Characters & Episodes in 1 Samuel
Swipe chapter-by-chapter across 1 Samuel (31 chapters total).
1 Samuel 5
Dagon
The chief national idol of the Philistines in Ashdod — beside whom they placed the captured Ark of the Covenant, only to find Dagon fallen face down before the Ark on the first morning and decapitated with his hands severed on the threshold on the second.
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The Ark of the Covenant
The gold-overlaid chest of God's throne presence — carried into the flood-stage Jordan to part the waters in Joshua 3, and placed inside Dagon's temple in 1 Samuel 5 where the idol fell headless before it.
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The Lords of the Philistines
The five rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron who hot-potatoed the captured Ark of the Covenant from city to city in panic as plagues broke out everywhere they moved it — until sending it back to Israel on a new cart with golden guilt offerings.
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The Priests of Dagon
The pagan temple attendants in Ashdod who had to physically pick up and prop their fallen god back onto his pedestal — and who instead of repenting when Dagon's head and hands were severed, invented a superstitious rule never to step on the threshold.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 6
The Ark of the Covenant
The gold-overlaid chest of God's throne presence — carried into the flood-stage Jordan to part the waters in Joshua 3, and placed inside Dagon's temple in 1 Samuel 5 where the idol fell headless before it.
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The Lords of the Philistines
The five rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron who hot-potatoed the captured Ark of the Covenant from city to city in panic as plagues broke out everywhere they moved it — until sending it back to Israel on a new cart with golden guilt offerings.
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The Philistine Army
The iron-armed coastal invaders who assembled at Pas-dammim to plunder Israel's barley harvest — and were routed when Eleazar son of Dodo stood alone in the field until his hand froze to his sword.
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The Priests of Dagon
The pagan temple attendants in Ashdod who had to physically pick up and prop their fallen god back onto his pedestal — and who instead of repenting when Dagon's head and hands were severed, invented a superstitious rule never to step on the threshold.
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The Levites of Beth-shemesh
The Israelite harvesters and Levites in the valley of Beth-shemesh who lifted their eyes from reaping wheat to see the Ark returning on the driverless cart — rejoicing with burnt offerings before learning the holy reverence due God's throne.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 9
Crown Prince Jonathan
Fearless warrior prince of Israel and heir to Saul's throne — whose soul was knit to David's, stripping off his own royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt to celebrate his covenant brother's calling.
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King Saul
Israel's tall first monarch who cowered before Goliath in heavy bronze armor, hurled his spear at David and Jonathan in jealous rage, and broke Israel's oath with the Gibeonites.
✦ Inspect DossierKish
Wealthy Benjamite man of standing and father of King Saul, in whose family tomb at Zela David buried the bones of Saul, Jonathan, and Rizpah's sons.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 10
1 Samuel 13
1 Samuel 14
Crown Prince Jonathan
Fearless warrior prince of Israel and heir to Saul's throne — whose soul was knit to David's, stripping off his own royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt to celebrate his covenant brother's calling.
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Younger daughter of King Saul and first wife of David, who helped David escape Saul's assassins through a window yet later despised him when he danced before the Ark.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 16
David
The shepherd boy who felled Goliath with a sling, hid with 400 outlaws in the Cave of Adullam, and became Israel's anointed warrior-king — "a man after God's own heart" whose line leads to Jesus.
✦ Inspect DossierThe Holy Spirit
The third Person of the Trinity — the Breath of God who raised dry bones in Ezekiel's valley, descended as tongues of fire at Pentecost, and seals every believer for redemption.
✦ Inspect DossierJesse of Bethlehem
Grandson of Boaz and Ruth and father of eight sons in Bethlehem — whose youngest shepherd son David became king, and whose 'stump' Isaiah prophesied would sprout the Messianic Branch.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 17
David
The shepherd boy who felled Goliath with a sling, hid with 400 outlaws in the Cave of Adullam, and became Israel's anointed warrior-king — "a man after God's own heart" whose line leads to Jesus.
