(1171 B.C.?) Elkanah of Mt. Ephraim has 2 wives: Peninnah with children and Hannah with none. Eli, 14th Judge of Israel, high priest, has 2 sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Ark and Tabernacle in Shiloh. Elkanah journeys yearly to Shiloh for worship. Gives portions to wives. Loves Hannah. Hannah provoked relentlessly by Peninnah. Hannah's plight, prayer, and promise at Tabernacle in Shiloh. Eli observes her at prayer, and after his misperception is corrected, blesses her. Hannah returns home happy and expectant. Samuel born. Her presentation of him in Shiloh to be a Nazerite.

Hannah's praise. Husband in agreement. Levites' portion leads Eli's sons to grave sin. Samuel, as a child, ministers in the Tabernacle. Visited yearly by parents with gifts. Hannah bears 3 additional sons, 2 daughters. Eli, now old, hears of sons' sexual sins with the Israelite women at the Tabernacle doors. Confronts them. They refuse to listen. Man of God comes to Eli and prophesies against him. Messianic prophecy.

(1165 B.C.?) Samuel continues in the Tabernacle. Has 4 encounters with God in one night. Receives vision against Eli's house. Fearfully informs Eli of vision. Eli advises obedience. Samuel grew in the Lord, establishing him among the people as a great prophet to whom God appears.

(1141 B.C.?) Conflict with Philistines. Ark of covenant taken from Tabernacle into battle by Eli's sons. Philistines at first fearful, remembering plagues of Egypt. Israel defeated. Ark captured. Eli's sons and many thousands of Israelites slain. Courier returns to Eli with tragic news. Upon hearing the news, Eli (fat) falls from his seat and dies. Phinehas' wife bewails her fate; bears son in hard labor, naming him Ichabod, meaning: "the glory of the Lord has departed Israel."

Philistines place Ark in pagan temple of Dagon. Idol twice falls on face in front of Ark; head and palms severed on second fall. Hand of God heavy upon the Philistines. Reason finally recognized. Plans made for its removal. Carried to Gath. Plagues of emerods and mice. Ark removed to Ekron. City fearful. Plans made for its return to Israel. City plagued.

(1140 B.C.?) Ark in Philistia 7 months. Decision to return with trespass offering. (Golden emerods and mice.) Israelite history recalled. Test for determining if plagues accidental or of God. Found non-accidental. Cart with Ark and offering to Bethshemesh. Levites take possession. Burnt offerings made. Philistines depart. For looking into Ark, 50,000+ Israelites slain by God. Priest summoned from Kirjath-jearim to receive Ark.

(1140 B.C.?) Ark assigned to Eleazar of Abinadab's house in Kirjath-jarim. Remains 20 years, never returning to Shiloh. Samuel's first recorded message for deliverance. Israel returns to monotheistic life. Samuel judges Israel from Mizpeh. Philistines advance on Israel at Mizpeh. God smites Philistines while people worship. Philistines subdued all of Samuel's days. Samuel rides circuit to 3 cities: Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh. Samuel 15th Judge of Israel. Judges from his home in Ramah. Builds altar to God.

(1112 B.C.?) Samuel old. Samuel's sons (Joel and Abiah) appointed 16th Judge over Israel. Unethical in rule. Elders confront Samuel concerning sons. Request king. Displeased, Samuel seeks God's counsel. Accepting their rejection of Him, God grants their request, but with a stern warning of how one will rule them. Samuel dismisses the elders.

(1095? B.C.?) [Saul, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, introduced.] Hunts father's lost asses. Mission fails. Seeks Samuel's counsel. Father becomes concerned from his delayed return. Saul recognized by God as future king. Feast enjoined. Instructions to Saul by Samuel from God's word.

Saul anointed first king of Israel, receiving Samuel's holy kiss. With Samuel's counsel, continues on mission of finding father's lost asses. (Meeting with men and prophets.) Saul's conversion experience. Prophesies. Saul's proverb: "Is Saul among the prophets?" Meeting uncle en route home, Saul remains quiet about kingship. Samuel summons Israel to Mizpeh. Introduces Saul as new king. People's acceptance. Samuel's address recorded. Congregation departs. Saul returns home to Gibeah with men chosen by God. Belial's children (not a formal name, meaning, "worthless") reject Saul's authority. Saul does not respond.

