1 Samuel

Definition and Meaning

First Samuel is the ninth book of the Old Testament and consists of 31 chapters. The book takes its name from Samuel, the last of Israel's judges (leaders who guided the people before the monarchy) and a prophet. In the Hebrew Bible it originally formed a single book with 2 Samuel. The division into two books is generally attributed to the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation. The New Korean Revised Version titles it Samuel-sang ("Samuel, Part One"), while the Korean Catholic Bible titles it Samuelgi Sanggwon ("The First Book of Samuel"). Protestant Bibles classify the book among the historical books, whereas Jewish tradition places it among the Former Prophets. The author is not identified in the text. Jewish tradition names Samuel and the prophets Gad and Nathan as its authors.

Biblical and Historical Background

The book follows the turbulent period described in Judges and is generally understood to be set around the eleventh century BC. Its contents fall into three main parts.

• Samuel (chapters 1–7): Samuel is born in answer to Hannah's prayer and grows up at Shiloh under the priest Eli. The Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines and later recovered.
• Saul (chapters 8–15): The people demand a king, and Samuel anoints Saul as Israel's first king. Saul is rejected because of his disobedience.
• Saul and David (chapters 16–31): David is anointed and defeats Goliath. He is pursued by Saul and forms a close friendship with Jonathan. The book ends with Saul's death on Mount Gilboa.

Use in the Korean Church

In the Korean church, First Samuel is frequently used in preaching and Sunday school instruction.

• Hannah's prayer and vow (1 Samuel 1–2): Frequently cited as a model of a mother's prayer and vow for her child.
• A posture of listening to the Word (1 Samuel 3:10): "Speak; for thy servant heareth" is often used in Christian formation.
• Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:12): The name is understood to mean "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us." It is widely used in church names, at New Year's Eve watch-night services, and as a motto for church anniversaries.
• Obedience and the heart (1 Samuel 15:22; 16:7): "To obey is better than sacrifice" and "the LORD looketh on the heart" are among the best-known preaching texts.
• David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17): A favorite story taught in Sunday school and Vacation Bible School.

The warning against stretching forth one's hand against "the LORD's anointed" (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:9) is sometimes cited to mean that pastors should not be criticized. Critics within the church, however, argue that such use applies the text beyond its original context. Interpretations also differ as to whether the figure who appeared when Saul consulted the woman with a familiar spirit (chapter 28) was actually Samuel. These differences, however, tend to divide individual commentators rather than denominations.