• Title Page
• Pentateuch
• History
  • Lesson 10: Joshua
  • Lesson 11: Judges and Ruth
  • Lesson 12: I Samuel
    • The Loss of the Ark, 1 Samuel 4–7
    • The Call of Saul, 1 Samuel 8–12
    • The Rejection of Saul, 1 Samuel 13–15
    • The Persecution of David, 1 Samuel 16–26
    • David Compared with Saul
    • Some Things Hard to Understand
    • The Close of Saul’s Life, 1 Samuel 28–31
    • Did Samuel Appear?
    • Was Saul Regenerated?
  • Lesson 13: II Samuel
  • Lesson 14: I Kings
  • Lesson 15: II Kings
  • Lesson 16: I and II Chronicles and Esther
• Poetry
• Prophets
• Post Captivity Prophets
• Gospels, Acts
• Pauline Epistles
• General Epistles

priesthood, the growth of the spirit of individualism, and the spread of licentiousness and passion. The two events are (1) the history of Micah’s idolatry (Judges 17, 18), and (2) the history of the crime at Gibeah (Judges 19-21).

The Book of Ruth

The contents of this book are very simple, and tell their own story. During what period did the event occur (Judges 1:1)? The authorship is supposed to be the same as judges, and attributed to Samuel. The chief interest in the book for us, outside of its own intrinsic beauty, is found in the genealogical table at the end, quoted by Matthew, and showing Ruth to have been an ancestress of Christ. As without this little book that fact would have remained unrevealed, we see a sufficient reason why the Holy Spirit should have caused it to be placed in the sacred canon.

I Samuel

There are five leading characters in First Samuel, see if you can name them without assistance. What shall we call the first fact? The birth and call of Samuel? This may be said to cover I Samuel 1-3. Give the names of his parents. Give the meaning of his name. How did Hannah celebrate his birth (I Samuel 2)? Of what New Testament song does this remind you? What beautiful promise of guidance and preservation is found in I Samuel 2:9? How was Hannah rewarded for her gift to the Lord (I Samuel 2:20-21)? How does this illustrate I Samuel 2:30, last clause? What New Testament promises does it illustrate? How are Eli’s sons described, and on what ground? Who is held responsible for them, and what judgment is pronounced against him? With whom might he be contrasted (Genesis 18:19)? Compare also I Kings 2:27. What shows that God can teach His will to a little child? How does I Samuel 3:19-20 illustrate Isaiah 44:26, first clause? It is to be observed that Samuel is the true founder of the Old Testament prophetic order (Acts 3:24). Soon after his call, as our next great fact discloses, the ark was lost to Israel for a while, the Tabernacle, therefore, ceased to have its significance as a center of worship, the high priest’s functions were suspended, and the mediatorship between God and the people rested altogether in the prophet. Let us call the next great fact