Below is a collection of Sefer Shmuel resources, created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators.

This is a growing collection. Check back soon or write to us at content@lookstein.org if you didn’t find what you’re looking for.

 

Back to Nakh Resources
SEFER SHMUEL OVERVIEW

The first book of Shmuel details the transition into the time period of Jewish Kingship. It begins with the decline of the “shofet model” and the birth story and the emergence of Shmuel the navi (prophet), representing a new leadership model. It continues with the remarkable success he has both as a prophet and as a leader. The sefer then continues with great tension around the transition from prophet to king, and eventually, Shaul is anointed – by Shmuel – as the first king. While there are a few initial successes, Shaul’s dramatic failures dominate his legacy. The sefer describes the failures and ultimate downfall of Shaul as the king. David, who is not a blood relative, is anointed to replace Shaul, and the sefer details what he has to do to prove his worthiness, whether in his character, relationship with God, or unifying leadership of the nation. 

The second book of Shmuel continues the tale of David’s ascension to the throne, his many splendid accomplishments on a national level, including moving his capital from Hevron to Jerusalem, and military successes against enemies of Israel. It also details the very significant challenges he experiences from within his own family, including inner family conflict as well as political rebellions from his own family members

SEFER SHMUEL THEMES
  • Forms of leadership (Eli as a Shofeit, Shmuel as a navi, beginning of kingship in Israel)
  • Failure (the failure of the children of Eli and Shmuel, the failure of Shaul as king)
  • Responsibility (role of king) 
  • Prayer (story of Chana, the mother of Shmuel, asking God for a child)
  • Family dynamics (Elkanah and his wives, Shaul and his children, David and his family)
  • Relationships between God and chosen leaders (God’s appointment of each of the leaders mentioned in the book)
  • Mistakes (Shaul with Amalek, David with Batsheva)
  • Rebellion (Shaul’s perception of David, Avshalom against David)
KEY CHARACTERS IN SEFER SHMUEL I

Elkanah, Chana, Penina, Eli the Priest, Shmuel, Shaul, David, Goliath, Yonatan, Michal, Avigayil

KEY CHARACTERS IN SHMUEL II

David, Michal, Batsheva, Uriyah, Amnon, Tamar, Adoniyahu, Natan HaNavi, Shlomo

KEY PESUKIM IN SEFER SHMUEL
  • Shmuel I, 2:26 (character description of Shmuel):

 – וְהַנַּעַר שְׁמוּאֵל הֹלֵךְ וְגָדֵל וָטוֹב גַּם עִם ה’ וְגַם עִם אֲנָשִׁים
 Young Shmuel, meanwhile, grew in esteem and favor both with God and with men

  • Shmuel I, 3:3 (Shmuel being chosen as prophet):

 – וַיִּקְרָא ה’ אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי
God called out to Shmuel, and Shmuel answered, “I’m coming.”

  • Shmuel I, 8:5 (description of Bnei Yisrael requesting a king):

 – וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו הִנֵּה אַתָּה זָקַנְתָּ וּבָנֶיךָ לֹא הָלְכוּ בִּדְרָכֶיךָ עַתָּה שִֽׂימָה לָּנוּ מֶלֶךְ לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ כְּכׇל הַגּויִם
And they said to him, “You have grown old, and your sons have not followed your ways. Therefore appoint a king for us, to govern us like all other nations.”

  • Shmuel I, 15:28-29 (God taking away the kingship from Saul and the famous description of God keeping His word):

 – וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו שְׁמוּאֵל קָרַע ה’ אֶֽת מַמְלְכוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ היּ֑וֹם וּנְתָנָה לְרֵעֲךָ הַטּוֹב מִמֶּֽךּ׃  וְגַם נֵצַח יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יְשַׁקֵּר וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם כִּי לֹא אָדָם הוּא לְהִנָּחֵם
And Shmuel said to him, “God has this day torn the kingship over Israel away from you and has given it to another who is worthier than you. Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not deceive or change His mind, for He is not human that He should change His mind.”

  • Shmuel I, 17:45 (David declares that it is God that guides his victory):

 – וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אַתָּה בָּא אֵלַי בְּחֶרֶב וּבַחֲנִית וּבְכִידוֹן וְאָנֹכִי בָא אֵלֶיךָ בְּשֵׁם ה’ צְבָא-וֹת אֱלֹקי מַעַרְכוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל 
David replied to the Plishti, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defied.”

  • Shmuel II, 1:19 (The description of how David mourns Shaul and Yonatan. It is often used when soldiers fall in the IDF as well):

 – אֵיךְ נָפְלוּ גִבּוֹרִֽים
How the might have fallen

  • Shmuel II, 12:13 (David taking responsibility for sinning with Batsheva):

– ‘וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד אֶל נָתָן חָטָאתִי לַה
David said, “I have sinned before God” 

  • Shmuel II, 19:1 (David mourning his son Avshalom):

 – בְּנִ֤י אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנִי בְנִי אַבְשָׁלוֹם מִֽי יִתֵּ֤ן מוּתִי אֲנִי תַחְתֶּיךָ אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנִי בְנִֽי
“My son Avshalom! O my son, my son Avshalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Avshalom, my son, my son!”

Lesson Plans, Resources, and Activities

Hineni! Shmuel’s First Prophecy – This lesson plan explores Shmuel’s first prophecy from the lens of Multiple Intelligences. By The Lookstein Center.
The Journey of the Holy Ark – This lesson plan utilizes Multiple Intelligences to review the story of the Ark by building a three-dimensional display of ancient Israel and the Ark. By The Lookstein Center.
Chana’s Anguish and Triumph – This 3-part Multiple Intelligences lesson analyzes tefillat Chana through different lenses. By The Lookstein Center.
Megillat Esther: Repairing Shaul’s Mistake –  In this lesson plan, students trace back Mordechai’s and Haman’s ancestry and see that Megillat Esther‘s battle mirrors the story of Shaul. By The Lookstein Center.

Close Reading Questions on Sefer Shmuel for High School Students

The questions below were designed for high school students by Zvi Grumet. They are meant to drive a closer reading of certain passages and a broader reading of the Navi as a whole, including the ability to see different parts of the sefer “speaking” with each other as well as to begin to explore the meaning of certain passages, language, themes, and imagery in the broader context of Tanakh. Ultimately, when used regularly, they can help students learn how to be more thoughtful and more careful readers of Tanakh, paying attention to things they would have otherwise glossed over quickly.

There are many ways that teachers can use these questions. They can be given to students before their first encounter with the text to help focus that encounter, or they can be given to the students after becoming familiar with the text. One possibility is for the teacher to select some questions and use them as catalysts for guided exploration in class. Another option is to provide opportunities for students to explore, with guidance from the teacher, as individual or group work.

It should be noted that while some of the questions have specific correct answers, most are designed to inspire thinking in which no answers are necessarily more correct than others. This is a very powerful tool for drawing students into the learning and drawing from them unique ideas that they can truly call their own, binding them in deep ways to the Torah that they are learning and generating.

Sefer Shmuel Aleph Questions:


Sefer Shmuel Bet Questions: