The United Kingdom of Israel:
Saul, David & Solomon
Foreshadow Christ the King

Lesson 1 God’s People Ask for a King
the First Book of Samuel 7:3—9:25

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
Tami Palladino’s visual-meditation journal
glossary for The United Kingdom of Israel
cross references in The United Kingdom of Israel
next lesson: Samuel Anoints Saul

This material coordinates with Lesson 1 on pages 4–11 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

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“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.”
—the Second Book of Samuel 7:12–13

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welcome to our in-depth study of Saul, David & Solomon
We invite interested groups and individuals to check out the sample first lesson from this 28-lesson Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study. These online study pages link to our free lesson videos, as well as to a glossary and cross references in the biblical text. Other study aids include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King has been granted an imprimatur and may be purchased from our website shop. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.

every Turning to God’s Word Bible study carries an imprimatur
The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King was granted an imprimatur by the Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, (left), bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Des Moines, on July 10, 2017; the censor librorum for the Diocese of Des Moines, the Very Reverend Aquinas Nichols, granted the nihil obstat. These are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. There’s no implication that those who’ve granted the imprimatur or nihil obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed in the work. All Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies are submitted to the Church before publication. Visit the archives of Lost in Translation to read more about the Latin terms imprimatur & nihil obstat. Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies written after 2020 are being submitted to the Most Reverend William M. Joensen, Ph.D. (right), bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines.

the popes inspire us—serious Catholics study the Word of God
In his apostolic letter Aperuit Illis (Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God) issued motu proprio (of his own accord), Pope Francis established the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God. The Holy Father’s apostolic letter was published on September 30, 2019, the feast of St. Jerome and the 1600th anniversary of the saint’s death. St. Jerome, who translated the Latin Vulgate Bible from Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, is famous for saying: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” In Aperuit Illis, the Holy Father calls attention to the sacramental nature of the Word of God, pointing to the unbreakable bond between Sacred Scripture and the Eucharist. In 2025, the Church will celebrate the Word of God on Sunday, January 26. We’ve posted a free digital version of Dialogue with God: Reading & Praying with Sacred Scripture, our guide to incorporating the Church’s traditional practice of lectio divina (sacred reading) into regular Bible study.

ex libris—read more Church documents
Find links to magisterial documents referred to in Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies, including Aperuit Illis (Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God), at ex libris—magisterial documents. The page lists significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents.

a few reminders about Turning to God’s Word Bible studies
The most distinguishing feature of our Bible studies is that they’re Catholic. Each one has been granted an imprimatur, which means that a bishop has read the work and found nothing contrary to Church teaching on morals or faith. Note that the imprimatur makes no claim that a work is equivalent to Church teaching, simply that it isn’t opposed to what the Church teaches. Practically speaking, this means that you don’t have to accept Turning to God’s Word interpretations of Scripture, only that choosing to do so doesn’t amount to heresy. Choosing not to accept conclusions of a work that has been granted an imprimatur doesn’t immediately plunge you into heretical territory, but choosing not to accept Church teaching related to those conclusions does.

read the Catechism—how to avoid heresy
The imprimatur reinforces and validates the claim that Turning to God’s Word Bible studies are Catholic. All participants have a right to expect that discussions about our Bible studies will focus on Catholic teaching. That doesn’t mean that someone won’t occasionally have a question about Church teaching. Not knowing what the Church teaches about a particular issue isn’t heretical. Asking a question about Church teaching isn’t heretical. Failing to understand Church teaching isn’t heretical. Insisting that Church teaching is wrong is.

Most people who begin to study the lives of Saul, David, and Solomon are caught off guard by how many challenging theological ideas are found in Scripture. There are a surprising number of things many Catholics believe to be Church teaching that actually are not. In this study, we attempt to present Scripture and Church teaching related to Saul, David, and Solomon as unambiguously as possible. When in doubt, you can refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church or talk with your parish priest about any doctrine that remains unclear.

