Samuel the Seer: The Last of the Judges, and the First of the Prophets

The Old Testament book of 1 Samuel belongs to those books in the Old Testament known as the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings). In the original Hebrew, 1 & 2 Samuel are one book. Samuel the Seer examines this ancient text in which lies the birth of the state of Israel as it exists today—with Jerusalem as its capital, surrounded by enemies, and constantly fighting for its survival. The first book of Samuel is the story of Samuel, the last of the Judges and first of the prophets. Samuel anointed the first two kings of Israel—King Saul and King David, who was responsible for Israel’s Golden Era and the establishment of Jerusalem as its capital city. In 1 Samuel, the reader is introduced to this perilous yet fascinating period in Israel’s history in which God’s people transitioned from a loose league of tribes, established by Moses in the desert and led by elders, judges, and priests, into a single cohesive kingdom under the rule of the king and the prophet. Samuel the Seer brings this narrative to the reader in an easy-to-read yet insightful analytical format to help aid in the study and understanding of this very important Old Testament book. It describes in detail the lives and feats of King Saul and King David—including the dramatic and historic encounter between young David and the Philistine champion Goliath. Though ancient, 1 Samuel still holds relevance in today’s rapidly changing world.