Lesson 1:
Apostasy and Deliverance under the Judges
Module 5. The Period of the Judges } Timeline: Year 1406 - 1050 BC } Judges 1 - 21
“Vision & Teaching of Fernando Jiménez”
1. 📖 Introduction & Context
After the death of Joshua, Israel entered a fragmented period with no centralized leadership. The Book of Judges describes a repeating cycle of apostasy: Disobedience → Oppression → Cry for Help → Deliverance → Peace → Relapse.
God, in His mercy, raised up judges (shofetim) — charismatic leaders empowered by the Spirit to deliver His people from oppression and bring temporary order. Figures such as Othniel, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson show both God’s faithfulness and the tragic weakness of Israel’s devotion. This era highlights two realities:
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Humanity’s tendency to fall away without faithful leadership.
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God’s covenantal mercy in responding to repentance and cries for help.
The 12 Judges
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Othniel — (c. 1375–1335 BC) Faithful deliverer raised in Israel’s early obedience
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Ehud — (c. 1335–1255 BC) Left-handed strategist used for unexpected deliverance
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Shamgar — (c. 1255–1245 BC) Courageous warrior who saved Israel with simple means
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Deborah — (c. 1245–1205 BC) Prophetic leader who judged Israel with wisdom and authority
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Gideon — (c. 1205–1165 BC) Reluctant man transformed by God’s power into a mighty deliverer
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Tola — (c. 1165–1143 BC) Quiet stabilizer who preserved Israel after internal conflict
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Jair — (c. 1143–1121 BC) Administrator-judge who brought regional order and prosperity
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Jephthah — (c. 1121–1115 BC) Rejected outcast empowered to defeat Israel’s enemies
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Ibzan — (c. 1115–1108 BC) Judge known for family alliances and social leadership
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Elon — (c. 1108–1098 BC) Transitional judge who maintained continuity and peace
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Abdon — (c. 1098–1090 BC) Judge marked by wealth, influence, and regional authority
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Samson — (c. 1090–1050 BC) Physically powerful yet morally undisciplined deliverer
2. 🕰 Timeline
Biblical History
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2516 AM – Beginning of the Judges cycle
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2900 AM – Final judges, transition toward monarchy (Samuel)
World History
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c. 1200–1100 BC – Rise of Philistine dominance in Canaan’s coastal plain
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c. 1300–1200 BC – Collapse of Bronze Age city-states across the Near East
3. 🎯 Learning Objectives
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Understand the theological cycle of Judges and what it reveals about human weakness and God’s mercy.
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Identify the role and limitations of the judges as temporary deliverers rather than permanent reformers.
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Reflect on the need for lasting covenant faithfulness, and how the Judges era anticipates the coming of a true and righteous King.
4. 📖 Right Exegesis – Teaching to Correct
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Not chaos without God: Even in failure, God intervened by raising judges (Judges 2:16).
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Judges were not kings: Their role was temporary deliverance, not permanent covenant renewal.
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Idolatry is not cultural accommodation: It is covenant betrayal (Judges 2:17) leading to oppression.
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Deliverance and lasting transformation: After each judge died, Israel quickly fell back into sin (Judges 2:19).
✅ Correct teaching: The Judges highlight humanity’s inability to remain faithful on their own and point forward to the need for a permanent, Spirit-filled King — ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
5. 📜 Grammatical & Linguistic Context (Key Hebrew Words)
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Shofet (שֹׁפֵט) – Judge, deliverer raised by God (Judges 2:16).
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Avodah Zarah (עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה) – Idolatry, “foreign service,” betrayal of YHWH.
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Teshuvah (תְּשׁוּבָה) – Repentance, returning to God after oppression.
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Mashal (מָשַׁל) – To rule, govern; the limited authority of judges.
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Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) – Peace/rest; temporary blessing after deliverance (Judges 3:11).
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Atzar (עָצַר) – To restrain/hold back; stubborn refusal to turn from sin (Judges 2:19).
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Ruach YHWH (רוּחַ יְהוָה) – Spirit of the Lord empowering judges like Othniel, Gideon, Samson.
6. 📖 Bible References
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Judges 2:11–19 – Israel’s repeated cycle of apostasy and deliverance.
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Judges 4:1–24 – Deborah and Barak’s victory over Sisera.
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Judges 6–8 – Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites.
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Judges 13–16 – Samson and his struggle against the Philistines.
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Judges 21:25 – “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
7. 📝 Homework / Revision
Part A – Visuals
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Map of Israel during the Judges period, showing regional oppressors.
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Diagram of the Cycle of Judges: Apostasy → Oppression → Cry → Deliverance → Peace → Relapse.
Part B – Quiz (5 Questions)
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What were the stages of Israel’s repeating cycle during the time of the Judges?