If a Church teaching seems particularly unsettling even after studying the Catechism and speaking with someone who’s knowledgeable regarding Catholic doctrine, you might want to examine whether there might be a personal or emotional reason why you’re having difficulty. Pray for God’s guidance and be open to receiving a different answer than you anticipated, possibly at a later time than you expected or hoped.

be respectful of the others in your group
Keep in mind that most people in your discussion group are there for a Catholic interpretation of Scripture. People from other faith backgrounds are welcome, but the focus of any Turning to God’s Word study always is going to be Catholic in nature. The following opening prayer emphasizes maintaining mutual respect amid differences of opinion:

Heavenly Father, send forth your Spirit to enlighten our minds
and dispose our hearts to accept your truth.
Help us to listen to one another with openness and honesty,
eager to learn from the talents and intuitions that you have given each of us.
Never let differences of opinion diminish our mutual esteem and love.
May we leave this meeting with more knowledge and love for you and your Son.
In the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

You can find other opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about interpreting Scripture?

The Church encourages Catholics to read and interpret Scripture on our own as long as we follow these two rules:
1) Our interpretation can’t contradict anything else in Scripture.
2) Our interpretation can’t contradict Church teaching.

In order to comply, we need to know everything else that’s in the Bible as well as everything that the Church teaches. That’s a tall order, which is why each Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study is submitted to the Church for an imprimatur. The imprimatur for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King is a guarantee that the Church finds nothing objectionable in the work. You’re free to agree with interpretations in this Bible study, but it’s not essential that you do so. There are many different interpretations in other commentaries, but few of them carry an imprimatur. This doesn’t mean that they necessarily pose any problems in regard to Catholic doctrine or morals, but there’s no Church guarantee that they don’t.

When considering opinions that haven’t been granted an imprimatur, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Our Bible studies address some common interpretations, but there are innumerable opinions floating around about the meaning of different passages in the Bible—including about the biblical texts on which this Turning to God’s Word Catholic study is based.

?  Here’s the first question to ask about an opinion expressed in any commentary: How closely does it adhere to what we can read in the biblical text?
?  Do viewpoints about the meaning of the Bible passages contradict anything else you already know from Scripture?
?  Do they contradict anything from Church teaching? The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses a large number of questions related to common Scripture interpretations.

what to expect from this Bible study
The First and Second Books of Samuel and the first 12 chapters in the First Book of the Kings are classified as historical books because they contribute to our understanding of the Old Testament development of salvation history. Like other books in Sacred Scripture, their primary message is theological. These books were written to give us information about God, and God continues to speak to his people through them today. In the eighth chapter in the First Book of Samuel, God’s people are afraid to approach the LORD directly, so they ask Samuel to speak for them. Samuel is reluctant to do so, and he’s displeased that the people want to install an earthly king to replace the LORD, who’s been acting as their ruler. God speaks to Samuel and agrees to allow the people to establish a monarchy to replace their theocracy. The ninth chapter introduces Saul, whom Samuel anoints at Ramah as the first king to rule the descendants of Jacob. What’s most significant about the resulting kingdom, however, is that it points to the kingdom of heaven as humanity’s intended ultimate destination.

map notes—setting the stage
Almost all of the action in the First and Second Books of Samuel and the first 12 chapters in the First Book of the Kings takes place in a small area that is part of a larger swath of land called the Fertile
Crescent. River-based trade routes in the ancient Near East traveled from the Nile River in Egypt northward along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea before veering toward the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). The descendants of Jacob occupied a narrow strip of land along the Dead Sea and Jordan River. Precariously situated in the middle of the trade routes linking Egypt and Mesopotamia, kingdom of Israel ruled by Saul, David, and Solomon was roughly 150 miles long and 60 miles wide. Diverse geography marks the area and dramatically influences the lives of those who live there. Near Hebron, the altitude is about 3,000 feet above sea level; 25 miles away, the Dead Sea registers 1,290 feet below sea level, the lowest place on the planet. The northern region around Galilee is hilly and fertile, while the Negeb (also spelled Negev) in the south is arid desert terrain. The name comes from a Hebrew word meaning “dry land” and also has come to mean “south” based on its direction from Jerusalem. Click on the map (above right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 9 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. It shows the area when Samuel was a boy, before David conquered the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem and made it his capital city.

