14.  For the evidence that the author of these books availed himself of the writings of the prophets contemporary with the events described, see above, Chap. 15, No. 6.  In 1 Chron. 29:29 we read:  “Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer.”  If, as some think, our present books of Samuel were composed shortly after David’s death, the author may well have been one of the last two of the above-named prophets; but there are some indications that he lived after the division of the Israelitish people into the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel.

In 1 Sam. 27:6 we read that Achish gave Ziklag to David; “wheretofore,” adds the sacred historian, “Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.”  The only natural interpretation of these words is that the kings of Judah—­not any particular king of Judah, but the kings of Judah as a line—­are named in contrast with the kings of Israel.  In several other passages, where he is speaking of events that occurred before the separation of the two kingdoms, he puts Judah and Israel together. 1 Sam. 11:8; 17:52; 18:16; 2 Sam. 3:10; 24:1.  But this can, perhaps, be explained from the fact that during the seven years of David’s reign at Hebron there was an actual separation of Judah from the other tribes.  It is a remarkable fact that while the full term of David’s reign is given (2 Sam. 5:4, 5), which implies that the writer lived after its close, no notice is taken of his death.  The reason of this omission cannot be known.  As the first book of Kings opens with an account of David’s last days and death, some have conjectured that it was designedly omitted from the books of Samuel as superfluous, when the historical books were arranged in the sacred canon.

IV.  THE BOOKS OF KINGS.

15.  These two books, like the two of Samuel, originally constituted a single work.  The division was first made by the Greek translators, was followed by the Vulgate, and was finally admitted by Daniel Bomberg into the printed Hebrew text.  The Greek version of the Seventy and the Latin version, having called the books of Samuel, the former, First and Second of the Kingdoms, the latter, First and Second of the Kings, designate these books as Third and Fourth of the Kingdoms or Kings.  Each of the historical books presents the covenant people under a new aspect, and imparts new lessons of instruction.  In the book of Joshua we see them taking triumphant possession of the promised land through the mighty assistance of Jehovah; the book of Judges describes the course of affairs in the Hebrew commonwealth before the existence of a central kingly government; in the books of Samuel we learn how such a central government was established, and how under the reign of David the nation was raised