Faith & Reason Nexus

MEANING: Samuel’s Name and Significance
Samuel’s name means “The name of God.”His name is also associated with meanings like “Heard of God” or “Asked of God.”
AUTHORSHIP: Samuel’s Contribution to the Bible

• Jewish Talmudic tradition attributes the writing of Samuel to Samuel himself.
• However, 1 Samuel 25:1 records Samuel’s death, indicating he did not write all of 1 & 2 Samuel.

TIME WRITTEN: Written shortly before Samuel’s death in 1015 B.C.

POSITION IN THE BIBLE: 1 Samuel in Context

• 9th Book in the Bible.
• 9th Book in the Old Testament.
• 4th of 12 books of History (Joshua – Esther).
• Followed by 57 books in the Holy Bible.

1 SAMUEL: Key Stats

• CHAPTERS: 31
• VERSES: 810
• WORDS: 25,061

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT 1 SAMUEL: Samuel’s Life and Impact

• Samuel was born around 1105 B.C. and died in 1015 B.C.
• He ministered in Israel from about 1067 B.C. to 1015 B.C.
• The books were likely compiled after 971 B.C. as they end in the last days of David.

Samuel’s Contributions and Roles:

• Man of prayer.
• Founder of the school of the prophets.
• Anointed Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David.

1 & 2 SAMUEL: Original Unity and Historical Narrative

• Originally one book in the Hebrew Bible called the “Book of Samuel.”
• 1 & 2 Samuel, along with 1 & 2 Kings, form a continuous narrative of the early years of the Hebrew monarchy.

TRANSITION IN LEADERSHIP: Key Phases

• 1 Samuel depicts the transition from Judges to kings in three stages:
• From Eli to Samuel.
• From Samuel to Saul.
• From Saul to David.

Key Characters in 1 Samuel:

• Samuel, the last Judge.
• Saul, Israel’s first king.
• David, the king-elect anointed but not yet recognized as Saul’s successor.

Hannah’s Prayer and Samuel’s Early Life:

• Hannah prayed for a son, dedicating him to the Lord (1:10-11).
• God called Samuel as a young child (1-3).

Samuel’s Evolving Roles:

• Became Israel’s last judge and its first prophet.
• His work started late in the times of the judges when Eli was the judge-priest.

Leadership Transition and the Need for a King: Samuel’s sons, like Eli’s, proved unjust, leading to the people’s request for a king to rule over them.1