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In what ways were the judges empowered, and what were their limitations?
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Why was idolatry (avodah zarah) such a serious covenantal violation?
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How did the Spirit of the Lord (Ruach YHWH) work uniquely in judges like Gideon or Samson?
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What lasting lesson does the book of Judges give us about the need for faithful covenant leadership?
Lesson Toolbox
Lesson 2:
Deborah and Gideon – Judges and Leaders
Module 5. The Period of the Judges } Timeline: Year 1406 - 1050 BC } Judges 1 - 21
“Vision & Teaching of Fernando Jiménez”
1. 📖 Introduction & Context
The period of the Judges was marked by instability, idolatry, and repeated cycles of oppression. Yet in the midst of spiritual decline, God raised leaders empowered by His Spirit to deliver Israel.
Two of the most remarkable figures were Deborah and Gideon.
Deborah, the only female judge, combined the roles of prophetess, civil leader, and military advisor. Under her leadership, Israel defeated Sisera, the Canaanite commander, and enjoyed forty years of peace.
Gideon, called from obscurity and fear, became God’s chosen instrument to defeat the Midianites. Though hesitant and doubtful at first, he learned that victory belongs to the Lord, not to human strength. His triumph with only 300 men displayed God’s power, but his later lapse into idolatry revealed the dangers of compromise. Together, Deborah and Gideon illustrate both the faithfulness of God and the fragility of human leadership.
2. 🕰 Timeline
Biblical History
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2516 AM – Deborah judges Israel
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2570 AM – Gideon’s deliverance from the Midianites
World History
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c. 1450–1400 BC – Canaanite city-states dominate the land
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c. 1200 BC – Midianite incursions devastate Israel’s harvests
3. 🎯 Learning Objectives
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Examine the leadership of Deborah as a prophetess, judge, and model of courageous faith.
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Understand Gideon’s journey from fear to faith, and how God used weakness to display His power.
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Reflect on how obedience and trust in God are essential for leadership, and how their stories foreshadow the need for a perfect Deliverer.
4. 📖 Right Exegesis – Teaching to Correct
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Deborah’s leadership was not cultural accident: She was God’s appointed prophetess and judge, showing that the Spirit’s calling transcends human expectation (Judges 4:4).
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Victory was God’s work, not Barak’s strength: Deborah prophesied Sisera’s downfall by a woman’s hand, reminding Israel that the battle belongs to the Lord (Judges 4:9).
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Gideon’s 300 was not poor strategy: It was divine reduction, designed to show salvation comes from God, not numbers (Judges 7:7).
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Faith is not the absence of fear: Gideon obeyed even while afraid (Judges 6:27). Real faith is acting on God’s word despite doubts.
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Idolatry at the end is not trivial: Gideon’s ephod (Judges 8:27) warns that even victorious leaders must remain vigilant against compromise.
✅ Correct teaching: God raises unexpected leaders and works through weakness, but only covenant faithfulness and obedience sustain His people.
5. 📜 Grammatical & Linguistic Context (Key Hebrew Words)
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Nevi’ah (נְבִיאָה) – Prophetess (Judges 4:4), describing Deborah’s role as God’s spokesperson.
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Eshet Chayil (אֵשֶׁת חַיִל) – Woman of valor, a term that echoes Deborah’s courageous leadership.
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Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) – Peace; Gideon named an altar “YHWH-Shalom” (Judges 6:24) after God’s reassurance.
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Bachur (בָּחוּר) – To choose/select; God “chose” Gideon’s 300 men to prove His power.
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Yare (יָרֵא) – Fearful; Gideon obeyed while trembling, showing obedience > emotions (Judges 6:27).
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Chesed (חֶסֶד) – Mercy, covenantal loyalty; God repeatedly showed mercy despite Israel’s apostasies.
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Emunah (אֱמוּנָה) – Faith, trust; the core virtue displayed in both Deborah and Gideon’s leadership.
6. 📖 Bible References
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Judges 4:9 – Deborah prophesies Sisera’s downfall through a woman.
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Judges 5:31 – “May those who love Him be like the sun when it rises in its strength.”
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Judges 6:24 – Gideon builds an altar to YHWH-Shalom.
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Judges 7:7 – “With these 300 men I will save you.”
7. 📝 Homework / Revision
Part A – Visuals
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Map of Israel showing battles of Deborah (Hazor, Kishon) and Gideon (Valley of Jezreel).
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Illustration of Deborah under her palm tree, judging Israel.
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Diagram of Gideon’s reduction from 32,000 → 300 men.
Part B – Quiz (5 Questions)
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What made Deborah unique among the judges of Israel?
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How did God demonstrate His power in Gideon’s victory over the Midianites?
