1 Samuel 15

1 - 35 The Lord Rejects Saul as King

Samuel tells Saul that the Lord wants Saul to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. The Lord tells Samuel what happened and that He regrets making Saul king. He basically tells Samuel to find Saul and tell him, "You're fired."

The next morning Samuel finds that Saul has set up a monument in his own honor. When he sees Samuel, he tells him that he carried out the Lord's instructions. Samuel asks about the sheep and cattle. Saul says he spared them to sacrifice them to the Lord, but destroyed the rest. Samuel also admits that he brought back Agag. Samuel says, " . . . To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." Then he tells him that the Lord has rejected Saul as king. Saul pleads with Samuel and tears his robe. Samuel says, "The Lord as torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors - to one better than you."

Samuel allows Samuel to worship the Lord with him. Then Saul calls for Agag. Agag said, "Surely this is the bitterness of death." But Samuel says "As your sword has made women childless, so you mother will be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal." (NRSV). My notes say this is a ritual dismemberment associated with covenant violations.

1 Samuel 14

1 - 14 Jonathan Attacks the Philistines

Without Saul's permission, his son Jonathan and his armor-bearor attack and kill 20 Philistines.

15 - 23 Israel Routs the Philistines

Jonathan's attack causes a panic. Saul sees that Jonathan and his armor-bearer are gone and calls for the ark of God. The Philistines are in total confusion. "So on that day the Lord rescued Israel."

24 - 52 Jonathan Eats Honey

Saul binds the Israelites not to eat before he avenges himself. In the woods there is honey on the ground. Jonathan, who had not heard about the oath raises the honey to his mouth. A soldier tells him about the oath, and Jonathan says that if they had eaten they would have fought better. Saul finds out that the men are eating meat with blood still in it. He makes everyone bring their cattle and sheep to slaughter on an altar he built. Saul asks God what he should do, but God doesn't answer that day. Saul tries to find out who sinned against God and says that even if his son was guilty he should do. They cast lots, and it turns out that Jonathan should die. Saul is ready to sacrifice him, but the people save him. (Contrast to the story of Jesus' crucifixion). Saul stops pursuing the Philistines and has victories elsewhere. But the bitter war against the Philistine will continue for the rest of his days.

1 Samuel 13

1 - 7 Revolt Against the Philistines

Saul choses 3000 men from Israel. 2000 are with him at Micmash & 1000 are with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. Jonathan attacks a Philistine outpost at Geba, and Saul summons the people to Gilgal. The Philistines fight Isreal with 3000 chariots, 6000 charioteers and "soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore." The men of Israel hide.

7 - 15 Samuel Breaks with Saul

Saul waits 7 days to burn offerings (as Samuel requested), but he does not offer it at Gilgal. Samuel arrives and rebukes him, saying, "You have not kept the command of Lord. Now your kingdom will not endure." Then he leaves Saul, who now has only 600 men.

16 - 23 Preparations for War

Israel is definitely the underdog. Saul and Jonathan prepare for ware and they have to get a blacksmith to sharpen their plowshares into weapons. On the day of battle no soldier has weapons but Saul and Jonathan.

1 Samuel 12

1 - 25 Samuel's Farewell Speech

Samuel is now old and he gives a farewell speech, saying that he hasn't cheated or oppressed anyone (they agree). He reminds the Isrealites of their past (from Jacob to Moses to Samuel). Then he reminds them that it was they who demanded a king. He says, "If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God-good! But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers."

Samuel calls for thunder and rain and it comes. The people want Samuel to pray for them because they have done evil asking for a king. Samuel tells them not to be afraid even though they have done evil "For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own" just don't keep doing evil - if they do that, they will be swept away.

1 Samuel 11

1 - 15 Saul's Victory over the Ammonites

Nahash the Ammonite defeats Jabesh-gilead. He demands that he gouge out all of their right eyes. This is an outrage, and when Saul finds out about it, he cuts up his oxen, and says he will do the same to the Ammonites. He musters the Isrealites and "cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together."

The people want to put to death those who questioned Saul's appointment. Saul says no one will be put to death because the Lord has wrought deliverence to Israel. They go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom and Saul as the king. They rejoice.

1 Samuel 10

1 - 8 Samuel Anoints Saul

Samuel poured oil on Saul's head, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?"

