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The "Be" Commentary
Be Successful (1 Samuel): Attaining Wealth That Money Can't Buy
How do we measure success? Based on the book of 1 Samuel, this study guide shares how we can find true success through a life of integrity and character.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2001
87 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Warren W. Wiersbe
662 books411 followersWarren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 1, 2023
I’m always really thankful for how Wiersbe breaks down what’s happening in the Bible. He lays out where places are, some cultural nuances, and is very helpful in understanding the time they were in. I always love Hannah and her faithfulness and deep emotion, Samuel and his “Here I am.” lived out in his whole life, and David in his willingness to follow God and step into leadership and declare God’s Name and victory wherever he went.
September 9, 2020
The Old Testament book of First Samuel includes a history of the life of Samuel, the reign of King Saul, and an introduction of David, the man after God's own heart. In Warren Wiersbe's Be Successful: Attaining Wealth That Money Can't Buy (OT Commentary 1 Samuel) [ISBN 978-1-4347-6500-0], the author states that "First Samuel is a book about success and failure, both in individuals and in a nation," (p. 11).
In Chapter 10 "A Wise Woman and a Foolish King", Mr. Wiersbe looks at an instance in 1 Samuel 26 when David spares King Saul's life. King Saul and his captain Abner are in a deep sleep sent from God. Abishai, David's nephew, urges David to kill King Saul, but David refuses. Mr. Wiersbe includes a footnote in this section concerning Abner. Chapter 10, footnote #4 reads:
4. "Abishai, Asahel, and Joab were sons of David's sister Zeruiah (1 Chron. 2:16) and nephews of David. Saul's captain, Abner, killed Asahel, and Joab and Abishai chased him and killed him, much to David's sorrow (2 Sam. 2-3). Abishai became one of David's best military leaders and saved David's life when he was attacked by a giant (2 Sam. 21:15-147)," (p. 215).
This footnote is not accurate. Let's look at 2 Samuel 2 and 3 to see what really happened.
In 1 Samuel 31, King Saul dies in a battle against the Philistines. In 2 Samuel 2, David has been made king, but some of Israel (including Abner) decide to follow Saul's son, Ish-bosheth.
First, the men of Abner and the men of Joab decide to engage in a battle.
2 Samuel 2:12-17:
"And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath–hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David."
Next, Asahel (brother to Joab & Abishai) chases Abner. Abner doesn't want to hurt him, but Asahel will not relent, so Abner kills him. Joab then pursues Abner, but a truce is called. Both Abner and Joab walk away from the battle.
2 Samuel 2:18-30
"And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel."
Then, Ish-bosheth (son of King Saul) insults Abner and Abner seeks alliance with David.
2 Samuel 3:12
"And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee."
Finally, Joab is angry that King David accepts Abner as an ally. Joab deceives Abner and kills him to avenge his brother Asahel.
2 Samuel 3:26-27
"And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother."
As you can see, Joab and Abishai did not chase and kill Abner as stated in the Be Successful footnote #4 for Chapter 10. The killing of Asahel by Abner and the killing of Abner by Joab are two completely separate events.
This is a fairly blatant mistake and should have been caught by the publisher. With the historical inaccuracy aside, I still cannot recommend Be Successful because of the constant speculation by Mr. Wiersbe. He ascribes motive and/or emotion to various individuals when the Bible is completely silent on that point. This is a common complaint I have with Wiersbe's Be Series, but this book is especially grievous in disseminating many of Mr. Wierbe's conjectures.
***"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar," (Prov. 30:5-6).***
In Chapter 10 "A Wise Woman and a Foolish King", Mr. Wiersbe looks at an instance in 1 Samuel 26 when David spares King Saul's life. King Saul and his captain Abner are in a deep sleep sent from God. Abishai, David's nephew, urges David to kill King Saul, but David refuses. Mr. Wiersbe includes a footnote in this section concerning Abner. Chapter 10, footnote #4 reads:
4. "Abishai, Asahel, and Joab were sons of David's sister Zeruiah (1 Chron. 2:16) and nephews of David. Saul's captain, Abner, killed Asahel, and Joab and Abishai chased him and killed him, much to David's sorrow (2 Sam. 2-3). Abishai became one of David's best military leaders and saved David's life when he was attacked by a giant (2 Sam. 21:15-147)," (p. 215).
This footnote is not accurate. Let's look at 2 Samuel 2 and 3 to see what really happened.
In 1 Samuel 31, King Saul dies in a battle against the Philistines. In 2 Samuel 2, David has been made king, but some of Israel (including Abner) decide to follow Saul's son, Ish-bosheth.