wherever Ramah is, it’s probably located on high ground
It’s not clear how many locations named Ramah exist in the Bible, so we can’t always be certain which one is being referred to in any given biblical text, or even whether the author meant to be using the word as the name of a particular town. In many cases the Hebrew form is preceded by the definite article, indicating a simple reference to general highlands or heights. In the First Book of Samuel, however, it’s clear that Ramah is Samuel’s home and that it’s located in hill country in territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin. Ramah is included in the online glossary with other proper nouns from the primary biblical text for this Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study.

more biblical vocabulary—high places
In the ancient world it was common for people to worship on high places, locations perceived to be close to heaven. Prior to the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the descendants of Jacob also went up to high places in order to offer sacrifices to the LORD. Before David’s conquest of Jerusalem, Shiloh served as the primary worship center. Both locations are listed in the online glossary with other proper nouns from the primary biblical text for this Bible study.

building a foundation for Bible study (24:37)
In the video overview for the first lesson in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps looks at the big picture of how this Catholic Bible study can build a foundation to aid in understanding the way in which earthly kings differ from priests and prophets. In addition, Matthew explains the way in which Old Testament history from thousands of years ago points to Jesus and is relevant to present-day Christians. The development of Saul, David, and Solomon as kings during this time in salvation history stands as an important period in the development of the descendants of Jacob as God’s people. Throughout this study, Matthew will point out the political, military, and religious implications of these earthly monarchies.

The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the Scripture ranges for the sets of questions in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. You can follow along as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 1, “God’s People Ask for a King,” on pages 4–11 in the study book.

who wrote these books & when?
The First and Second Books of Samuel and the First Book of the Kings were compiled from manuscripts written by multiple authors. They describe events from at least a thousand years before the time of Jesus, but many details that we’ve come to expect in present-day accounts of important happenings are missing. The Bible reflects the development of a variety of literary styles. Historical narratives came after heroic sagas, and the First and Second Books of Samuel and the First Book of the Kings include elements of both. There are descriptions of major battles, names of military leaders, and sites where battles took place. The familiar story of David and Goliath falls into the category of heroic saga.

what purpose did the authors have in mind?
Like all historians, the authors of the First and Second Books of Samuel and the First Book of the Kings made decisions about what information they wished to include to advance their viewpoint. Their primary purpose appears to have been to record details about whether the descendants of Jacob were faithful to God, and the consequences to the descendants of Jacob that resulted from their disobedience. The biblical texts provide an account of the transition by God’s people from a theocracy—being ruled by God—to a monarchy—which means that they chose to answer to a single earthly king.

what can we learn from this study?
Although the biblical authors at times appear to endorse the monarchy, their overall position is in opposition. They point out the negative consequences of sin that befall Saul and David—and by extension the people they’re governing. Saul’s failure as king is seen as inevitable. The strife that plagues David’s household can be traced to David’s sin. The division of the kingdom then occurs because of Solomon’s sin. Eventually both the northern and southern kingdoms fall, viewed by the prophets to come as a consequence of sin. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided, the first of a two-part overview of the prophets, looks closely at events leading to the fall of both kingdoms.

how Jesus enters the picture
The descendants of Jacob link their political success to their king’s obedience. If the king fails to obey God, the kingdom is doomed. This sets up a situation in the New Testament in which the people expect the Messiah to provide them with a fail-safe kingdom. Jesus does that, but he’s not the Messiah that the people envisioned. Jesus explains to Pilate in the Gospel According to John 18:36 that his kingdom “is not of this world.” You can learn more in Lesson 22 My Kingship Is Not of This World in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth.

