The Story of the Historical Books

Beginning with the book of Joshua, the Historical Books record the events of Israel’s history. The
book of Joshua starts with the nation’s entry into the Promised Land (Canaan), proceeds through
the time of its return from exile and ends with the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple some
1,000 years later. After the book of Joshua, the narrative describes Israel’s struggles with its
enemies and obedience to God under the judges, its transition to a monarchy, the division of the
nation into two rival kingdoms (Israel and Judah), the moral decline and exile of both kingdoms,
the period of captivity, and the nation’s eventual return from exile.

✓ The Historical books are Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1
Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees

✓ Shophetim is a Hebrew title which means “judges, rulers, deliverers, or saviors.” Shophet not
only carries the idea of maintaining justice and settling disputes, but it is also used to mean
‘liberating and delivering.” First the judges deliver the people; then they rule and administer
justice.

✓ These books talk about the life of the people of Israel, from their experiences in the Promised
Land of Canaan to subsequent exiles due to their unbelief and disobedience. They also tell us
about the reigns of the judges, the establishment of kings, and the division of Israel into the
northern (Israel) and southern (Judah) kingdoms.
After Joshua, the historical books take us through Israel's ups and downs under Judges, its
transition to kingship, the division of the nation and its life as two rival kingdoms (Israel and Judah),
the moral decline and exile of both kingdoms, the period of captivity, and finally, the nation's return
from exile. The Historical Books cover almost an entire millennium of Israel's history.

✓ The descriptions of events in these books are more often concerned with an important religious
teaching about God, as well as God’s relationship with Israel, than they are about the historical
facts of the events

✓ In the Bible, monarchies were the common system of governance for nations. These
monarchies were ruled by Kings, ranging in notoriety and moral actions. Some of the most well-
known kings in the Bible include Saul, David, and Solomon. The word “king” in the scripture used
to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited.

✓ In these periods, we can discover the cycle of events: Self-centeredness – Sin – Repentance
–Deliverance/Restoration – Freedom and Prosperity
The Historical Books
As these books prepare us for the coming of Christ, the Messiah, they can be seen as follows:
Title: JOSHUA
Theme: Possession and Conquest of Promise Land
Author: Joshua
Date: 1400-1370 B.C.

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Name of the Book: Unlike the first five books of the Old Testament, this book appropriately takes
its name from the chief human personality of the book, Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses’ servant.
Joshua’s original name was Hoshea (Num. 13:8; Deut. 32:44) which means “salvation.” But during
the wilderness wanderings Moses changed his name to Yehoshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation”
or “Save, Yahweh” (Num. 13:16). Joshua is a contracted form of Yehoshua. This amounted to a
prophetic anticipation and reminder to Joshua, to the spies, and the people that victory over the
enemies and possession of the land would be by the power of the Lord rather than by human skill
or wisdom or power. This book is given the name Joshua because, though Joshua was one of the
world’s greatest military strategist of history, his wisdom and military achievements came from the
Lord who alone is our Salvation. It was the Lord Himself who brought about victory for Israel and
vanquished Israel’s enemies giving them possession of the land.
Theme and Purpose: Possessing, conquering, and dividing of the promised land is the theme and
purpose of Joshua. The book of Joshua is designed to show God’s faithfulness to His promises,
doing for Israel exactly as He had promised (cf. Gen. 15:18 with Josh. 1:2-6 and 21:43-45). The
events recorded in Joshua are selective to set forth God’s special intervention on behalf of His
people against all kinds of tremendous odds. The fulfillment of God’s promises, as so evident in
the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah and in possessing the land with its fortified cities, is the
work of God and that which man could never do no matter how hard he might try (see Rom. 4).
Title: JUDGES
Theme: Seven Cycles of Apostasy, Judgment, and Deliverance
Author: Samuel (Traditional Author)
Date: 1050-1000 B.C.
Title of the Book: The book gets its name from the number of leaders called judges whom God
raised up to deliver Israel from their oppressors. The title for the book is best expressed in 2:16,
“Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered
them.” Ultimately, however, God was Israel’s Judge and Deliverer because it was God Himself
who would first allow the times of oppression as divine discipline for Israel’s repeated apostasy,
and then raise up judges to bring deliverance after the nation repented and cried out for help (cf.
11:27 and 8:23).
Theme and Purpose: The contrast between the moods of Joshua and Judges is striking. Israel
goes from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, from freedom to oppression, and from
advancement to retrogression. So why the book?
Historically, Judges bridges the gap from the time of Joshua to the time of the prophet Samuel
and the beginning of the monarchy under Saul and David. It records the history of seven cycles
of decline, oppression, supplication, and deliverance. In doing so, it becomes an explanation and
reason for the need of a monarchy in Israel. With every man doing that which was right in his own
eyes (21:25), the nation needed the leadership of a righteous king.
Doctrinally, Judges draws our attention to a number of important truths. As God had warned in
Deuteronomy, obedience brings blessing, but disobedience results in God’s discipline and
oppression. But Judges also reminds us that when people will turn to the Lord, cry out to Him and