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Goliath of Gath
The nine-foot-nine Philistine champion encased in 125 pounds of bronze scale armor who defied the armies of the living God morning and evening for forty days — and fell face down before a single smooth stone from David's sling.
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King Saul
Israel's tall first monarch who cowered before Goliath in heavy bronze armor, hurled his spear at David and Jonathan in jealous rage, and broke Israel's oath with the Gibeonites.
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The Philistine Army
The iron-armed coastal invaders who assembled at Pas-dammim to plunder Israel's barley harvest — and were routed when Eleazar son of Dodo stood alone in the field until his hand froze to his sword.
✦ Inspect DossierJesse of Bethlehem
Grandson of Boaz and Ruth and father of eight sons in Bethlehem — whose youngest shepherd son David became king, and whose 'stump' Isaiah prophesied would sprout the Messianic Branch.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 18
Crown Prince Jonathan
Fearless warrior prince of Israel and heir to Saul's throne — whose soul was knit to David's, stripping off his own royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt to celebrate his covenant brother's calling.
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David
The shepherd boy who felled Goliath with a sling, hid with 400 outlaws in the Cave of Adullam, and became Israel's anointed warrior-king — "a man after God's own heart" whose line leads to Jesus.
✦ Inspect Dossier
King Saul
Israel's tall first monarch who cowered before Goliath in heavy bronze armor, hurled his spear at David and Jonathan in jealous rage, and broke Israel's oath with the Gibeonites.
✦ Inspect DossierMichal
Younger daughter of King Saul and first wife of David, who helped David escape Saul's assassins through a window yet later despised him when he danced before the Ark.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 19
1 Samuel 20
Crown Prince Jonathan
Fearless warrior prince of Israel and heir to Saul's throne — whose soul was knit to David's, stripping off his own royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt to celebrate his covenant brother's calling.
✦ Inspect Dossier
David
The shepherd boy who felled Goliath with a sling, hid with 400 outlaws in the Cave of Adullam, and became Israel's anointed warrior-king — "a man after God's own heart" whose line leads to Jesus.
✦ Inspect Dossier
King Saul
Israel's tall first monarch who cowered before Goliath in heavy bronze armor, hurled his spear at David and Jonathan in jealous rage, and broke Israel's oath with the Gibeonites.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 21
1 Samuel 22
David
The shepherd boy who felled Goliath with a sling, hid with 400 outlaws in the Cave of Adullam, and became Israel's anointed warrior-king — "a man after God's own heart" whose line leads to Jesus.
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Eleazar, Son of Dodo
Forged from a broken outlaw in the Cave of Adullam into one of David's Three Mighty Men — who stood alone in the barley field at Pas-dammim and struck down Philistines until his hand froze to his sword.
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Josheb-basshebeth
First among King David's elite Three Mighty Men — forged in the Cave of Adullam and renowned for wielding his spear against 800 enemy soldiers whom he killed at one time.
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Shammah, Son of Agee
Third of David's elite Three Mighty Men — who took his stand in the middle of a plot of lentils when the entire army fled from the Philistines, defended the field single-handedly, and saw the LORD work a great victory.
✦ Inspect DossierThe 400 Outlaws of Adullam
The 400 men in distress, in debt, and bitter in soul who fled King Saul's broken kingdom into the Cave of Adullam — and whom David discipled into the legendary Mighty Men of Israel.
✦ Inspect Dossier1 Samuel 23
1 Samuel 31
Crown Prince Jonathan
Fearless warrior prince of Israel and heir to Saul's throne — whose soul was knit to David's, stripping off his own royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt to celebrate his covenant brother's calling.
✦ Inspect Dossier
King Saul
Israel's tall first monarch who cowered before Goliath in heavy bronze armor, hurled his spear at David and Jonathan in jealous rage, and broke Israel's oath with the Gibeonites.
✦ Inspect Dossier