Jabesh-gilead besieged by Ammonites. Threatened physically for submission. (Right eye to be gouged out.) Given 7 days for decision. Saul summoned. Angrily responds with 330,000 men. Ammonites utterly defeated. Saul intervenes in congregation's attempt to dispose of Saul's earlier critics. Samuel, Saul, and congregation renew kingdom at Gilgal. Sacrifices offered with much rejoicing.

Samuel old. People's tribute to Samuel. Samuel recalls their history, speaking of their sin, exhorting obedience, and warning against disobedience, reproving their request for a king. Signs given for verification of his words (thunder and rain). Congregation petitions for Samuel's intercession. Samuel's exhortation for obedience by all, or else.

(1093 B.C.?) Two years into his reign, Saul selects 3,000 men for bodyguards, 1,000 for son, Jonathan. Jonathan slays Philistine garrison at Geba. Victory heralded. Congregation summoned to Gilgal. Philistines advance to Michmash. Israel fears, some fleeing the country to Gad across Jordan. Saul instructed to wait 7 days for Samuel, making unauthorized sacrifice on 7th day. Saul condemned upon Samuel's arrival. Kingdom to be given to a stranger. Samuel departs for Gibeah. Saul, Jonathan, and only 600 men remain in Gilgal, who follow Samuel to Gibeah. Philistines prepared for war. Israelites unarmed.

(1087 B.C.?) Jonathan and armor bearer secretly go up to Philistine camp after receiving sign. Delivered by God into their hands, Philistines slain by Jonathan with God's assistance, slaying each other. Saul discovers and summons Ark. Philistines pursued. Saul orders fast until all slain. Hungry and unaware of orders, Jonathan eats honey. Spoils slain by Israelites for food. Blood consumed with meat (sin). Altar built by Saul. Seeks God's counsel for battle. God silent. Lots for innocence between Saul and Jonathan. Jonathan defended by people. Saul leaves Philistines for now, warring against Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zobahites, Philistia again, and finally Amalekites. Saul's family described, 3 sons, 2 daughters. Conscripts ablest-bodied men for army.

(1079 B.C.?) Samuel commissions Saul for Amalekite campaign. Orders total extermination. Kenites living among them spared. (Moses' in-laws, Jethro's family.) Amalekite king, Agag, and best of livestock spared. Saul condemned upon Samuel's arrival. Saul confesses his sin and fear of the people. God rejects Saul. Kingdom to be given to another. Saul appeals to Samuel for assistance in saving face among people by worshiping with him. Samuel slays Amalekite king and returns home to Ramah, Saul to Gibeah. End of relationship.

(1063 B.C.?) Samuel rebuked by God for mourning Saul. Sent to house of Jesse to be shown new king. Of Jesse's 8 sons, David, the youngest, chosen and anointed. Spirit departs Saul. Evil spirit comes upon him. Musician for comfort sought. Saul's servant's testimony and recommendation of David. Chosen, David finds great favor with Saul. (Anointing not yet known.) Saul quieted.

Philistines assemble at Shochoh, Israel in valley of Elah. Goliath's challenge and ranting twice daily x 40 days. Israelites fearful. Jesse's 3 oldest among Israelite soldiers. David sent by father with food to their captain and a report from his sons. David puzzled why no one has accepted uncircumcised Philistine's defiance of God's army. Overheard speaking confidently of God's victory. Summoned by Saul and permitted to accept Goliath's challenge. David, confident in his own proven methods of defense, rejects Saul's armor, confronting Goliath boldly. Goliath felled with one rock from David's sling, and using Goliath's own sword, decapitates him as predicted. Israel slaughters Philistines. David returns to Saul with Goliath's head. Saul seeks knowledge of David's parents.

Jonathan and David, alike in spirit, bond as brothers. Saul retains David in his palace. In command of the armies, David wars against Philistines. People's greater praise of David's conquests jealously provokes Saul. Saul attempts to spear David while playing for him. David escapes. Saul now fearful of David because God is seen to be with him. David's character revealed. Saul's plot to snare David with his daughters in marriage. David refuses first daughter, but accepts Michal, for she loved him. Saul becomes David's continual enemy.

