First Samuel

LeRoy Eims

You will be interested to know that in the Hebrew Bible the two books of Samuel are considered as one book. The same is true of the two books of the Kings.

These four books are regarded as a continuous series which are referred to as the four books of the kingdom. However, they differ in a number of significant ways including the times to which they belong.

It is interesting that the books of Samuel do not record the death of King David. This makes us wonder if these books were written prior to his death. The ancient opinion and the view held by many Bible scholars today is that Samuel wrote the first twenty‑four chapters and that the balance of the book was written by the two prophets Nathan and Gad. The two books of Samuel contain the life stories of three men: Samuel, Saul and David.

The first book of Samuel is made up of two parts. The first tells of the closing period of the judges during which time Samuel was the leader of the nation as prophet and judge. The second section gives the reign of Saul. Thus the record of the period of the Judges takes up the book of Judges, the book of Ruth, and the first eight chapters of the book of First Samuel. Saul played an important part in the transition from rulership by judges to rulership by the kings. The nation had entered a new stage in her national life. She had instituted a new form of government that was to continue during the whole time she was an independent nation. Therefore, one of the outstanding events given by this book is the establishment of the kingdom. Up to this time, the nation was distinct from the rest of the world in that there was no kingly power. However, God Himself was still the sovereign ruler of His people. He revealed His will to the king through Samuel. Saul was unwilling to recognize this and was ultimately rejected, but David never failed to acknowledge this fact.

Also‑in this book another phase of Bible history is introduced. Along with the change of government, prophecy is established as a fixed element in the life of the people. Moses did in fact perform the duties of a prophet, but in the time of Samuel prophecy became continuous and organized. In fact, the New Testament speaks of him as the first of the long line of prophets who foretold the days when the Gospel would be proclaimed. Acts 3:24 tells us, "Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days."

Samuel was a holy man of God. "For the prophecy came not in old times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1:21) He was a Levite, born to godly parents in answer to the prayers of his mother, and was dedicated to God before he was born. In a day when materialism ran rampant and religion became a form, the life of Samuel stands out in bold relief. The people tried to supercede God by establishing human institutions, but Samuel remained faithful to the Lord through it all.