Saul and the Medium At Endor (1 Sam. 28:1–25)

8. David Rejected by the Philistine Commanders (1 Sam. 29:1–11)

9. David Takes Vengeance Against the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:1–31)

10. The Death of Saul and Jonathan (1 Sam. 31:1–13)

C. David’s Rise to Power in Judah (2 Sam. 1–4)

1. The Report of Saul’s Death and David’s Lament (2 Sam. 1:1–27)

2. David Becomes King over Judah (2 Sam. 2:1–7)

3. David over Judah, Ish-Bosheth over Israel (2 Sam. 2:8–4:12)

IV. The Reign of David, Israel’s Greatest King (2 Sam. 5–20)

A. The Consolidation of His Rule (2 Sam. 5–8)

1. David Rules All Israel from Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:1–6:23)

2. Yahweh’s Covenant with David (2 Sam. 7:1–29)

3. Victories over the Surrounding Nations (2 Sam. 8:1–18)

B. The Question of David’s Heir (2 Sam. 9–20)

1. David and Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9:1–13)

2. David and the Ammonites and Arameans (2 Sam. 11:1–19)

3. David and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:1–12:31)

4. Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom (2 Sam. 13:1–14:33)

5. Absalom’s Rebellion (2 Sam. 15:1–19:43)

6. Sheba’s Rebellion (2 Sam. 20:1–26)

V. Epilogue (2 Sam. 21–24)

A. Famine Due to Gibeonite Massacre (2 Sam. 21:1–14)

B. Notes on Wars Against Philistine Giants (2 Sam. 21:15–22)

C. David’s Song of Thanksgiving (2 Sam. 22:1–51)

D. David’s Last Words (2 Sam. 23:1–7)

E. Soldiers’ Hall of Fame (2 Sam. 23:8–39)

F. David Conducts a Census (2 Sam. 24:1–25)