Day 2

WHO, WHEN, WHERE?

"Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord." 1 Samuel 10:25

The first and second books of Samuel take the record of Israel's history from the end of the period of the judges to the closing years of the reign of King David. A period of about one hundred years stretching from approximately 1075BC.

We don't know who wrote these books, but there are a few clues in the text. It seems likely that the author had access to the writings of Samuel (see our Discover text) and the prophets who followed him (1 Chronicles. 29:29). He certainly knew some of David's poetry as he quotes it (2 Sam. 1:19-27; 22:2-51; 23:1-7). He probably wrote after the division of the kingdoms which followed Solomon's death as he several times makes reference to Israel and Judah. Finally 1 Sam. 27:6 suggests he certainly wrote before the exile in Babylon.

The Bible contains a second account of David's reign in the first book of Chronicles. This is a later account, probably written about 400BC after the return from exile in Babylon and gives an interesting different perspective on many of the events of David's reign.

The Psalms are also important for us in understanding the events of 1st and 2nd Samuel since some of them were written by David in response to particular events and they show us his thoughts and feelings at the time.

How would you write the history of your country in the last hundred years? What records would you use? What events would you put in and which ones would you leave out? Could you discern the action of God in that history?
Father, thank you for the history of your dealings with your people Israel. Help me to learn from them to serve you better.