Sunday Lesson - The Epic of First Samuel
Teachers
Class Materials
Lesson Summary
The class began by reviewing the first five books of the Bible and the historical flow from Genesis to Deuteronomy, then moved through Joshua, the period of the judges, and Ruth, establishing the background needed for a proper understanding of 1 Samuel. The teachers highlighted that Judges was a time of regional military leaders appointed by God, while Ruth set the genealogical stage for King David. They explained that 1 Samuel marks the transition from judges to monarchy, introducing Eli and his problematic sons Hophni and Phinehas, as well as Samuel, who served as the last judge and the anointer of Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. The discussion turned to scholarly questions of authorship and textual history, noting that 1 & 2 Samuel were originally a single Hebrew work and were later split and renamed in the Greek Septuagint. They also addressed translation choices, comparing the ESV and NASB, especially how the NASB capitalizes "Him" when referring to God. Throughout, the class underscored the theme that 1 Samuel portrays man’s king, whereas 2 Samuel introduces God’s king, pointing to the broader narrative of Israel’s desire for a god‑centered kingdom.