1 Samuel 11-15

1. What does the text say immediately before Saul's anger and his decisive, bold action are described? (1 Samuel 11:6ff)

2. What distinction is made in 11:8, and does this distinction surprise you. If so, why?

3. What was the sign that indicated God's displeasure with the people's desire for a king?

4. How old was Saul when he began to reign?

5. When the Philistines came against Israel with 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horseman, what frame of mind prevailed among the men of Israel?

6. While Saul waited for the time Samuel had appointed to make a burnt offering, what did the people begin to do?

7. Was Saul confident of going into battle without making a burnt offering? Was he confident that God would protect Israel until the man of God arrived at the appointed time?

8. When Saul made the burnt offering himself, prior to Samuel's arrival, was he doing anything wrong? (13:13)

9. Read 1 Samuel 13:12, and discuss whether Saul's word's indicate a confidence that he had done the right thing, or, on the other hand, an unstable mind.

10. What would be the long term result of Saul's presumptuous act?

11. Explain why the Israelites had no swords or spears when the time for battle came.

12. Describe the boldness of Jonathan, and the source of his confidence. (14:6-15)

13. Discuss the words of Saul recorded in 1 Samuel 14:24. Are these the words of a great leader, or of an insecure man.

14. What effect did Saul's oath have on the people, and what did Jonathan think of his father's oath?

15. What was the purpose of casting lots in 1 Samuel 14:38-42?

16. Did Saul keep the vow recorded in 1 Samuel 14:39. Tell why he did, or did not. Again what do you conclude about Saul's character, and leadership?

17. What was Saul to do to the Amelekites?

18. When it was apparent that Saul had not obeyed the Lord, whom did he blame, and what did he say about the motive for the disobedience? What does all this suggest about Saul's character?

19. When Saul finally acknowledged his sin, what did he say was the reason he sinned?

20. When Saul tore Samuel's robe, what did Samuel tell him?

21. What became of Agag?

22. Explain why God commanded the utter destruction of Amalek. (Ex. 17:8-16, 1 Samuel 15:33)

23. During the rest of Saul's reign, what would be the constant reminder that the Lord had rejected him?

1 Samuel 16-18

1. How many sons did Jesse have? (1 Samuel 16:10-11, 1 Samuel 17:12, 1 Chronicles 2:12-15)

2. When Samuel came to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem, did he know which of Jesse's sons was the Lord's chosen?

3. What was the Lord's comment when Samuel supposed Eliab was the one?

4. In terms of age, where did David rank among Jesse's sons?

5. What was nature of David's first dealings with Saul?

6. Chapter seventeen describes another threat from the Philistines. This time they have a champion who is willing to go "one on one" with any of the Israelites. What do you remember about studying about the Anakim that is related to this champion? (Joshua 11:21-22, Dt 2:10-11, 9:2, Numbers 13:27-33)

7. How tall was Goliath?

8. What was Goliath's proposition?

9. What was the reaction of Saul and all Israel?

10. For how long did Goliath challenge the Israelites?

11. It appears that David learned of Goliath's defiance of Israel toward the end of the 40 days. Why would David not have heard about this earlier? (1 Samuel 17:15, 23ff)

12. What did Eliab think about David's motives?

13. What did Saul think about David's ability in going up against Goliath?

14. Why was David confident?

15. After David had killed Goliath, Saul took him in and no longer allowed David to return home periodically. (18:2, cf. 16:21-23) David and Jonathan became very close. Then Saul turned against David. Why?

16. When Saul's daughter, Michal, loved David, Saul saw an opportunity to end David's life. Explain.