1 Samuel KJV Chapter-by-Chapter Workbook

Description

The 1 Samuel KJV Chapter-by-Chapter Workbook is a complete 516-page downloadable Bible curriculum designed to guide students carefully through all 31 chapters of 1 Samuel. This substantial course moves beyond a simple retelling of familiar events by requiring direct interaction with the King James Bible through chapter observation, exposition, written exercises, KJV vocabulary, doctrinal study, cross-reference work, difficult-passage analysis, controlled typology, personal application, review, and teaching preparation.

First Samuel records one of the most important transitions in Israel’s history. The book opens during the closing days of the judges, when the word of the LORD is precious and open vision is rare. It then traces the birth and preparation of Samuel, the corruption and judgment of Eli’s house, the capture and return of the ark, Israel’s repentance at Mizpeh, the nation’s demand for a king, the rise and rejection of Saul, the anointing of David, the defeat of Goliath, Saul’s murderous jealousy, Jonathan’s covenant loyalty, David’s years of flight and testing, the tragedy at Endor, the recovery of Ziklag, and Saul’s final defeat upon Mount Gilboa.

Samuel stands at the center of Israel’s transition from the unstable period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy. Students will examine Hannah’s surrendered prayer, Samuel’s childhood service at Shiloh, the return of the word of the LORD, Samuel’s prophetic authority, his ministry of intercession, his national circuit, his role in anointing two kings, and his faithfulness after Israel’s demand for a king personally grieved him.

The ark narrative in 1 Samuel 4–7 receives careful treatment. Israel attempts to use the ark as a guarantee of military success, but God refuses to become an instrument of religious presumption. The ark is captured, Dagon falls before it, the Philistine cities suffer beneath the hand of the LORD, and the men of Beth-shemesh discover that rejoicing does not excuse irreverence. Israel’s eventual repentance at Mizpeh and Samuel’s erection of Ebenezer demonstrate the difference between manipulating sacred things and returning to the LORD with the whole heart.

The workbook carefully examines Israel’s demand for a king “like all the nations.” Students will compare the demand with the instructions of Deuteronomy 17, study Samuel’s warning concerning the manner of the king, and trace the difference between God permitting Israel’s request and approving its motives. The monarchy does not replace the authority of the LORD or release the king from submission to His word.

Saul’s entire course receives detailed attention. The workbook follows him from his impressive outward appearance, private anointing, confirming signs, changed heart, Spirit-enabled service, and victory at Jabesh-gilead into impatience, fear, rash vows, partial obedience, excuse-making, envy, attempted murder, unlawful consultation, and final defeat. His life provides a sobering study of spiritual privilege without continued obedience, public gifting without inward submission, and religious sacrifice used as a substitute for obeying the word of God.

Particular attention is given to the important doctrinal questions surrounding Saul. Students will examine what it means that God gave Saul another heart, how the Spirit of God came upon him, why the Spirit later departed from him, and how these Old Testament governmental and royal experiences differ from the sealing of believers in the Body of Christ. The workbook also addresses the statements that the LORD repented that He had made Saul king while “the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent,” showing the difference between God’s unchanging character and His changing governmental dealings with responsible men.

David’s preparation begins in the sheepfold rather than the palace. The workbook follows his private anointing, musical service before Saul, victory over Goliath, friendship with Jonathan, wisdom under pressure, escape from Saul, reception of distressed followers at Adullam, protection of Keilah, wilderness testing, refusal to kill Saul, encounter with Abigail, dangerous compromise among the Philistines, deliverance from fighting against Israel, and recovery of everything taken from Ziklag.

The famous account of David and Goliath is treated within its historical, covenant, and prophetic setting. Students will examine Goliath’s challenge against the armies of the living God, Israel’s fear, Saul’s paralysis, David’s remembrance of earlier deliverances, his refusal of unproved armor, and his confidence that “the battle is the LORD’S.” David may be studied as a controlled type of the Lord Jesus Christ—the anointed champion who defeats the enemy before the people share in the victory—without turning every stone, weapon, or incidental detail into unsupported allegory.

Jonathan’s faith and covenant loyalty provide a powerful contrast with Saul’s envy. The workbook examines Jonathan’s attack upon the Philistine garrison, his confidence that there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few, his covenant with David, his willingness to surrender personal advantage, his defense of David before Saul, and the tragedy of his continuing identification with his father’s doomed house.

The difficult and controversial passages of 1 Samuel are not ignored. The workbook addresses Samuel’s statement that he did not yet know the LORD, the judgment at Beth-shemesh, the wording of Saul’s reign in 1 Samuel 13:1, Jonathan and Saul’s rash oath, God’s repentance concerning Saul, the evil spirit from the LORD, Saul’s later inquiry about David’s family, David and the shewbread, conditional revelation concerning Keilah, David’s refusal to touch the LORD’s anointed, the appearance of Samuel at Endor, the condition of the dead, and the differing accounts connected with Saul’s death.

Every chapter receives a coordinated twelve-page treatment. The first ten pages contain the chapter focus and structure, detailed exposition, people and motives, KJV vocabulary, doctrine and right division, cross-reference chains, difficult-passage study, a special study, written exercises, and review with teach-back preparation. The final two pages provide a Teacher and Leader Guide followed by suggested answers, interpretive guidance, a model chapter summary, and evaluation standards.

The extensive supplementary material turns the workbook into a complete curriculum. It includes course instructions, purpose and outcomes, interpretive principles, multiple learning tracks, a 31-week course schedule, a semester schedule, a 62-lesson teaching plan, historical setting, the transition from judges to monarchy, structural overview, working chronology, geography study, character map, major themes, repeated words and titles, and an assessment plan.

Six cumulative review units reinforce the movement of the entire book. Eighteen advanced studies explore such subjects as Hannah’s prayer, Eli’s house, the restoration of the word, the ark, Israel’s demand for a king, Saul’s changed heart and Spirit experience, God’s repentance, the man after God’s own heart, the rejected anointed king, David and Goliath, Jonathan’s covenant loyalty, Saul’s attempts against David, Adullam, conditional knowledge at Keilah, vengeance and conscience, Abigail’s intercession, Endor, and Saul’s death.

Ten master-chart studies help students visualize the book’s principal relationships. These cover the book at a glance, Samuel–Saul–Jonathan–David comparisons, patterns of rise and decline, the journey of the ark, Israel’s changing government, Saul’s downward steps, David under pressure, covenants and oaths, anointed office and moral character, and the proper use and limitation of biblical typology.

The final portion contains an eight-part course assessment, suggested answers and evaluation guidance, an eight-page KJV glossary, selected subject and Scripture indexes, a final teaching project, project requirements, a 100-point evaluation rubric, further-study recommendations, a final spiritual challenge, and a certificate of completion.

This downloadable PDF may be printed for handwritten work or studied on a computer or tablet. Its searchable text and organized navigation bookmarks make the major sections, chapters, advanced studies, charts, reviews, and reference material easy to locate. With compatible PDF software, students may also highlight text, insert comments, draw markings, and add typed notes.

The 1 Samuel KJV Chapter-by-Chapter Workbook is suitable for serious personal Bible study, homeschool families, Christian schools, Sunday school classes, church Bible-study groups, discipleship programs, Bible institutes, prison and recovery ministries, pastors, preachers, and teachers. It is a working Bible curriculum designed to help students hear the words of Scripture accurately, distinguish appearance from heart, understand the difference between gifting and obedience, recognize the danger of religious presumption, restrain vengeance, trust the LORD under pressure, and teach the book of 1 Samuel faithfully.