Samuel tells Saul to leave and go to two men near Rachel's tomb who will tell Saul that the asses have been found and his father is worried about him. Then, at the great tree of Tabor 3 men will be traveling with 3 goats, bread, and wine. They will offer the bread and wine and Saul should accept them. At a Philistine outpost in Gibeah, Saul a procession of prophets. There, the spirit of the Lord will come upon Saul and he will prophesy with them. Then Samuel wants Saul to go to Gilgal and wait seven days for him. (This is all kind of complicated, but I would take Samuel's word for it).

9 - 27 Saul Made King

The signs were fulfilled; Saul's heart was changed. After prophesying, Saul went to a high place. His uncle uncle asked where he had been. Saul explained and told him what Samuel said.

Samuel summoned the people at Mizpah and told them Saul was the king the Lord had sent them. When the crowd comes for him, Saul hid in the baggage. the Lord tells them where he is hiding, and seeing how tall he is, they accept him. (Looks were as big a part of the political process back then as now . . . ). After Samuel explains the regulations of Saul's kingship Saul goes home and a few troublemakers grumble about him.

1 Samuel 9

1 - 27 Samuel Meets Saul

Saul was the son of Kish, a Benjaminite. He was the most handsome man in Israel (and tall!). Kish lost all of his asses, so he said to Saul, "Take a servant and find the asses." They traveled far without luck and Saul began to think about going back. The servant knew a man of God in Zuph who they should ask for advice. Saul wondered what they should bring the man. The servant had a fourth of a shekel of silver to give him.

As they arrived toward the city, they met some young maidens. He asked them if there was a seer. They advised that they find him before he went to the high place to eat. They went in and saw him going toward the high place to eat.

The day before Saul came, the Lord told Samuel that he would meet a man from the land of Benjamin and to anoint him prince over Israel. When Samuel saw Saul he knew who he was. He told Saul that he was to eat with him today and tomorrow he would tell him everything. As for the asses, they have been found. Saul was worried because he was a Benjaminite (the least house of Israel), but Samuel took Saul in, placed him at the head of the table. After dinner a bed was given to him on the room. The next day, Samuel said, "Tell the servant to pass on before us . . . and then I will make known to you the word of God."

1 Samuel 8

1 - 22 The People Ask for a King

Samuel becomes old and his sons (Joel and Abijah) become judges in Beer-sheba. It's the same problem Eli had - his sons "don't walk in his ways," take bribes, and pervert justice.

The elders of Israel gather and confront Samuel. Samuel is upset that they want a king to "govern them." He prays to the Lord and the Lord tells Samuel that they haven't abandoned Samuel but the Lord. The Lord tells them to warn them what having a king will really be like.

Samuel tells the people a king will take their sons and daughters and make them work. He will take a tenth of everything and make them slaves. The people don't listen to him and say again ask for a king to "govern us and go before us in battle." The Lord tells Samuel to do what they say and anoint a king.

1 Samuel 7

2 - 17 Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

The ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim 20 years, and all Israel sought after the Lord. Samuel told them if they are returning to God, they must get rid of their foreign god. So the Israelites repented and put away their Baals and Ashtoreths.

Israel were afraid they would be defeated by the Philistines, so Samuel took a lamb and offered it up to the Lord. The Lord answered him. The Philistines arived and the Israelites were victorious. Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, naming it Ebenezer ("Thus far has the Lord helped us"). Throughout Samuel's life, the Israelites were victorious against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 6

1 - 7:1 The Philistines Return the Ark

The ark was in Philistine country for seven months. They don't want to return it empty, so they put a guilt offering of 5 golden tumors and 5 mice into it (according to the 5 Philistine lords - also my notes state that the reason for the mice might be that the Philistines may have believed them to be spreading the tumors.) They put the ark on a new cart carried by 2 unspoiled cows and sent it off to Beth-shemesh.

The people of Beth-shemesh were happy to see the ark. They split the wood and offered the cows as sacrifice. The Lord did slew some men who looked into the ark. The men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark to the house of Abinadab.

1 Samuel 5

1 - 12 The Ark among the Philistines

The Philistines carry the ark to Ashdod and put it in the house of Dagon. At night, Dagon had fallen face downward toward the ark. They set it up and the next morning it had fallen again, and its hands and head were cut off.