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What does Gideon’s story teach us about faith and fear?
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Why was Deborah’s song (Judges 5) important for Israel’s worship and memory?
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What warning do we learn from Gideon’s later years regarding leadership and idolatry?
Lesson Toolbox
Lesson 3:
Samson – Power and Weakness in Israel
Module 5. The Period of the Judges } Timeline: Year 1406 - 1050 BC } Judges 1 - 21
“Vision & Teaching of Fernando Jiménez”
1. 📖 Introduction & Context
Samson stands out as one of the most famous judges in Israel’s history, remembered for his supernatural strength and tragic downfall. Unlike other judges, Samson was set apart from birth under a Nazirite vow. His calling was clear: to begin Israel’s deliverance from the Philistines.
Yet, Samson’s life reveals the tension between divine potential and human weakness. He experienced great victories against Israel’s enemies but continually faltered in personal integrity, particularly through reckless choices and destructive relationships. His final prayer and act of sacrifice in the temple of Dagon revealed God’s mercy and underscored the truth that salvation belongs to the Lord, not to human strength. Samson’s story warns us of the dangers of compromise and impulsive decisions but also points us to the faithfulness of God, who works even through flawed instruments to accomplish His purposes.
2. 🕰 Timeline
Biblical History
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2820 AM – Birth and Nazirite consecration of Samson
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2840 AM – Samson’s final act in the temple of Dagon
World History
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c. 1150 BC – Philistines expand influence on the coastal plains
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c. 1120–1100 BC – Samson judges Israel during Philistine oppression
3. 🎯 Learning Objectives
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Understand Samson’s calling and role as a judge consecrated to God from birth.
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Recognize the dangers of impulsive decisions, compromise, and ungodly relationships.
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Reflect on God’s mercy and how redemption is available even after failure.
4. 📖 Right Exegesis – Teaching to Correct
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Physical power & spiritual strength: Samson’s might was a gift from God, but his lack of discipline led to repeated failures (Judg 14:6).
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Impulsiveness leads to destruction: His unchecked desires drew him to Philistine women, violating his consecration and weakening his calling (Judg 16:1–4).
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God’s mercy in weakness: Despite his failures, God answered Samson’s final prayer, showing divine compassion and sovereignty even in judgment (Judg 16:28–30).
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Nazirite vow is not superstition: Samson’s strength did not reside in his hair alone but in his covenant relationship with God. Cutting his hair symbolized breaking that covenant.
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True deliverance is through faith, not violence: Samson’s story anticipates the need for a greater Deliverer, one who conquers not through revenge but through perfect obedience.
✅ Correct teaching: Samson’s life reveals that God uses imperfect vessels, but ultimate strength is found only in obedience and dependence on Him.
5. 📜 Grammatical & Linguistic Context (Key Hebrew Words)
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Nazir (נָזִיר) – “Nazirite”; consecrated one, set apart to God (Judges 13:5).
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Koach (כֹּחַ) – Strength, power; divine might given to Samson (Judges 14:6).
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Avlah (עַוְלָה) – Iniquity/disobedience; Samson’s moral failures.
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Begidah (בְּגִידָה) – Betrayal; Dalilah’s deception and treachery (Judges 16:18).
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Chesed (חֶסֶד) – Covenant mercy; God’s compassion in answering Samson’s final cry.
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Shifton (שָׁפְטוֹן) – To judge; Samson judged Israel for 20 years (Judges 15:20).
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Keri’ah (קְרִיאָה) – Cry or call; Samson’s last desperate prayer for God’s strength (Judges 16:28).
6. 📖 Bible References
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Judges 13:5 – Samson consecrated as a Nazirite from birth.
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Judges 14:6 – “The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him…”
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Judges 16:28 – Samson’s final prayer for strength and vengeance.
7. 📝 Homework / Revision
Part A – Visuals
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Illustration of Samson tearing the lion apart.
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Map of Philistia, highlighting Gaza, Ashkelon, and Timnah.
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Depiction of Samson destroying the temple of Dagon.
Part B – Quiz (5 Questions)
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What was the significance of Samson’s Nazirite vow, and how did he violate it?
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How do Samson’s impulsive decisions illustrate the danger of undisciplined desires?
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What role did Dalilah play in Samson’s downfall, and what does her betrayal teach us?
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How does Samson’s final prayer reveal God’s mercy despite human failure?
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In what ways does Samson’s story foreshadow the need for a perfect Deliverer beyond the judges?