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repent, God, who is long-suffering and gracious, responds in deliverance. Judges unfolds its
theme by describing cycles of apostasy followed by oppression as a form of divine discipline
followed by supplication and repentance by the people followed by judges whom God raised up
to deliver the nation.
Title: RUTH (An Addendum to Judges)
Author: Samuel (Traditional Author)
Date: 1000 B.C.
Name of the Book: The book of Ruth gets its name from one of its main characters, a young
woman of Moab, the great-grandmother of David and one who is in the genealogical line of the
Savior (Matt 1:5). Another book of the Bible named after a woman is Esther.
Theme and Purpose: Ruth is the story of a couple in Israel who, during a time of famine, moved
to Moab. There the husband and his two sons died, leaving the mother (Naomi) alone with her
two daughters-in-law (Orpah and Ruth). Naomi decided to move back to Israel and Ruth insisted
on returning with her. Once in Israel, they turned to a relative by the name of Boaz for help.
Eventually, Ruth married Boaz.
Like a brilliant diamond against black velvet, Ruth sparkles against the dark days of the book of
Judges. Ruth is the story of loyalty, purity, and love in a day when anarchy, selfishness, and
depravity was generally the rule. As such, Ruth serves as a positive picture of faith and obedience
in the midst of apostasy and shows how such faith brings blessing. Ruth also serves as an
important link in the ancestry of King David and, as mentioned, is found in the line of Messiah.
Other purposes of Ruth are seen in the way it illustrates the truths of the Kinsman-Redeemer, the
presence of a godly remnant even in times of great apostasy, and God’s faithfulness to those who
will walk with Him by faith. Since Ruth was a Gentile, the book illustrates God’s desire to bring the
Gentile world into the family of God.
It may seem surprising that one who reflects God’s love so clearly is a Moabites. Yet her complete
loyalty to the Israelite family into which she has been received by marriage and her total devotion
to her desolate mother-in-law mark her as a true daughter of Israel and a worthy ancestress of
David. She strikingly exemplifies the truth that participation in the coming kingdom of God is
decided, not by blood and birth, but by the conformity of one’s life to the will of God through the
“obedience that comes from faith” (Rom. 1:5). Her place in the ancestry of David signifies that all
nations will be represented in the kingdom of David’s greater Son.

Title: FIRST SAMUEL (Transition from Judges to Kingship)

Author: Samuel.
Date: 930 B.C. and later.
Name of the Book: Originally, the books of 1 and 2 Samuel were placed together as one book in
the Hebrew Bible. These two books give the history of the monarchs of Israel in the early period
of the monarchy. Fundamentally, 1 Samuel is about king Saul and 2 Samuel is about king David.
Both 1 and 2 Samuel get their names from the prophet Samuel whom God used in the transition
from using judges to the establishment of the monarchy.

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Though originally one book, 1 and 2 Samuel were divided into two books by the translators of the
Septuagint (the Greek translation of the OT). This division was later followed by Jerome (the Latin
Vulgate) and by modern
versions. The title of the book has varied from time to time, having been designated “The First
and Second Books of Kingdoms” (Septuagint), “First and Second Kings” (Vulgate) and “First and
Second Samuel” (Hebrew tradition and most modern versions).
Theme and Purpose: Beginning with the birth of Samuel and his training in the temple, 1 Samuel
describes how this great man of God led Israel as prophet, priest, and the last judge. During
Samuel’s leadership, the people of Israel, wanting to be like the nations, demanded a king. Under
God’s direction, Samuel then anointed Saul to be the first king. But Saul was rejected by God
because of his disobedience. To replace Saul, again under God’s directions, Samuel anointed
David, a man after God’s own heart to become the king of Israel. The rest of the book describes
the struggles between jealous and demented Saul and godly David.
First Samuel picks up the history of Israel where Judges left off with Samuel following Samson
(cf. Judges 16:31). This book traces the transition of leadership in the nation from judges to kings,
from a theocracy to a monarchy. Because the people of Israel would not allow Yahweh to rule
their lives, with every man doing that which was right in his own eyes, the monarchy brought
stability because the people were more willing to follow an earthly king. “And the Lord said to
Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not
rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them” (8:7).
The clamor for an earthly king in First Samuel was a natural outcome of this practical rejection
(8:7). God had intended to give Israel a king (see Gen. 49:10; Deut. 17:14-20), but the people
insisted on the king of their choice instead of waiting for God’s king. … Saul was rejected by the
Lord because he failed to learn the truth that “to obey is better than sacrifice” (15:22). He became
characterized by mental imbalance, raging jealousy, foolishness, and immorality. David illustrated
the principle that, “the Lord does not see as man sees” (16:7). The Lord established the Davidic
dynasty because of David’s obedience, wisdom, and dependence on God.
Historically, one of the key purposes of 1 Samuel is to record the divine origin of the Davidic
dynasty.