what are the roles of priests, prophets & kings?
The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King focuses on God’s anointed kings. It’s followed by a two-volume companion study focusing on the prophets sent to speak on God’s behalf to the kings of Judah, Israel, and God’s people during and after the Babylonian Exile. It’s during this history that the prophets began to be sent to speak for the LORD to the descendants of Jacob themselves. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided also looks at biblical history surrounding the divided kingdom, while Volume II: Restoration & Redemption, addresses prophecy at the time of the Exile and following the people’s Return to the Promised Land.

and how can we fulfill those roles in our own lives?
All Christians are called to share in Jesus’ roles of priest, prophet, and king. We can learn much by studying the kingship of David as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ kingship. The reigns of Saul and Solomon are important primarily because of the relationship these rulers have to David, who’s significantly described in the First Book of Samuel 13:14 as “a man after God’s own heart.” It’s worth reflecting on what qualities David shares with God, and on how we can become more like God.

Israel & Judah—you could look these up in our archives
The difference between “Israel” and “Judah” can get confusing. In this study, “Judah” refers to territory occupied by descendants of Jacob’s fourth son or to those descendants. “Israel” is more complicated. It generally refers to all of the descendants of Jacob (including the descendants of Judah), but often in the First and Second Books of Samuel and the First Book of the Kings the term “Israel” applies to all of the descendants of Jacob other than the descendants of “Judah.” Logic frequently is needed to determine which meaning in intended. Learn more about how to recognize the different ways that “Israel” and “Judah” are used in Scripture by reading Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.

Samuel plays multiple roles in salvation history
Beginning with Creation and the Fall of Adam and Eve, salvation history moves through subsequent events to connect the patriarchs—along with Moses, David, and other Old Testament figures—to Jesus. Samuel appears as a judge, ruling and teaching God’s people, but he’s also considered one of the first prophets. You can learn more in “Who Is Samuel?”—the commentary on page 9 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. One of Samuel’s most striking characteristics, often downplayed or overlooked entirely, is the office of hereditary priest. Samuel is a priest born into the Levitical line of Aaron. As a minister of God, he offers sacrifices on behalf of the people. Learn more about Samuel’s lineage in the online glossary.

let’s think about those Philistines
It’s easy to paint the Philistines as totally opposed to cooperation with the descendants of Jacob, who come into the land of Canaan believing that it’s their rightful inheritance promised by God. In the First Book of Samuel 7:7, however, it seems obvious that the Philistines begin preparing for war because they misinterpret as a military threat the religious gathering of the tribes of Israel at Mizpah.

comparing Samuel & Saul
The First Book of Samuel 7:12–14 strongly suggests that the descendants of Jacob experienced peace as a result of Samuel serving as judge, a job that involved spiritual and political acumen. The job of judge, which wasn’t hereditary (as was the job of priest or the later-established job of king), appears to have been intended to eliminate the need for an earthly king. While the biblical text in the seventh chapter in the First Book of Samuel indicates that God’s people subdued the Philistines and experienced peace in Samuel’s lifetime, evidence in later chapters will show that this wasn’t the case after Saul became king.

a factor in the people’s desire for a king
Prior to the inauguration of Saul as their king, the descendants of Jacob had been functioning as a loose confederation of tribes who only came together to deal with military threats. The Book of Judges describes how at such times a judge appeared to serve as the tactical commander of the combined forces. Scholars suggest that this informal grouping, while allowing each of the tribes significant independence, was insufficient to ward off all of their enemies, who were becoming more organized and better equipped—and that this practical consideration may have been a factor in causing the people to seek an earthly king to help them win battles with neighboring nations intent on absorbing them and their land. The transition from the time of the judges to the time of the kings can be seen in Samuel’s lifetime when he anoints the first two kings to rule over the 12 tribes of Israel.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about religion & politics?
Children in grade school in the United States are taught the need to maintain strict segregation of church and state, and conventional wisdom holds that it’s important to separate religion and politics. During the time period in salvation history covered by the First and Second Books of Samuel and the First and Second Books of the Kings, however, this wasn’t the case.

