SOLOMON’S OFFICIALS AND A PROSPEROUS NATION

Solomon’s Officials and a Prosperous Nation. Judah and Israel lived in security, every man under his vine and fig tree [in peace and prosperity], from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], during all the days of Solomon

BRINGING THE KING BACK, DAVID RETURNS TO JERUSALEM

Bringing The King Back, David Returns To Jerusalem. Then King David sent word to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house [in Jerusalem], since the word of all Israel has come to the king, and to his house? 

SAUL FIGHTS THE PHILISTINES

Saul Fights the Philistines. Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty-two years over Israel.
Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel; of whom 2,000 were with him in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent the rest of the people away, each one to his own tent.

SAMUEL’S LAST MESSAGE TO ISRAEL

Samuel’s Last Message To Israel. Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in everything that you have said to me and have appointed a king over you.  And now, here is the king walking before you. As for me, I am old and gray, and here are my sons with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. 

SAMUEL’S WARNING AGAINST KINGS

Samuel’s Warning Against Kings. So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself to his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.