Samuel and Kings — The Events in Order
From the last judge to the last king: the rise and fall of the kingdom of Israel in one line, with the book and chapter for every event.
Samuel judges Israel
Hannah’s son, raised in Shiloh, leads Israel back to God at Mizpeh; the Philistines are routed as Samuel offers the burnt offering.
Israel demands a king
“Make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” God warns them what a king will take — and gives them Saul.
Saul anointed and crowned
The tallest man in Israel is anointed privately, then chosen publicly; early victories follow, then the unlawful sacrifice at Gilgal begins his fall.
Saul rejected
He spares Agag and the best of Amalek against orders. Samuel’s verdict: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” The kingdom is torn from him.
David anointed; Goliath falls
The shepherd is anointed at Bethlehem, and in the valley of Elah the giant falls to a sling and the Name of the LORD of hosts.
David king over all Israel
Jerusalem taken, the ark brought up, the covenant of an everlasting throne promised to David’s house.
Solomon and the Temple
Wisdom asked and given; the Temple built in seven years and dedicated in glory; then foreign wives turn the wisest heart in the world away.
The kingdom divided
Rehoboam’s harsh answer splits the nation: Jeroboam takes ten tribes north (Israel) and sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
Elijah on Carmel
After three and a half years of drought, one prophet faces 450 prophets of Baal: “The LORD, he is the God.” Fire falls; the prophets of Baal die at Kishon.
Jehu’s revolt
Anointed in secret, Jehu destroys the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal in Israel — but keeps Jeroboam’s calves.
Israel falls to Assyria
After generations of calf worship and ignored prophets, Samaria falls to Sargon II; the ten tribes are carried away and scattered.
Hezekiah and Sennacherib
Judah’s godly king spreads the Assyrian’s letter before the LORD; in one night the angel of the LORD destroys 185,000 of the besieging army.
Josiah finds the Book
Repairing the Temple, Hilkiah finds the book of the law; Josiah tears his clothes, purges the idols, and keeps the greatest Passover since the judges.
Jerusalem falls to Babylon
Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, is blinded and chained; the Temple is burned and the people carried to Babylon — seventy years of captivity begin, as Jeremiah foretold.
The return foretold and granted
Cyrus of Persia decrees the exiles may return and rebuild — the captivity ends as surely as it was prophesied.