1^st Samuel

Introduction

Main Themes

History
- Background & Author

God's Character

Outline

Study Notes

Resources

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Introduction to 1^st Samuel

The Books of Samuel describe the last years of the judges and the early years of the monarchy in Israel. They comprise the eighth and ninth books of the Old Testament. While the prophet Samuel prevails in some of the early chapters, there are accounts of other people as well. The Books of Samuel are part of the Deuteronomic history and introduce the ideal king David and the region of Jerusalem, God's chosen city. The Prophetic history in these books tells the importance of prophets in Israel, even when their presence overshadowed the king's. The LXX. translators regarded the books of Samuel and of Kings as forming one continuous history, which they divided into four books, which they called "Books of the Kingdom." The Vulgate version followed this division, but styled them "Books of the Kings." These books of Samuel they accordingly called the "First" and "Second" Books of Kings, and not, as in the modern Protestant versions, the "First" and "Second" Books of Samuel.

1^st Samuel's Main Themes

History of 1^st Samuel

Time & Background

Authorship
The authors of the books of Samuel were probably Samuel, Gad, and Nathan. Samuel penned the first twenty-four chapters of the first book. Gad, the companion of David (1 Sam. 22:5), continued the history thus commenced; and Nathan completed it, probably arranging the whole in the form in which we now have it (1 Chr. 29:29).

God's Character in 1^st Samuel

Outline of 1^st Samuel

The first book comprises a period of about a hundred years, and nearly coincides with the life of Samuel. It contains

(1) the history of Eli (1-4);
(2) the history of Samuel (5-12);
(3) the history of Saul, and of David in exile (13-31).

The second book, comprising a period of perhaps fifty years, contains a history of the reign of David

(1) over Judah (1-4), and
(2) over all Israel (5-24), mainly in its political aspects.

The last four chapters of Second Samuel may be regarded as a sort of appendix recording various events, but not chronologically. These books do not contain complete histories. Frequent gaps are met within the record, because their object is to present a history of the kingdom of God in its gradual development, and not of the events of the reigns of the successive rulers. It is noticeable that the section (2 Sam. 11:2-12: 29) containing an account of David's sin in the matter of Bathsheba is omitted in the corresponding passage in 1 Chr. 20.

Study Notes

Additional 1^st Samuel Resources

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1st Samuel

Search by these headings for all books of the Bible. Search the Scripture Index.

Introduction to 1st Samuel

1st Samuel's Main Themes History of 1st Samuel

God's Character in 1st Samuel

Outline of 1st Samuel

Study Notes Additional 1st Samuel Resources