The people of Ashdod were terrified and afflicted with tumors. They decide to take the ark to Gath. There, the men were plagued with tumors. They move the ark to Ekron, whose leaders believe the ark was sent to kill them. They decide to return the ark to Israel, and many men die of tumors there as well.

1 Samuel 4

1 - 11 The Philistines Capture the Ark

Isreal goes to battle against the Philistines. Israel is defeated, losing 4,000 men. The elders of Israel decide to take the ark of the covenant before them. While the ark rouses the troops and strikes fear in the Philistines, Israel is defeated, losing 30,000 troops, including Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas. The Philistines capture the ark.

12 - 22 The Death of Eli

A man of Benjamin runs to tell Eli, now 98. He falls from his stoop and breaks his neck. When Phineas' pregnant wife hears the news, she goes into labor and names her son Ichabod, which means "The glory has departed from Israel."

1 Samuel 3

1 - 21 God Calls Samuel

Young Samuel is ministering to the Lord under Eli. One night he is sleeping under the Ark when he hears a voice crying, "Samuel! Samuel!" He goes to Eli, who tells him to go back to bed. When this happens three times, Eli realizes the Lord must be talking to Eli. He tells him, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.'" (This is a good prayer . . . )

Samuel does this, and the Lord tells him that He will do everything that He has spoken against the House of Eli. The next morning, Eli asks Samuel what the Lord says, and Samuel tells him. Eli says, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him."

1 Samuel 2

1 - 11 The Song of Hannah

Hannah sings a song of praise and thanks to the Lord. My notes: "She praises God as the helper of the weak, who casts down the mighty and raises up the lowly, and who alone is the source of true strength; the hymn ends with a prayer for the king." Also compare to Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46).

12 - 26 The Sons of Eli

Hophni and Phineas, priests of the Shiloh shrine are "worthless men" They treated the offerings with contempt and "they were having relations with the women serving at the entry of the meeting tent" (although my notes state this passage "lacking in the oldest Greek translation, and in a Hebrew manuscript from Qumran"). Good quote: "If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" (25)

27 - 36 Punishment of the Sons of Eli

An unnamed prophet comes to tell Eli that for their sins, his sons will die on the same day. And a faithful priest will rise up (Samuel).

1 Samuel 1

1 - 20 Birth of Samuel

Elkanah had two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who had no children (see right). He went regularly to Shiloh where the sons of Eli (Hophni and Phinehas) were priests. When he offered sacrifice, he gave a double portion to Hannah, which upset Peninnah, who would reproach her and Hannah would refuse to eat.

One time Hannah presented herself at Shiloh she prayed to the Lord, " . . . if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head." Elkanah thoughtshwas drunk, but when she told him she was praying, he blessed her. She went back with her husband, and they conceived a child. They named him Samuel.

21 - 28 The Consecration of Samuel

Elkanah wanted to present Samuel at the temple, but Hannah wanted to wait until Samuel was weaned. When Samuel was weaned, they went up and sacrificed a bull. She thanked the Lord for Samuel and dedicated his life to the Lord.

Galatians 6

1 - 10 Fraternal Charity

I like how Paul advices correcting others. He says to "restore him to a spirit of gentleness." Also "Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted." Just because you see someone else sinning, that doesn't mean you are not a sinner. We all are and we are all tempted. He tells us to "bear one another's burdens." We must love another because we are in this together.

11 - 18 Conclusion

He concludes by again stating that it is not necessary to be circumcised. "For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation" (11) He says he bears the marks of Jesus (my notes say these are probably scars from being flogged, etc.)

Galatians 5

1 - 12 Christian Freedom

Paul states that Christ has set us free from freedom. Anyone who gets circumcised is bound to the whole law (and severed from Christ). For Christians, circumcision is not an issue because Christ is "faith working through love." My notes: "He reiterates his message of justification or righteousness by faith instead of law and circumcision. Faith, not circumcision, is what counts."

13 - 26 The Fruits of the Spirit and the Works of the Flesh

Paul warns against using freedom for the flesh. He says the whole law is fulfilled in the law, "You shall love your neigbor as yourself." Don't gratify the desires of the flesh - the desires of the spirit and the flesh are opposed to one another. He gives lists of works of the flesh and fruits of the spirit (my notes state that such lists were common in the writings of the time). Paul concludes the chapter with good advice: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another."

