- 9 - Bible Studies   Dr Philip Thayil VC     The Books of Samuel and Kings      
When the Book of Samuel, which was but one book in the original Hebrew, was translated into Greek, the translator divided it into two. Thus the Book of Samuel came to be known as I Samuel and II Samuel. The contents of the book deal with the history of the period from the time of Samuel, the last Judge of Israel, to the end of King David's reign. It was completed by 6th century BC. There were more than one person responsible for its composition.
 
The Book of Samuel describes the background of the beginnings of the reign of kings in Israel. The Israelites were constantly attacked and threatened by the Philistines. They hoped to obtain peace and prosperity if only they could have a king to rule over them as the neighbouring nations had. They put pressure on Samuel to provide them with a king (I Sam 8:15). Samuel replied that God alone was their king and there was no need for another for the Israelites. Nevertheless, following God's guidance to do as the people desired, he anointed Saul as king. Thus the reign of kings was initiated in Israel.
 
I Samuel can be divided in the following manner.
 
1. The prophet Samuel (chs 1-7)
2. Samuel and Saul (Chs 8-15)
3. Saul and David (Chs 16-31)
 
The contents of the first section comprise the childhood of Samuel, his call from God and all that he did for the people of Israel as prophet and judge. The chief events contained in this section are the capture of the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites by the Philistines and their returning it to the Israelites because it had provoked God's anger.
 
The second section narrates the anointing and coronation of Saul as King according to God's command and the rejection of Saul because he acted against God's will.
 
The third section presents a number of events: David being anointed secretly by Samuel according to the directives of God, the assassination of Goliath, the great warrior of the Philistines, by David, the effort made by the envious Saul to kill David, David's escape and Saul's utter desperation and death.
 
The II Book of Samuel which describes the history of King David's reign, can be divided into sections in the following manner:
 
1. David ascends the throne as the king of Judah (Chs 1-4) 
2. The reign of David over the whole of Israel (Chs 5-20) 
3. The epilogue. The famine during the reign of David, the war against the Philistines, the census taken by David and the last days of David (Chs 21-24)
 
The first section gives the account of David's reign as King after his return on the death of Saul and the death of Abner and Ishbaal.
 
The second section records David's accession to the throne as king over the entire land of Israel, with Jerusalem as his capital, his decision to build a temple for the Lord, the prosperity attained by Israel in the religious and political spheres during the reign of David and the account of David, who had sinned grievously, being reinstated in God's favour and mercy.
 
The last section deals with the continuous three-year famine that plagued Israel during the reign of David, the war waged against the Philistines, the song of victory and praise to God, the census taken and the last words of David.     I and II Kings  
The Book of Kings is the continuation of the Book of Samuel. As in the case of the Book of Samuel, the Book of Kings, which was but one book in the original Hebrew, was divided into two when it was translated into Greek. The contents comprise the history of the period from the accession of Solomon to the throne to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C     I Kings can be divided in the following manner:  
1. The reign of King Solomon (chs 1-11).
2. The division of the empire into two, namely Judah and Israel (chs 12-13). 
3. The history of Judah and Israel (chs 12-22).
 
In the first section we have the account of the glory achieved by Israel during the reign of the wise King Solomon.
 
It was a great achievement of Solomon that he constructed the temple of Jerusalem.
 
As a result of the keen rivalry that followed Solomon's death, the land was divided into two, namely, Judah and Israel. The second section deals with this event. The land of Judah in the south was the possession of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and the land of Israel was in the possession of the rest of the tribes in the north. In the last section of the book are given the accounts of the simultaneous reign of the kings who ascended the throne in Judah and Israel.
 
 
The II Book of Kings can be divided and understood in the following manner:
 
1. The history of the kingdom and kings of Judah and Israel and the collapse of the kingdom of Israel (chs 1-17).
2. The history of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem (Chs 18-25).
 
In the earlier section, the history of the government of the kingdom of Judea-Israel, the battles fought by them against their enemies, the activities of the prophet Elijah, the destruction of Israel and the consequent enslavement under Assyria, are discussed. The authors make it clear that the collapse of Israel and the captivity that followed, were the result of the punishment for the sins committed against God.
 
In the latter part of the book, the history of the government of the Judean kings who ruled before the fall of the Judean empire, the causes that paved the way for this fall, and the Babylonian captivity are narrated. Judah, too, had to suffer punishment for their infidelity to God.
 
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