Samuel, Books Of The two books of Samuel were originally one. They are part of the collection that the Hebrews referred to as the Former Prophets, that is, the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. (Concerning the significance of the name ‘Former Prophets’ See PROPHECY.)
Authorship
Though the author of 1 and 2 Samuel is not named, it seems that he took much of his material from the records kept by such people as Samuel, Nathan, Gad, David and the writer of the book of Jasher (1 Samuel 10:25; 2 Samuel 1:18; 1 Chronicles 27:24; 1 Chronicles 29:29). The books of Samuel are named after the man who is the chief character at the beginning of the story and who anointed the two kings whose reigns occupy the remainder of the story. Together the two books cover about one hundred years, from the end of the period of the judges to the end of the reign of David.
Religious purpose
The books of Samuel show how Israel’s political life developed from the simple and often disorderly arrangement that existed in the time of the judges to an established hereditary monarchy. When Samuel succeeded Eli as judge over Israel, the nation’s life was following the same pattern as illustrated in the book of Judges, with the people turning away from God and falling under foreign domination (1 Samuel 1:3-13; 1 Samuel 4:10-11). When, in response to Samuel’s preaching, the people returned to God, God saved them (1 Samuel 1:7-6,13,15).
When Samuel became old and could no longer exercise full control over the nation, troubles returned. In a desire for stability, the people asked for a monarchy like that of other nations. but Israel’s problems came from the people’s sins, not from the system of government. Therefore, Samuel warned that although they would have their wish and be given a king, they would still be punished if they disobeyed God. As it had been under the judges, so it would be under the kings (1 Samuel 1:12-15).
Israel’s first king, Saul, was similar to the judges in that the special power of God’s Spirit came upon him in certain national crises (1 Samuel 1:11). but because of his rebellion against God, God took this power from him and gave it to David (1 Samuel 15:23; 1 Samuel 16:13-14). David was the last of the Spirit-gifted leaders and the first of the hereditary kings. The people had wanted a system of government where the rule would pass from father to son without any need for God to act supernaturally through selected men. Now they had it.
With David a new era began, and the rest of the story deals with his reign. It demonstrates the truth of Samuel’s earlier assertion that national stability would be achieved by devotion to God rather than by a change in the form of government.
Saul’s reign was characterized by weakness and conflict, David’s by strength and prosperity. The difference was not because of the monarchy as an institution, but because of David’s submission to God and his desire to carry out God’s will (Psalms 1:89-37; Acts 13:22). The books of Samuel are not so much concerned with systems of government as with obedience to God. Their purpose is not just to record historical events, but to show how God was working in the lives of his people.
Contents of 1 Samuel
The first seven chapters of 1 Samuel are concerned with Israel during the period when Eli, and then Samuel, were judges. by means of a lengthy story, the writer points out the significance of the birth of Samuel (1:1-2:11) in view of the judgment that was about to fall on Eli and his family (2:12-3:21). Israel, because of its sin, suffered God’s judgment when the Philistines captured the ark (4:1-22), but the ark returned (5:1-7:1), Israel repented and the nation won a notable victory (7:2-17).
In their desire for greater national stability, the people of Israel asked for a king. Samuel told them that in acting like this they were rejecting God, but the people remained unmoved (8:1-22). God told Samuel to anoint Saul as king (9:1-10:16), and this private anointing was followed by Saul’s public appointment to office (10:17-27). With a spectacular victory over the Ammonites, Saul soon became a popular hero (11:1-15), and Samuel retired from the national leadership (12:1-25). Saul had other notable victories, firstly over the Philistines (13:1-14:52), and then over the Amalekites (15:1-35), but in both cases his disobedience to God showed he was not fit to rule over God’s people.
David was the man God chose to succeed Saul as king (16:1-23). He won fame through his victory over Goliath (17:1-58), and after further outstanding victories he was rapidly promoted in the Israelite army. His successes, however, stirred up Saul’s jealousy, resulting in various attempts by Saul to kill him (18:1-19:24). David was forced to flee from Saul to save his life (20:1-21:15). Soon he was joined by hundreds of others who were discontented because of the injustices of Saul’s rule (22:1-23). Yet in spite of Saul’s unjust pursuit of him, David refused to attack his king (23:1-25:44).
At one stage David looked for refuge in enemy Philistia (26:1-27:12), and even set out with the Philistines when they were going to fight with Israel. The Philistine leaders refused to accept him and sent him back (28:1-29:11). The result was that instead of fighting against Israel, David had a rewarding victory over some Amalekites who had been raiding in southern Israel (30:1-31). Meanwhile in the north the Philistines defeated Israel, and Saul was killed in battle (31:1-13).
Contents of 2 Samuel
David was made king in place of Saul, but some of Saul’s followers refused to accept David. They made one of Saul’s sons king, and fighting soon broke out between the two factions (1:1-3:1). After two years, Saul’s faction was overthrown and David was the undisputed king (3:2-4:12).
In an effort to unite all Israel, David conquered Jerusalem (which had been under the control of non-Israelite people) and made it the new national capital (5:1-25). Determined to restore the true worship of God to its rightful place in the centre of the nation’s life, he brought the ark to Jerusalem (6:1-23). In response to David’s request to build God a permanent dwelling place, God promised David something more important, a lasting dynasty (7:1-29).
David won many battles (8:1-10:19), but he brought trouble upon himself through some foolish actions in which he was guilty of sexual immorality and murder (11:1-12:31). His own household was in turn torn apart by sexual immorality and murder (13:1-14:33), and his son Absalom overthrew him and seized the throne (15:1-16:23). War followed between Absalom and David, with the result that Absalom was killed (17:1-19:8). David then returned to Jerusalem to be re-established as king (19:9-43). Not long after, he had to deal with another revolt, but this time success came to him more swiftly (20:1-26).
The final four chapters form an appendix of miscellaneous matters. Various short stories indicate some of the difficult decisions that David at times faced (21:1-22). A lengthy psalm celebrates his victories over his enemies (22:1-51), and a shorter one speaks of the blessings that a God-fearing king brings to his people (23:1-7). After listing David’s mighty men (23:8-39), the appendix closes with the story of a disastrous census that David once carried out (24:1-25).