1 & 2 Samuel
(i) Authorship & Date
– possibly Samuel contributed to the major part of the first book (evidence that he wrote is in 1 Samuel 10:25) up until his own death (1 Samuel 25) but certainty leaves us with the rest (at least one suggestion is that Nathan and Gad, the other two prophets who feature to a degree in the accounts, were responsible for the rest of the material 1 Samuel 26 – 2 Samuel 24).
– again no hint of certainty here but probably an author knew something of the division of the kingdom after Solomon (about 931 B.C.) because he keeps referring to the two kingdoms of Israel (northern) and Judah (southern) throughout; also it appears that one author came from a later period with some explanatory notes provided about things in earlier times (see 1 Samuel Ch 9:9; 2 Samuel 13:18).
(ii) Title
– the book is called after its initial character of importance, Samuel, whose name means either ‘his name is God’ or ‘heard of God’ (the latter seems the more likely given the context of his birth).
– In the Hebrew Bible 1&2 Samuel were taken as one book and considered among the Former Prophets; since the Septuagint (280-200 B.C.) they have been acceptably divided into two and taken as part of the Historical Books of Old Testament in Protestant Bibles (Samuel/ Kings/Chronicles cover Israel’s period of about 500 years monarchy).
– the history of 1&2 Samuel extends from 12th to 10th century B.C., from time of the Judges to the Kings, from tribal disunity and national religious decline to time of strong centralised leadership under a king; it was Samuel’s task to lead Israel during this transition period, sometimes thought of as the last of the judges (1 Samuel 7:6) and first of the prophets (1 Samuel 3:20) – his own dual role an indicator of the momentous transition about to occur; I&2 Samuel cover much more than Samuel’s personal history; they deal with the significant reigns of Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David;
(iii) Outline
Ch’s 1-7 Samuel; Ch’s 8-15 Saul; Ch 16 – 2nd Samuel Ch 24 David (40 chapters indicating his importance in Old Testament history) – 1 Samuel Ch’s 16-18, David chosen, 1 Samuel 19 – 2 Samuel 1, David exiled, 2 Samuel Ch’s 2-24, David reigning (obviously David is the most significant person with 40 chapters devoted to his rise and reign).
(iv) Comments
1. A praying mother leaves an impression on her son (1 Samuel 7:5; 8:6; 12:19,23; 15:11; Jeremiah 15:1)
2. Muscle-man is moody (Saul of the Old Testament starts well and ends badly; Saul of the New Testament starts badly and ends well) – man’s choice is not the best (15:17 humble, 13 presumptuous, 14 rash, 15 disobedient, 28 wicked).
3. A unique name for God appears for the first time in Holy Writ and dominates the scenery of this book (and is a favourite in Isaiah/ Jeremiah/ Haggai/ Zechariah/ Malachi) – Jehovah Sabaoth 1 Samuel 1:3,11; 4:4; 12:9; 14:50; 15:2 (260 occurrences in Old Testament and 2 in the New Testament). It presents the God Who has infinite resources and power and Who works for His people in times of trouble (see Psalm 46). After the spiritual decay under the Judges period there is a spiritual recovery during the time of Samuel and David, a time covered by the frequent reference to God in these terms! Do we believe in Him as such? Do we worship Him as such? Do we call upon Him as such? This is the one Jehovah compound name used more often than any other in Scripture!
Questions for later.
1. Read 1 Samuel 16:11 – 17:37 and mark the word “sheep” in relation to David. What does this care suggest to you about our care for young Christians (John 10 & 21:15ff)
2. 1 Samuel 7:12 is the name of a memorial stone in Israel (read the account). Do we record the times God has revealed His help in no small measure?
3. 1 Samuel 2:1-10 is a song. Can you think of other songs in Scripture born out of prayer or some spiritual experience of believers?