Saul orders son and servants to slay David. Jonathan's defense of David after warning him. Saul listens. David returned to Saul by Jonathan. David battles Philistines. Evil spirit returns to Saul. David flees after second attempt on his life. David's house under surveillance. Wife aids in his escape. David goes to Samuel. Both leave for Naioth (school for prophets). Men sent by Saul to return David received Spirit of prophesy, including Saul upon his arrival. Saul, realizing his vulnerability to God, strips and prostrates himself before Samuel.

(1062 B.C.?) David's flight from Naioth to Jonathan. Seeks to know his sin against Saul. None. Plot devised for Jonathan to discover father's intent toward David. Covenant made. Saul becomes enraged at their evening meal, attempting to kill own son. Jonathan returns to David at predetermined hiding place. David's fears confirmed. Emotional parting of Jonathan and David, with friendship forever sealed in God.

David goes to Nob. Obtains Shewbread for food from priest Ahimelech. Doeg, Saul's servant, recognizes David. After obtaining Goliath's sword earlier stored behind Ephod, flees to Achish. For safety, David feigns madness before Philistine king of Gath.

David escapes to cave in Adullam. After hearing, father's house goes to him. 400 debtors and discontented make him their captain. With the 400, David goes to Judah. Doeg reports to Saul on David's visit to Nob. Ahimelech and all Nob's priests summoned and interrogated. Saul's servants refuse Saul's orders for their execution. Doeg accepts assignment, slaying 85. Nob destroyed. Report reaches David. David accepts blame, harboring Ahimelech's surviving son.

God gives permission for David's rescue of Keilah from Philistines. After receiving report of David's actions, Saul advances on him. By lot, David learns from God Keilites will betray him to Saul. Flees with men, now about 600, to strongholds of wilderness of Ziph. Jonathan goes to David. Assures David of his future uncontested reign. Covenant made. Jonathan returns. David betrayed by Ziphites. Flees to wilderness of Maon. Saul pursues and surrounds David. Unexpectedly recalled for battle.

(1061 B.C.?) Saul returns with 3,000 chosen men for David in wilderness of Engedi. Saul vulnerable to David in cave. David secretly cuts skirt from Saul's robe, but repents, not wanting to harm one anointed of God. Saul spared. Confronts Saul when he arises to exit cave. Saul moved, repents also, restoring David. Saul returns home, but David and men go to their stronghold.

Samuel's death, buried in Ramah. David to wilderness of Paran. Inhospitable encounter with base rich man, Nabal. Wife intercedes with David. Nabal's heart fails from wife's report, dying in 10 days. David marries Nabal's wife, Abigail. Also marries Ahinoam of Jezreel. First wife, Michal, given to another by father, Saul.

(1060 B.C.?) Saul returns again for David after Ziphites falsely accuse him at Gibeah. David and Abishai secretly enter Saul's camp. Saul again vulnerable. Saul, while asleep, spared by David. His spear and cruse of water taken. David escapes to hilltop overlooking Saul's camp. Shouts to camp of Saul's vulnerability and captured proof. Abner, Saul's captain, held accountable for Saul's safety. Saul again confesses his wrongful actions toward David's innocence. Part peaceably.

(1058 B.C.?) David, fearing Saul, flees to Gath of Philistia. Joins himself to king Achish. Philistine city of Ziklag given for David, family, and men as residence. David battles Geshurites, Gezerites, and Amalekites, sparing no witnesses. Achish deceived by David, believing him to be one of them.

(1056 B.C.?) Philistines, with Achish and David, advance on Saul. Saul seeks counsel of God in every way. No answer. Sends for woman with familiar spirit (witch) from Endor. Disguises himself (witches forbidden). Desires Samuel's spirit to be summoned. Samuel speaks, rebuking Saul. Prophesies his and sons' death on the morrow. Saul, much distressed, unable to eat. Finally eating, departs.

David, not trusted by Philistines, positioned at rear of armies. Petitions Achish to be dismissed. Returns to Ziklag. Philistines advance to Jezreel.

In their absence, Amalekites had raided and burned city, taking all captive, including David's family. David seeks God's will using Ephod. With permission from God, 400 with David pursue Amalekites. (200 faint remained.) All but 400 Amalekite escapees slain and all captives rescued. After rebuffing objections, spoils equally divided among all 600 men and Judah.

Philistines defeat Israelites at Gilboa. Saul, wounded, commits suicide. Sons slain. Their bodies desecrated. Valiant men of Jabesh-gilead retrieve them from Bethshan for burial. Fast seven days.