WHO WROTE:  The authors of the Books of Samuel were most probably Samuel? (First only “if”; not Second), Gad, David (see Second Samuel, Chapter One),and Nathan (1Ch. 29:29).  Samuel could have penned the first twenty-four Chapters of the First Book (in that he died in First Samuel 25:1; while Gad, the companion of David (1Sa 22:5), continued the history thus commenced; and Nathan completed it, probably arranging the whole in the form in which we now have it.

 

Samuel’s death, as recorded in First Samuel 25:1, proves he did not write it all.  The “Talmud” (500 A.D.) is the earliest authority that ascribes the Book[s] to Samuel (“Baba Bathra,” 14:2).  However, Nehemiah is said in, “2Ma. 2:13,” to have “gathered together the acts in the kings and the prophets.”

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WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  The chronology of this Book comprises a period of about a hundred years.  It has been acknowledged that in the “Septuagint,” there is great divergence from the “Hebrew Masoretic Text,” where it is probable that in the course of the transmission to the Greek, it had been exposed to corruption to a very considerable extent.  At least two recessions, i.e., revisions of the Greek text are in existence, represented by the “Codex Vaticanus” and “Alexandrian Manuscripts” respectively, of which the latter is nearer to the Hebrew original.  It has apparently been conformed to it at a later period with a view to removing discrepancies.  This process has naturally impaired its value as a witness to the primary shape of the Greek text itself.

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  B.C. 1010 - ?

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  Our Lord Himself stamps the Books of Samuel as canonical in His historical reference to the time period in Matthew 12:1-4.  The name Samuel means, “heard of God,” or “asked of God.”

 

First and Second Samuel, and First and Second Kings, are only really divided because of the size of the scrolls; they were too big; too much to carry.  Otherwise, they are called, “The Book of the Kings,” and considered to be from one Book.  Only one book in Hebrew, the “Septuagint,” divided it into two.

 

The “LXX” translators regarded the Books of Samuel and of Kings as forming one continuous history, which they divided into four Books, which they titled, “Books of the Kingdom.”  The “Latin 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,” as opposed to the modern Protestant versions, titling them, the “First” and “Second” “Books of Samuel,” and the “First” and “Second” “Books of the Kings.”

 

The name, “Books of the Kings,” was probably due to the translators or scholars of Alexandria.  The division into four Books, but not the Greek title, was then adopted in the “Latin Vulgate” Translation.  However, the influence of Jeromesecured the restoration of the Hebrew names, First and Second Samuel, and First and Second Kings (“Regum”).  Jerome’s example was universally followed, and the fourfold division with the Hebrew titles found a place in all subsequent versions of the Old Testament Scriptures.  Ultimately, the distinction of Samuel and Kings each into two Books was received also into printed editions of the Hebrew Bible.  This was done for the first time in the, “Edition Princeps,” of the “Rabbinic Bible,” printed at Venice in 1516-17 A.D.

 

It is interesting that four sacrifices are mentioned without the least bit of apology; for the only approved places, permitted by God’s Law, was the Tabernacle or Temple.  They take place at Mizpeh, Raman, Bethel, and Araunah’sthreshing floor (1Sa. 7:9-10, 17; 9:13; 10:3; 14:35; 2Sa. 24:18-25).  It is also interesting to note that at this time in Israel’s history, the Law of Moses is never mentioned; all-be-it Moses himself is mentioned in conjunction with Aaron as delivering Israel out of Egypt (1Sa. 12:6, 8).  I mention this, for as an example, “Moses” is mentioned in the Book of Joshua 56 times; occurring in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, after the captivity, when a return to the Mosaic standard, was the watchword of the civil and religious restoration, 31 times; in Kings 10 times; and in the unsettled era of the Judges, three times.

 

The phrase “Lord of hosts,” occurs twice as often in the Book of Samuel (10 times) as in all the other Old Testamenthistories put together, if we discount the Book of Isaiah, in which it occurs 62 times.

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