Galatians 4

1 - 11 Divine Sonship

Christians are like heirs freed from control by others. Again, my notes say, "the proof that Christians are children of God is the gift of the Spirit of Christ relating them intimately to God."

Question: how can you turn back to the slavery of the law? The question is posed with reference to bondage to the elemental powers because the Galatians had originally been converted to Christianity from paganism, not Judaism. (my notes: while the term can refer to earth, air, fire, and water or to elementary forms of religion, the sense here is more likely that of celestial beings that were thought in pagan circles to control the world)

12 - 20 A Fatherly Appeal by Paul

Paul asks them to listen to him as they had in the past - as a father and pastor.

21 - 31 The Two Covenents - Hagar and Sarah

Paul supports the gospel by another argument from scripture. This time it's the relationship of Abraham to his wife, Sarah (freeborn) to Hagar (slave). He contrasts the sons born to each, Isaac, child of promise, and Ishmael, son of Hagar. Only through Isaac is the promise of God preserved.

Paul then quotes Genesis: "Drive out the slave woman and her son! For the son of the slave woman shall not share the inheritance with the son" of the freeborn. This gives a scriptural basis for the Galatians to expel those who are troubling them.

Galatians 3

1 - 14 Justification by Faith

Paul contends that justification comes not through the law or the works of the law but by faith in Christ and in his death. My notes: "The gift of God's Spirit to the Galatians came from the gospel received in faith, not from doing what the law enjoins. The story of Abraham shows that faith in God brings righteousness. The promise to Abraham extends to the Gentiles." It is faith that matters, rather than circumcision and observance of the law

Those who depend on works of the law instead of faith are under cursed because they do not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law in order to gain life. My notes: "But scripture teaches that no one is justified before God by the law. Salvation, then, depends on faith in Christ who died on the cross, taking upon himself a curse (about executed criminals hanged in public view), to free us from the curse of the law."

15 - 29 The Law and the Promise

My notes again: "A third argument to support Paul's position that salvation is not through the law but by promise comes from legal practice and scriptural history. A legal agreement or human will, duly ratified, is unalterable. God's covenant with Abraham and its repeated promises is not superseded by the law, which came much later, in the time of Moses. The inheritance (of the Spirit and the blessings) is by promise, not by law. Paul's argument hinges on the fact that the same Greek word, diatheke, can be rendered as will or testament and as covenant.

Paul digresses: "If the Mosaic law, then, does not save or bring life, why was it given? Elsewhere, Paul says the law served to show that sin is. Here the further implication is that the law in effect served to produce transgressions. Moreover, it was received at second hand by angels, through a mediator, not directly from God. The law does not, however, oppose God's purposes, for it carries out its function, so that righteousness comes by faith and promise, not by human works of the law."

Galatians 2

1 - 10 Visit to Jerusalem

Paul describes preaching in Jerusalem to the Gentiles. Titus did not want to be circumcised, and "false brethren" use this against them. Paul shows them that he was "entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised."

11 - 21 The Incident at Antioch

In Antioch, Paul confronts Cephas. He eats with them, but is afraid of the circumcision party (oxymoron?) My notes: "The decision reached in Jerusalem recognized the freedom of Gentile Christians from the Jewish law. But the problem of table fellowship between Jewish Christians, who possibly still kept kosher food regulations, and Gentile believers was not yet settled. When Cephas first came to the racially mixed community of Jewish and Gentile Christians in Antioch, he ate with non-Jews. Pressure from persons arriving later from Jerusalem caused him and Barnabas to draw back. Paul therefore publicly rebuked Peter's inconsistency toward the gospel."

Paul insists that "salvation is by faith in Christ, not by works of the law. His teaching on the gospel concerns justification by faith in relation to sin, law, life in Christ, and grace."

Galatians 1

1 - 10 A Greeting and a Warning

Paul writes to the Galatians who have deserted "him who called you in the grace of Christed and turn(ed) to a different gospel." My notes state that enemies of Paul appeared after his second visit and tried to undermine his authority - especially on the matter of circumcision. Paul states that anyone who goes against what he preached should be accursed. "If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed." Paul reiterates that he is not seeking to please men, but is "a servant (slave) of Christ."

11 - 24 Paul's Vocation

Paul asserts his authority by telling his story - how he persecuted the church and how he was called. He describes his travels to Damascus, Jerusalem, Syria, and Cilicia. In Judea they didn't know him by sight but had heard of him.