Overview
The book records the transition from the period of the judges to the monarchy in Israel. It covers the ministry of Samuel, the last judge and a prophet; the accession and failure of Saul, the first king; and the anointing of David and the years of his flight from Saul.
Theme Obedience to YHWH and the beginning of the monarchy
Historical background
Around the 11th century BC Israel existed as a tribal confederation, while the Philistines of the coastal plain, with their command of iron technology, posed a serious threat. Under this external pressure the demand for a centralized monarchy grew. In the Hebrew Bible, 1 and 2 Samuel originally formed a single book; the division into two derives from the Septuagint.