First Samuel records the establishment of Israel's monarchy, about 1050 b.c. Samuel led Israel for many years in the combined roles of prophet, priest, and judge.
The author or authors of 1 and 2 Samuel are not known.
These books recount the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David.
Saul's reign began between 1050-1030 b.c. and ended in 1010.
David then reigned until 971. The books were probably written soon after the end of his reign.
The central theme of the books of Samuel is how the Lord
(1) established a dynasty ("house") in Israel for David rather than Saul and
(2) how he chose Jerusalem as the place where David's successor would establish the temple ("house") for the worship of the divine King Yahweh.
The purpose of 1 Samuel is to highlight two major events:
(1) the establishment of the monarchy in Israel (chs. 8-12); and
(2) the rise of David to be king after Saul (chs. 16-31).
After ruling for a while, Saul was rejected by the Lord in favor of David (chs. 15-16), though Saul stayed on the throne until his death at Mount Gilboa (ch. 31).
Later, in 2 Samuel 7, God promises David and his house an eternal dynasty.
The book of 1 Samuel establishes the principle that obedience to the word of God is the necessary condition for a king to be acceptable to the God of Israel.
First and Second Samuel deal with a transitional period in the history of ancient Israel.
There is a transition of leadership first from the priest Eli to the judge Samuel, then from the judge Samuel to the king Saul, and then from Saul to David.
Samuel thus is the link between the judgeship and the kingship in Israel.
He is the prophet God uses to anoint both Saul and David.
The kingdom of Saul was also transitional.
Under Saul, Israel was more than a loose confederation that gathered together whenever there was a common threat, but there was no strong central rule such as existed later.
The story of the rise of David in the second half of 1 Samuel prepares for the full-scale kingship of David in 2 Samuel.
God's kingship. God is King of the universe and always has been. No human king can assume kingship except as a deputy of the divine King.
God's providential guidance. God providentially and individually guided the lives of chosen people such as Hannah, Samuel, and David. Even the life of Saul was in God's providential care (see 1 Sam. 9:16). God's timing is always perfect (see 1 Samuel 9 and the end of 1 Samuel 23), for he is the Lord of history.
God's sovereign will and power. God chooses or rejects people according to his absolute sovereign will and purpose. He may change his way of dealing with individuals according to his plan and purpose, but his decision is always just and right.
At the same time, he is merciful and gracious.
Therefore, obedience to God's word is of prime importance.
Only God's grace allows sinful human beings to be in relationship with the holy God.
Only the God-given way of approaching him through sacrifice can prepare humans to come closer to God.
Believers can only wait on God, who will do his will according to his own purpose.
What is impossible for humans is possible for God.
This should encourage believers to put their faith in the one who is sovereign over the entire creation.
After the people demanded a king like those of the other nations (ch. 8), God directed Samuel to anoint Saul as Israel's first king.
When Saul turned from God, David was anointed by Samuel to succeed him.
After David killed the giant Goliath, he was brought to Saul's court, eventually becoming the leader of Saul's armies.
Saul's subsequent violent jealousy forced David to flee.
The book closes with Saul's death in battle, and looks forward to David's reign.
1 and 2 Samuel form one book in the ancient Hebrew manuscripts.
They were not divided into two books until the Old Testament was translated into Greek.
First Samuel's author is unknown, but Samuel himself may have written portions of the book (see 1 Chron. 29:29).
Samuel was a major contributor, but much of the book takes place after his death in 1 Samuel 25.
They are called the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, not because Samuel wrote all of them, but because they describe his great ministry in Israel and the legacy of it.