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{{Tanakh OT}}
The two '''Books of [[Samuel]]''' ({{lang-he|''Sefer Shmuel'' ספר שמואל}}) are part of a series of [[Old Testament]] books ([[Book of Joshua|Joshua]], [[Book of Judges|Judges]], Samuel and [[Books of Kings|Kings]]) making up a theological history of the [[Israelites]] that affirm and 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 and Nathan; modern scholarly thinking is that the entire history (called the [[Deuteronomistic history]]) was composed in the period c.630–540
Samuel begins with the prophet [[Samuel]]'s birth and [[Yahweh|God]]'s call to him as a boy. The story of the [[Ark of the Covenant]] that follows tells of Israel's oppression by the [[Philistines]], which brings about Samuel's anointing of [[Saul]] as Israel's first king. But Saul proves unworthy and God's choice turns to [[David]], who defeats Israel's enemies and brings the Ark to Jerusalem. God then promises David and his successors an eternal dynasty.{{sfn|Spieckerman|2001|p=348}}
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