The books of Samuel were originally one book. They were separated into two documents when translated into Greek in the third century B.C. That separation continued into our English Bibles. The Hebrew Bible kept them united until the appearance of the first printed edition about 500 years ago. In the Greek translation, Samuel was known as First and Second Kingdoms, a designation that continued until the Latin Bible of the 4th century AD (and can be seen in the King James Bible’s title: “The First Book of Samuel, otherwise called The First Book of Kings). The Hebrew Bible kept the designation Samuel.

The most crucial question to ask when studying the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles is: “Why were these books written?” It is, however, the question most often left unasked. The books are normally read and taught as books of history chronicling the period of the Israelite monarchy. The procedure leaves us to draw whatever conclusions we see fit from the stories presented, and causes us to miss any central theme God may have intended.

Samuel is named for the central character at the beginning of the book. In the list of the judges of Israel, Samuel is the last. He is also the means by which God anoints the first two kings, Saul and David. Samuel may be outlined as follows:
I) Samuel (1 Samuel 1-7)
II) Saul (1 Samuel 8 - 15)
III) Saul and David (1 Samuel 16 - 31)
IV) David (2 Samuel)

David was considered the greatest King of Israel. In fact, the writer of the book of Chronicles evaluates the Kings of Judah by comparing them with David. Yet Samuel does not present to us a flattering picture of David nor his predecessor Saul.

Samuel opens with the failure of Eli (Israel’s 14th Judge) to lead his own house and Israel. Samuel, Eli’s successor, begins with great promise, but his story ends in a similar way, with an inability to lead either God’s people or his own family. The story of Saul begins with great promise, but ends in failure. In fact, most of the account of Saul’s reign deals with his rebellion against God. The story of David likewise begins with great promise, but his reign is checkered with failure. In fact, the largest single section of Samuel tells of David’s adultery (unmentioned by the writer of Chronicles) and the resultant rebellion in his family. Like Eli and Samuel before him, David failed as a leader in his own house. Like Saul, David failed often as a leader of Israel. But unlike Saul, Samuel or Eli, David is presented as a “man after God’s own heart.” What was the difference?

The great comparison is between David and Saul, and the difference has to do with their relationship with God. Three stories occupy the bulk of Saul’s reign: his war with the Philistines, the near murder of his son, and his war with the Amalekites (1 Samuel 13-15). In each story, Saul is either unconcerned with the will of God, or blatantly disobedient. The longest section of David’s reign likewise tells a story of failure and disobedience, but the difference between Saul and David is that David cares what God thinks about him, and ultimately always seeks forgiveness and God’s approval. In the long story of David’s rebelling family there is this heart-warming assessment of God: “Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises a way so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him (2 Samuel 14:14).

Judges described the darkest part of Israel’s history. It calls for a King to lead the people. But Samuel points out that a King is not the answer, for the darkness of the days does not disappear with the rule of a King. What is needed is a changed heart. This will be the key to blessing and the approval of God.