Lesson Toolbox
Lesson 4:
Samuel and the Beginning of the Prophets
Module 5. The Period of the Judges } Timeline: Year 1406 - 1050 BC } Judges 1 - 21
“Vision & Teaching of Fernando Jiménez”
1. 📖 Introduction & Context
Samuel is one of the pivotal figures in Israel’s history — the last judge and the first great prophet of the nation. Born in answer to Hannah’s prayer and dedicated to the Lord from birth, Samuel grew up in the tabernacle under Eli. At a young age, he heard God’s voice and became recognized as a prophet across Israel.
Samuel’s ministry was crucial in a time of transition: Israel moved from the chaotic cycle of the Judges to the centralized leadership of the monarchy. He not only judged and spiritually led Israel but also anointed the first two kings: Saul and David. His life highlights the need to listen to God’s voice, the importance of obedience over sacrifice, and the establishment of the prophetic office as a permanent feature in Israel’s history.
2. 🕰 Timeline
Biblical History
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2899 AM (~1105 BC) – Birth of Samuel, dedicated to the Lord by Hannah.
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2909 AM (~1095 BC) – God calls Samuel in the tabernacle (1 Sam 3).
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2919 AM (~1085 BC) – Samuel leads Israel in repentance and victory at Mizpah.
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2929 AM (~1075 BC) – Samuel anoints Saul as the first king.
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2942 AM (~1062 BC) – Samuel rejects Saul; anoints David in Bethlehem.
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2949 AM (~1055 BC) – Death of Samuel at Ramah.
World History
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c. 1100 BC – Philistine domination increases in the coastal plains.
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c. 1050 BC – Rise of kingship in Israel; parallel to Near Eastern monarchies.
3. 🎯 Learning Objectives
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Understand Samuel’s unique role as both judge and prophet in Israel.
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Recognize the transition he oversaw from the time of the judges to the monarchy.
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Reflect on the significance of obedience, repentance, and listening to God’s call.
4. 📖 Right Exegesis – Teaching to Correct
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Hearing God’s voice requires obedience: Samuel responded, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:10). True spirituality begins with attentiveness and surrender.
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Obedience is greater than sacrifice: Samuel rebuked Saul’s disobedience, declaring that God desires obedience over ritual (1 Sam 15:22).
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The prophet as God’s mouthpiece: Unlike the cyclical judges, Samuel established the prophetic role as permanent, guiding the nation by God’s word.
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Kingship was allowed but under God’s authority: Samuel warned that Israel’s demand for a king was a rejection of God’s direct rule (1 Sam 8:7). Still, he obeyed God in anointing Saul and later David.
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Prophetic leadership shapes the future: Samuel’s ministry laid the foundation for the line of prophets (Nathan, Elijah, Isaiah, etc.) and the Davidic covenant that would culminate in the Messiah.
✅ Correct teaching: Samuel’s life demonstrates that God calls leaders to serve not through personal ambition but through obedience and faithfulness to His word.
5. 📜 Grammatical & Linguistic Context (Key Hebrew Words)
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Navi (נָבִיא) – Prophet; one who speaks forth God’s word (1 Sam 3:20).
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Shama (שָׁמַע) – To hear/obey; Samuel’s hallmark from youth (1 Sam 3:10).
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Mashach (מָשַׁח) – To anoint; consecration of Saul and David (1 Sam 10:1; 16:13).
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Shefat (שָׁפַט) – To judge/govern; Samuel’s role as last judge (1 Sam 7:15).
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Teshuvah (תְּשׁוּבָה) – Repentance; Samuel called Israel to turn back from idols (1 Sam 7:3).
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Chesed (חֶסֶד) – God’s covenantal mercy; seen in His faithfulness to Israel through Samuel.
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Zikaron (זִכָּרוֹן) – Memorial/reminder; Samuel raised an Ebenezer stone as a testimony of God’s help (1 Sam 7:12).
6. 📖 Bible References
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1 Samuel 3:10 – Samuel responds to God’s call: “Speak, for your servant hears.”
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1 Samuel 7:15 – “Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.”
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1 Samuel 16:13 – Anointing of David; “The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.”
7. 📝 Homework / Revision
Part A – Visuals
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Illustration: Samuel as a boy hearing God’s voice in the tabernacle.
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Map of Israel showing Ramah, Mizpah, and Bethlehem (key places in Samuel’s ministry).
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Chart of Samuel’s life stages (Birth → Call → Judge → Prophet → Anointings → Death).
Part B – Quiz (5 Questions)
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What role did Samuel play in the transition from the Judges to the monarchy in Israel?
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How did Samuel demonstrate the importance of listening and obeying God’s voice from a young age?
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Why did Samuel declare that obedience is greater than sacrifice, and what lesson does this teach us?
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What was Samuel’s role in anointing Saul and David, and why is this significant in salvation history?
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How did Samuel establish the prophetic office, and what lasting impact did his ministry have on Israel’s spiritual direction?
Lesson Toolbox