1 Samuel
The books of Samuel were originally one book in the Hebrew Canon until it was divided into by the translators of the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, who viewed Samuel and Kings together as the "Books of the Kingdoms." The author of the two books is unknown, but according to Jewish tradition, Samuel, the priest, prophet and the last judge of Israel, wrote the first portion of the book, with support from the prophets Nathan and Gad. Samuel tells of Israel's cry for a king, the resutant selection of Saul as it's first king, the failure of Saul and the growing contest between Saul and David. The period covers nearly a century of Israelite history, but it is much more than historically important. The central theme of the books centers on the appointment of a righteous king, David, which leads to the King of Kings, Israel's Messiah and the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ coming.