Introduction to the Books of Samuel
The books of Samuel are one in the Hebrew. The division comes from the Septuagint. They are given the name Samuel because the first part centers around the life of the great prophet and reformer in Israel. The book seems to be a composite piece of literature written by Samuel, Gad, and Nathan. See 1 Chron. 29:29. It opens with Israel as a whole a long way from the instructions by Moses, menaced and harassed by their enemies. There are difficult places in the records, some that never may be clear; but we may learn the great, practical lessons.