1 Samuel Introduction
Introduction
Invitation to Samuel–Kings
The books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings used to be one long book. They were later separated. That’s because of the length of the old scrolls on which the books were written. A scroll was only long enough to hold part of this big book.
These books have a form that repeats itself. The form begins with the age of the king when he began his rule. Then it tells where and how long the king ruled. It gives some facts about this king as a person. And it describes some important events that happened while he ruled.
The books of Samuel were named after Samuel the prophet. Samuel was also the last judge to guide the Israelites as a nation. The book of 1 Samuel tells about the birth of Samuel. It ends with the death of King Saul. Saul was Israel’s first king. Saul was chosen by God to be king. At first, Saul followed God’s commands. But later he did not follow God faithfully. So God announces that he will look for another man to rule Israel. God will choose a man who will be faithful to him. The book of 2 Samuel tells about the rule of King David. He was king of Israel after King Saul.
God made a promise to King David. God tells David that a member of his family line would always rule in Israel. But they would have to obey God’s rules, laws and commands. The kings that came after David, however, did not always obey God’s commands. Some kings did not lead the Israelites to love God and obey his commands. A few kings did lead the people back to obeying God. But that usually did not last long. This pattern repeated itself over and over again.
Finally, God allows powerful nations from the East to take the Israelites away. These strangers take the Israelites away from their homes. They take them as prisoners and slaves to another country. At this point Israel’s story has not gone well. But God has made his promise. He will bring his people back home. God will bring a new king from David’s line. Through Israel he will heal the world.
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1 Samuel Introduction: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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1 Samuel Introduction
Introduction
The books commonly known as 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings are really one long book. (They were separated due to the length of ancient scrolls.) Beginning with Samuel, the last of the judges, this book describes what happened in the days of the kings who ruled first the whole nation, and then the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The reigns of Saul and David are described in detail. The repeating structure within the book tells how old a king was when he came to the throne, where and for how long he ruled, and something about his character and the notable events of his reign. (Some traditions call this book the ‘Book of Reigns.’)
Beneath this pattern of historical succession, however, another rhythm can be discerned. Saul, the first king, does not follow God faithfully, and God announces he will seek a man after his own heart to rule Israel. God finds this person in David. He puts him on the throne, promising that his descendants will always rule Israel if they continue to serve him. Unfortunately, the kings after David are not committed to following God’s way. Many of them abandon God and lead the people to do the same, although a few of them call the people back to obedience. Using David’s wholehearted dedication to the Lord as its standard, the book of Samuel-Kings traces the tragic wavering of the people’s devotion to God. Their covenant failure leads to the nation first being divided and then later conquered by the powerful empires to the east.
The ‘Book of Reigns’ is therefore a tragic closing of the whole covenant history that began in Genesis. Just as the first humans were exiled from God’s garden, now Israel is sent out of the ‘new Eden’ God intended in the promised land. Land and temple have been lost in the darkness of judgment, and only a flickering light remains. The deeper purpose of God for Israel – to bring blessing and restoration to the nations – seems to have been frustrated. But hope remains alive in God’s promise to bring a descendant of David back to the throne.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.