11.  The two books of Samuel constituted originally one work.  The division was made by the Greek translators as a matter of convenience, so as to close the first book with the death of Saul, and begin the second with David’s accession to the throne.  This division was followed by the Vulgate, and was introduced by Daniel Bomberg into the printed Hebrew text.  To the original whole work the name of Samuel was appropriately given; for he is not only the central personage in the history which it records to the establishment of the kingdom, but it was also through him, as the acknowledged prophet of the Theocracy, that both Saul and David were designated and anointed for the kingly office.  The Greek Septuagint designates these books from their contents, First and Second of the Kingdoms, and the Vulgate, First and Second of Kings.

12.  In the history of the plan of redemption these two books have a well-defined province.  They are occupied with the establishment, under God’s direction and guidance, of the kingly form of government in the Theocracy.  All the events recorded before the inauguration of Saul were preparatory to that event and explanatory of it.  Since, moreover, Saul was afterwards rejected with his family on account of his disobedience, and David and his family were chosen in his stead, it was in the person of David that the kingdom was first fully established, and with the close of his reign the work accordingly ends.  The period included in this history, though comparatively brief, was most eventful.  Samuel, himself one of the greatest of the prophets, established a school of the prophets, and from his day onward the prophetical order assumed an importance and permanency in the Theocracy that was before unknown.  See above, Ch. 15, No. 11.  The change to the kingly form of government constituted a new era in the Hebrew commonwealth.  Although the motives which led the people to desire a king were low and unworthy, being grounded in worldliness and unbelief, yet God, for the accomplishment of his own purposes, was pleased to grant their request.  The adumbration in the Theocracy of the kingly office of the future Messiah, not less than of his priestly and prophetical office, was originally contemplated in its establishment; and now the full time for this had come.  While David and his successors on the throne were true civil and military leaders in a secular and earthly sense, their headship over God’s people also shadowed forth the higher headship of the long promised Redeemer, the great Antitype in whom all the types contained in the Mosaic economy find at once their explanation and their fulfilment.  Under David the Hebrew commonwealth was rescued from the oppression of the surrounding nations, and speedily attained to its zenith of outward power and splendor.