First, the men of Abner and the men of Joab decide to engage in a battle.
2 Samuel 2:12-17:
"And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath–hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David."
Next, Asahel (brother to Joab & Abishai) chases Abner. Abner doesn't want to hurt him, but Asahel will not relent, so Abner kills him. Joab then pursues Abner, but a truce is called. Both Abner and Joab walk away from the battle.
2 Samuel 2:18-30
"And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel."
Then, Ish-bosheth (son of King Saul) insults Abner and Abner seeks alliance with David.
2 Samuel 3:12
"And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee."
Finally, Joab is angry that King David accepts Abner as an ally. Joab deceives Abner and kills him to avenge his brother Asahel.
2 Samuel 3:26-27
"And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother."
As you can see, Joab and Abishai did not chase and kill Abner as stated in the Be Successful footnote #4 for Chapter 10. The killing of Asahel by Abner and the killing of Abner by Joab are two completely separate events.
This is a fairly blatant mistake and should have been caught by the publisher. With the historical inaccuracy aside, I still cannot recommend Be Successful because of the constant speculation by Mr. Wiersbe. He ascribes motive and/or emotion to various individuals when the Bible is completely silent on that point. This is a common complaint I have with Wiersbe's Be Series, but this book is especially grievous in disseminating many of Mr. Wierbe's conjectures.
***"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar," (Prov. 30:5-6).***
October 20, 2016
A study of 1 Samuel that highlights good and bad examples to follow.
March 1, 2022
Samuel and the first book named for him are bridges between Israel as a collection of tribes and Israel as a unified nation under a king. Be Successful: Attaining the Wealth that Money Can’t Buy is Warren Wiersbe's commentary and study of 1 Samuel.
Wiersbe probably chose the theme of success because of Saul's failure to follow God and be the king he should have been and David's heart or God (despite sins and flaws). Yet the two kings aren't the only two characters in the book: Wiersbe points out how the book begins with a woman's prayers for a son. Then Eli failed in reigning in his sons and their abuse of the priesthood, yet he mentored Samuel well and taught him to listen to the Lord. Samuel followed God and pointed people to him, but his own sins failed as priests. Jonathan was a beautiful example of a good friend.
As always, I enjoyed and benefited from Wiersbe's insights while I studied this book.
Wiersbe probably chose the theme of success because of Saul's failure to follow God and be the king he should have been and David's heart or God (despite sins and flaws). Yet the two kings aren't the only two characters in the book: Wiersbe points out how the book begins with a woman's prayers for a son. Then Eli failed in reigning in his sons and their abuse of the priesthood, yet he mentored Samuel well and taught him to listen to the Lord. Samuel followed God and pointed people to him, but his own sins failed as priests. Jonathan was a beautiful example of a good friend.
As always, I enjoyed and benefited from Wiersbe's insights while I studied this book.
April 30, 2022
Reading this commentary was like reading the original book again, but with paraphrase. Not many could be commented, but the author occasionally commented the story and relating it with what us could do in present times from the story.
November 24, 2023
A great book on getting wealth & succeeding God’s way and trying to that 'by any other means necessary'. This guide examines the life of King David, and shares how we can find true success through our character, conduct, and lifestyle. Very practical!
January 10, 2019
Always love these rich studies.
October 24, 2019
This book is an excellent resource to better understand the Old Testament history and theology, in this case, 1st Samuel. I highly recommend it from r personal Spiritual growth.
December 3, 2021
So many insights into a book that has lots of history. I did enjoyed the last chapter where he focused on the main characters in the book of first Samuel.
April 23, 2025
one of my favorites!
From Hannah to Samuel to Eli to Saul to David, a wonderful commentary to aid Bible study and a great tool to seeing the Biblical truth of the whole Bible.
From Hannah to Samuel to Eli to Saul to David, a wonderful commentary to aid Bible study and a great tool to seeing the Biblical truth of the whole Bible.
April 4, 2024
Be Successful is a Bible study of 1 Samuel. First Samuel shows what it really means to be successful - and it is about character, conduct, and service… not just about having a reputation. Eli and Eli’s sons failed. The nation of Israel had at times turned to idolatry. They asked for a king, like other nations had, forgetting that they were supposed to be different and that God was their King. Ultimately, King Saul, who started successfully, also became a failure. However, David was a “man after God’s own heart.” David’s character was developed out of the spotlight long before he was anointed as the next king. It was his character and obedience to God that brought success.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews