books) English Bible (A.D.): 1,2 Samuel; 1,2 Kings (four books) The intimate structural connection of Samuel with Samuel is shown by the accompanying outline Note especially that the last half of Samuel and the rst chapter of Samuel are part of one section in the outline for the simple reason that the story of Saul does not end until chapter of Samuel FIRST AND SECOND SAMUEL C AUTHOR AND DATE It is di cult to identify the author (or authors) Various suggestions of authorship or coauthorship include Abiathar, an attendant of David; Nathan and Gad (cf Chron 29:29); and pupils from Samuel’s school of the prophets The detailed and vivid account of the happenings, with which these books abound, indicates that most of the narrative was written by men living at the time these things occurred rather than at a much later date The fact of joint authorship does not take away from the unity of the books as to theme Concerning all the writings of Scripture, one must continually recognize the supernatural moving of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of the human writers, whoever and however many they were, to compose the holy writings If Samuel was one of the authors, he could only have narrated the events that preceded his death (which is recorded in Sam 25).2 He would have done his writing sometime between 1025 and 900 B.C D THE THREE LEADING CHARACTERS OF SAMUEL AND Samuel The name Samuel is from a Hebrew word which has been variously translated as: “the name of God,” “his name is God,” “his name is mighty,” or “heard of God.” One is not surprised that the Jews have esteemed Samuel second to Moses among their leaders The psalmist (Psalm 99:6), and God speaking to Jeremiah (Jer 15:1), classi ed Samuel with Moses as an interceding priest Samuel held the honor of being the last of the judges (1 Sam 7:6, 1517) and the rst of the new order of prophets (1 Sam 3:20; Acts 3:24; 13:20) The stature of the prophetic o ce during the years of the kingdoms can be traced back to Samuel’s life and ministry He probably was the founder of a school of prophets (cf Sam 10:5).3 Saul Saul (Heb., Sa-ul, “asked,” i.e., of God) was the rst king of Israel; son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin He was a choice young man in the prime of life when he was placed on the throne He was a physical “giant” (1 Sam 10:23), industrious, generous, honest, and modest God chose him to institute Israel’s monarchy, but three times during his reign he disquali ed himself from the high o ce The story of Saul (1 Sam 9-31) is one of the most pathetic accounts of God’s servants J Barton Payne cites four degenerations in Saul’s experience:4 GOOD POINTS DEGENERATED INTO striking appearance, 9:2 pride, 18:8 initiative, 11:7 rebellion, 20:31 bravery, 13:3 recklessness, 14:24 patriotic Spirit-filling, 11:6 demon possession, 16:14 ... held the honor of being the last of the judges (1 Sam 7:6, 1517) and the rst of the new order of prophets (1 Sam 3:20; Acts 3:24; 13:20) The stature of the prophetic o ce during the years of the. .. that most of the narrative was written by men living at the time these things occurred rather than at a much later date The fact of joint authorship does not take away from the unity of the books... ministry He probably was the founder of a school of prophets (cf Sam 10:5).3 Saul Saul (Heb., Sa-ul, “asked,” i.e., of God) was the rst king of Israel; son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin He was