David was the king because Saul had wondered away from God. David started as a good king. At times he committed terrible sins, but he always went back to God. When David was old, he installed his son Solomon as the next king.

David had to leave town, because King Saul wanted to kill him. Saul knew God wanted David to be the next king. Saul didn't want to give up the kingdom. Saul and his army hunted for David and his men. David could have killed Saul on two occasions, but let him live. He knew God would decide the time of Saul's death. David and his men moved out of Israel, and pretended to be loyal to King Achish. They were secretly attacking Philistine cities, killing all possible witnesses. 

In God's power, David killed Goliath. The king made him a commander in the king's army. His fame exceeded the fame of the king. Saul got jealous and gave him a dangerous assignment, hoping he would die in battle. David was victorious. Saul offered his daughter in marriage as reward for another dangerous assignment. David did the deed, and married the king's daughter. While David played music for the king, the king tried to kill him with a spear. David escaped and became a fugitive.

Samuel was a good judge. When he got old, he delegated authority to his sons. They were not good judges. The people wanted a king, so they could be like the countries around them. At God's direction, Samuel anointed King Saul. He was a good king, for a while. Power has a tendency to corrupt men in power. Saul overstepped his authority. Then he disobeyed God. God directed Samuel to anoint a new king. That was David. But it would be years before David became king.

Joshua and God's army went through the promised land, destroying the kingdoms there, because God gave the land to His people. After hundreds of years, the Israelites wandered away from God. Eli did not raise his sons to serve God. Then God gave him Samuel to raise to serve God. Eli's sons died in a battle against the Philistines, because they had taken the Ark of the Covenant to battle as a good luck charm. Eli died when he heard the news. The Israelites lost the war and the Ark of the Covenant. The Philistines were struck with plagues until they returned the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites.

Moses died. Joshua was chosen to be the new leader. He sent 2 spies into Jericho. The spied out the city, and with the help of Rahab, escaped to go back to Joshua. God parted the waters of the Jordan River, and the Israelites crossed over on dry land. In God's power, they defeated Jericho. Then they defeated the city of Ai on the second attempt. Then the city of Gibeon used deceptive diplomacy to make peace with the Israelites.

God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to give to the people. While Moses was getting the Law, the people were in the camp worshipping an idol. Moses threw the stone tablets with the commandments on the ground breaking them. Then Moses directed the execution of many as an example for the others. He went back on the mountain with God to get more commandments. They went to the promised land but were afraid to go in. Moses took them back to the wilderness for 40 years, where everybody would die who was over 20 years old when they started, except for Joshua and Caleb. 

Moses was sent by God to take God's people out of Egypt. In God's power, Moses did many signs and wonders. Still Pharaoh refused to let them go. Finally God sent the death angel to kill the first born of the Egyptians. Then Pharaoh told them to leave. After they left, he chased them with his army.  God sent the Israelites across the Red Sea, on dry land. The Egyptians followed, and the sea covered them and drowned them all. Then Moses led the people through the wilderness. They complained along the way, blaming Moses, who was only obeying God. God was teaching them how to depend on God. They were slow learners.

Joseph went into Egypt as a slave. Over the years, through a series of events directed by God, Joseph saved the nation from starvation, and made slaves of all the Egyptians. Joseph's family moved into Egypt, and prospered while he was in charge. Then they became slaves, and their descendants were slaves for hundreds of years. Then along came Moses, who had to leave Egypt to prepare to come back and lead God's people out of slavery.

Isaac and Rachel had twin sons. Esau and Jacob were always in competition with each other, starting before they were born. They wrestled with each other in their mother's womb. When Esau was born, his brother Jacob was holding on to his brother's heel. In that culture it was tradition for the first born to have the greater part of the inheritance. Jacob cheated his brother out of the birthright. He then had to leave to escape his brother's wrath. Jacob went off and got married and had many children. God blessed him and told him to go back where he started. He had to reconcile with his brother.