Books of Samuel: Difference between revisions

The '''Book of Samuel''' forms part of the narrative history of [[Ancient Israel|Israel]] in the [[Nevi'im]] or "prophets" section of the [[Hebrew Bible]]/[[Old Testament]] called the [[Deuteronomistic history]], a series of books ([[Book of Joshua|Joshua]], [[Book of Judges|Judges]], Samuel, and [[Books of Kings|Kings]]) that constitute a theological history of the [[Israelites]] and that aim to explain [[Torah|God's law for Israel]] under the guidance of the prophets.{{sfn|Gordon|1986|p=18}} According to Jewish tradition, the book was written by [[Samuel]], with additions by the prophets [[Gad (prophet)|Gad]] and [[Nathan (prophet)|Nathan]].<ref name="JewishEncyclopedia">{{cite web |last1=Hirsch |first1=Emil G. |title=SAMUEL, BOOKS OF|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13080-samuel-books-of |website=www.jewishencyclopedia.com}}</ref> Modern scholarly thinking isposits that the entire Deuteronomistic history was composed in the period c. 630–540 BC by combining a number of independent texts of various ages.{{sfn|Knight|1995|p=62}}{{sfn|Jones|2001|p=197}}

Samuel begins with the prophet [[Samuel]]'s birth<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Samuel|1:1–20|KJV}}</ref> and [[Yahweh|God]]'s call to him as a boy. The story of the [[Ark of the Covenant]] that follows. It tells of Israel's oppression by the [[Philistines]], which brought about Samuel's anointing of [[Saul]] as Israel's first king. But Saul proved unworthy, and God's choice turned to [[David]], who defeated Israel's enemies, purchased the threshing floor ({{bibleverse|2 Samuel|24:24|KJV}}), where his son, [[Solomon]] builtwould build the Temple, and brought the Ark to Jerusalem. God then promised David and his successors an everlasting dynasty.{{sfn|Spieckerman|2001|p=348}}