?  How are religious needs and political needs intermingled in the eighth chapter in the First Book of Samuel?
?  Which need do the people seem to be considering as a priority?
?  Consider what Samuel might believe to be most important for the people’s overall well-being.
?  What does God warn will happen if the people insist on establishing a monarchy?
?  Consider why this warning fails to influence the people.
?  What might be behind Samuel’s opposition to the establishment of a monarchy?
?  History is full of examples of God not fulfilling requests. What reason might God have for allowing the people to have the king for which they ask?
?  Consider why Samuel, though opposed to a monarchy, accepts the role of anointing the first king.
?  Reflect on how you feel about the separation of religion and politics in our world today. What reasons argue in favor of separation?
?  What reasons argue against it?

WHAT DO YOU THINK about family matters?
The First Book of Samuel 8:1–3 introduces a theme that’s woven throughout Scripture—sons don’t always embrace the ways of their fathers. While the historical setting of the Bible focuses on males, present-day readers easily can recognize that many daughters often disappoint their mothers (and vice versa). Getting hung up on gender issues serves no useful purpose when seeking to understand what God is saying to present-day Christians. It may be of some help to consider ways in which Christians (both men and women) fail to embrace Mother Church.

?  Who’s considered the most significant son in the Old Testament?
?  Who’s his father?
?  Is this son obedient to his father?
?  Who’s the most significant Son in the New Testament?
?  Who’s his father?
?  Is this New Testament Son obedient to his father?
?  Consider why Jerusalem sometimes is referred to as daughter Zion and never as a son.

tracking the descendants of Abraham
The united kingdom of Israel is a nation composed of descendants of Jacob, who was the grandson of Abraham. Because Jacob was renamed Israel by God, his descendants are called the descendants of Israel. The land of Canaan often is called the Promised Land because God promised it as an inheritance to Abraham’s descendants. The 12 tribes of Israel trace their ancestry to Abraham through Isaac. Jacob had 12 sons, but the descendants of Levi usually are left out of biblical listings of the 12 tribes of Israel because when God ordains them to serve as priests they don’t inherit land in Canaan. Instead, the other tribes are required to tithe a tenth of all they have to God, and the Levites are provided for in this way. (Note that when the Levites are allowed a tenth of everything claimed by the other tribes, this is a greater portion than they otherwise would have received had they been given land.) Descendants of Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh sometimes are considered belonging to half-tribes because Joseph’s Egyptian-born sons were adopted by their grandfather Jacob (Israel) and afforded equal status with his other sons. This means that each of these two tribes also tithed a tenth of everything they received as an inheritance to the descendants of Levi. Joseph inherits the only land actually owned by his father in the land of Canaan, a mountain near Shechem. The book of Exodus describes how Joseph’s remains eventually are returned from Egypt to be buried at that site.

ex libris—a helpful book about the Old Testament
Although intended as a college textbook, God’s Word to Israel by Joseph Jensen will serve as a boon companion for anyone approaching the Old Testament with the aim of learning more about what God’s saying to humanity. The author is well aware that reading his introduction to the Old Testament is in no way a substitute for reading God’s Word. The commentaries in Jensen’s book provide important historical background related to the period of salvation history when Saul, David, and Solomon ruled over all of the descendants of Jacob. This background is designed to encourage additional reflection of the Scriptures. At ex libris—main bookshelf, you can read excerpts and learn more about God’s Word to Israel and other works related to Bible study.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about applying Bible study to your life?
It’s easy to miss thinking about ways that the biblical text relates to our lives. Each lesson of The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King includes a brief sidebar labeled “Christian Connection.” These sidebars are designed to make it easier to reflect on the ways that God’s Word applies to Christians by pointing out one way the biblical text can be considered relevant in the present day. It’s valuable to consider numerous other ways that God speaks to individuals through Scripture passages written thousands of years ago.

