1 Samuel 31

1 Samuel 31 talks about how the army of Saul is routed by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. His sons, Jonathan, Malki-Shua, and Abinadab are brutally murdered and Saul takes his own life.

The chapter finishes on the small note of courage as the men of Jabesh-Gilead took their bodies after the Philistines desecrate them and buried their remains in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.

1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel Chapter 1 begins with the brief genealogy of a man called Elkanah, who had two wives. The name of one wife was Peninnah and the other’s name was Hannah.

1 Samuel 2

In 1 Samuel Chapter 2, Samuel’s mother, Hannah, praises the Lord for allowing her to have Samuel and dedicate him to the temple. She warns the people to not be arrogant for God weighs their actions. He can make the rich poor and the poor rich. She says that He can also bring up a lowly man and cast down a man who is too full of himself. God will also destroy His enemies and exalt those who believe in Him.

1 Samuel 3

1 Samuel Chapter 3 centers on the Lord calling on Samuel, but Samuel thinks it is Eli calling him instead. Samuel was an apprentice minister of the Lord and he worked under the tutelage of Eli. He did so at a time when the Lord rarely spoke to His people and imparting visions was equally rare.