?  How do you interpret Samuel’s words in the First Book of Samuel 8:10–18 in terms of your own life?
?  Read “Words of Caution” on page 10 in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. What might God be calling you to do in response to your understanding of Samuel’s warning to the descendants of Jacob?
?  What other Christian connections can you see in the biblical text for Lesson 1?

another video—one that could change the way you approach the Bible (40:44)
Even if you’re a veteran of Catholic Bible studies, we encourage you to watch an explanation of the practical benefits of approaching The Bible as the Living Word of God. This 40-minute video is distilled from a talk that Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps gave at a summer Bible-study retreat at Conception Abbey in Conception, Missouri. In this video, Matthew looks at how viewing Scripture as a living document can help us to develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. There are real benefits in setting aside what we think we know about Scripture to approach the Bible with the goal of learning what new things God is saying to us. Matthew examines the principles of lectio divina, the traditional Catholic approach to reading and praying with Scripture that’s foundational for all Turning to God’s Word Bible studies.

read the Catechism—how well do you know your faith?
A compelling reason to study the united kingdom is that its rulers serve as Old Testament types of the reign established by Jesus Christ. The name given to their Old Testament kingdom indicates that it serves to unite the people of God. Unity is the first of the four marks of the Church. Can you answer the following questions without looking at the Catechism of the Catholic Church?

visual meditation as a form of prayer
If you like to draw, consider illustrating your prayers for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. For inspiration, you can check out the drawings in the visual-meditation journal, which Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino created to accompany another of our Catholic Bible studies—The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation. Tami illustrated Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers and The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness as well as some lessons in In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis and You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus.

Q&A—where to find some answers
Some people are used to doing Bible studies from other publishers, and they’ve told us that they miss the answer keys in those studies. One leader even admitted that she relied on answer keys so she didn’t have to spend time doing Bible study lessons herself. We sympathize with omnipresent time constraints, but we maintain that up-front answer keys provide people with a strong temptation to rely on someone else’s idea of what Scripture means instead of thinking more deeply about what God might be trying to say to each of us as individuals at a particular moment in time.

Q: Why don’t Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies provide any printed answer keys?

A: The Turning to God’s Word method of Bible study is dependent on participants directly engaging with the biblical text and looking to that text for answers to their questions. All of the factual questions in the lessons can be answered from the Scriptures. Sidebars in the lessons contain supplemental material written to help explain some of the themes suggested by the biblical text. Most of our studies, including this one, feature videos with each lesson.

Outside commentaries can shed light on individual texts, but many commentaries examine Scripture passages out of context. Some may focus on an academic rather than a spiritual approach to the Bible. If you’re confused about anything in our studies or in any related outside commentaries, we encourage you to browse our website for more information.

The goal of all Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies is to foster personal reflection leading to a more intimate relationship with Jesus. Consequently, each lesson contains reflection questions, and these necessarily don’t have any “right” or “wrong” answers. If you’d like to share your thoughts about any of our studies or need clarification about a question, commentary, or video related to the lessons, contact us using the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any online lesson page. Because others may have the same concern, we routinely turn questions and comments we receive into anonymous Q&A items and add them to the relevant online study pages.

Q&A—three questions about Bible translations
We’re frequently asked what translation of the Bible is best. Sometimes we’re asked which translation is approved to be read at Catholic Masses. More infrequently we’re asked why we’ve chosen to reprint the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) for the biblical text in our printed studies.

Q1: Which translation of the Bible is the best one for Catholics to read?

A2: As far as which translation is best, we maintain that reading any translation of the Bible you have on hand is a great place to start. The old adage “every translator is a traitor” certainly applies to Scripture, but God’s basic message to his people can be found in any Bible. While there are English-language Bibles catering to a variety of special-interest Catholic groups, they generally reprint either a translation of the New American Bible Revised Edition (the NABRE) or a Catholic edition of the Revised Standard Version (the RSVCE or the RSV2CE), which are the Bibles read by most American Catholics. Both of these translations rely on archeological finds and scholarship that were unavailable in earlier centuries. Before the mid-1960s, many Catholics were familiar with the Douay-Rheims English translation, which was based on the Latin Vulgate. Originally translated by St. Jerome in the late 4th century, a version of the Vulgate has remained the official Latin translation of the Catholic Church since the 16th century. Before the mid-1960s, most Protestants read The King James Version.

As people become more interested in Scripture study, they also become more interested in reading the “right” Bible. Since very few of us are proficient in ancient languages, we’re forced to rely on the work of scholars who’ve spent years studying Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and Latin. In many cases, there simply isn’t an easy way to translate some of the original words and phrases of Scripture into English. The best advice we can offer is to choose an English translation that the Church has approved. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offers guidelines. When questions arise, as they undoubtedly will, check out footnotes, commentaries, and other translations; talk to a knowledgeable priest; and—this part is most important—ask God to grant you increased understanding. You also can email us with your questions about Scripture. In many cases, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps’ background in classical languages proves helpful. We frequently rely on him to shed some light on the linguistics involved in difficult passages.

Q2: I’m having trouble locating the same Bible that I hear read at Mass. What translation is that?

A2: The Catholic Lectionary, a collection of biblical texts approved for liturgical use, isn’t the same as a Bible. The English-language lectionary used in the United States is primarily based on a 1970 translation. A close English translation outside the lectionary is the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) currently is working on a liturgical Bible based on the NABRE translation.

Q3: Why has Turning to God’s Word chosen to reprint biblical text from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) instead of the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)?

A3: We currently use the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) as our primary biblical translation in our printed studies because scholars consider it to be a more faithful word-for-word translation than many other translations. Pope Benedict XVI quotes from the RSV2CE in his three-volume book, Jesus of Nazareth. The RSVCE is the Bible translation used in English translations of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The RSV2CE varies only slightly from the earlier RSVCE, which we link to on our online study pages. Any discrepancies between the RSV2CE and the RSVCE are pointed out on the online study pages. Turning to God’s Word cites The Abbey Psalms and Canticles in references to the Psalms in all of our printed studies.

pray with the Psalms—intensely emotional prayers
Although some scholars question David’s authorship of the Psalms, it remains indisputable that many of the Psalms address themes related to events that occurred during the period when David ruled over the descendants of Jacob. Reading and praying with the Psalms offers insight into the minds and hearts of people who lived during the time of David—and long afterward as well. These prayers express universal human feelings every bit as relevant to us in the present day as when the Psalms first were composed.

don’t get confused—Psalms numbering varies
Numbering of many Psalms and their verses varies depending on translation. Parallel numbering for commonly used Catholic Bibles is noted in the citations index in the study book The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King and in the index included in the sample lesson. For more information about why the numbering varies, see the Q&A on the online study page for Lesson 1 Set a Guard on My Mouth in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers.

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however.

the First Book of Samuel 9:16—paragraph 436

ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing extra information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun that appears in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

memorize a favorite Bible verse (4:46)
Tami Palladino has created a short video about the benefits of memorizing Bible verses. Choosing a passage that you find particularly meaningful will make the task easier. There are inspiring verses in every book of the Bible, but some people in our Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies like to memorize a verse from their lesson every week. For more ideas and helpful tips, check out Tami’s video, Why Memorize Scripture? It’s less than five minutes long.

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to readings from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, open the link and click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical texts. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the First Book of Samuel 7:3–9:25 (NIV)

close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following prayer based on the biblical text in this lesson in the study book The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King.

O God, you honored your chosen people’s request
for an earthly king to rule over them.
Help us to avoid the temptation to envy the lifestyle
of others around us in the secular world.
Teach us to value our relationship with you above all else,
and give us the strength to obey your commandments
and the wisdom to turn our backs on anything threatening to harm us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who has opened for us
the possibility of entering the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

Lesson 2 Samuel Anoints Saul—the First Book of Samuel 9:26—11:15

you also may like our study of the book of Exodus
You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus, a 28-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, provides an in-depth look at how significant events in biblical history that occurred thousands of years ago to descendants of Jacob remain relevant and even critical for present-day Christians to understand. The deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and the giving of Ten Commandments are examined along with the development of Moses’ relationship to God. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

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start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer questions. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

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*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online study pages for The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.