Title: SECOND SAMUEL (David’s Reign; Expansion of the Nation)

Name of the Book: See comments under 1 Samuel.
Author: Samuel
Date: 930 B.C. and later.
Theme and Purpose: With no real break in the story of Israel’s kingdom, 2 Samuel continues the
narrative of the beginning of Israel’s kingdom beginning with Saul’s death and continuing with the
reign of David. It is distinctively about the forty-year reign of David (5:4-5) and traces his reign
through his triumphs and tragedies, which include his sins of adultery, murder, and their
consequences on his family and the nation. The theme, as 2 Samuel recounts David’s reign, could
be summarized as “how sin turns triumphs into troubles.” Whereas the kingdom was established
under Saul, it is expanded by David. Saul’s kingdom gave stabilization to Israel from the time of

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the judges, but David’s reign brought growth or expansion. In the typical fashion of the Bible which
candidly tells the story of its leaders with warts and all, 2 Samuel portrays the Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly of the life of King David.

Title: FIRST KINGS (David’s Death; Disruption of the Kingdom)

Author: The author is unknown, though the Jews credit its writing to Jeremiah.
Date: About 550 B.C.
The release of Jehoiachim from prison is the last event recorded in 2 Kings. This took place in the
37th year of his imprisonment (560 B.C.). Therefore 1 and 2 Kings could not have been written
before that event. It seems unlikely that the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity in
538 B.C. had taken place when 1 and 2 Kings were written; had it occurred, the author would
probably have referred to it. Probably 1 and 2 Kings were completed in their final form between
560 and 538 B.C.9
Name of the Book: First and Second Kings, originally one book (like 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2
Chronicles) and simply called “Kings” in the Hebrew tradition (Melechim), are appropriately titled
since they trace the history of the kings of Israel and Judah from the time of Solomon to the
Babylonian captivity. First Kings abruptly ends with the beginning of the reign of Ahaziah in 853
B.C.
Theme and Purpose: After David’s death (chaps. 1-2), his son Solomon became king. Chapters
1-11 trace the life and reign of Solomon, including Israel’s rise to the peak of her glory, the spread
of the nation’s kingdom, and the construction of the temple and palace in Jerusalem. But in
Solomon’s later years, he drifted from the Lord because of his pagan wives who wrongly
influenced him and turned his heart away from the worship of God in the temple.
As a result, the king with the divided heart leaves behind a divided kingdom. For the next century,
the book of First Kings traces the twin histories of two sets of kings and two nations of disobedient
people who are growing indifferent to God’s prophets and precepts.
The next king was Rehoboam, who lost the northern part of the kingdom. After this the Northern
Kingdom, which included 10 tribes, was known as Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, which
included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, was called Judah. In the last chapters of 1 Kings, the
focus is on the evil of King Ahab and righteous prophet Elijah who condemned Ahab’s wickedness
and Israel’s disobedience.
The central theme, therefore, is to show how disobedience led to the disruption of the kingdom.
The welfare of the nation depended on the faithfulness of its leadership and people to the
covenants of God with Israel. First Kings not only gives a record of the history of these kings, but
it demonstrates the success of any king (and of the nation as a whole) depends on the measure
of the king’s allegiance to God’s law or truth. The book truly illustrates how “righteousness exalts
a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34). Unfaithfulness to God’s covenant
resulted in decline and captivity.

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Title: SECOND KINGS (Dispersion—Willful Sin Has a Woeful End)
Author: See the previous discussion regarding the author in the 1 Kings overview.
Date: About 550 B.C. See the discussion on the date in 1 Kings.
Name of the Book: See 1 Kings.
Theme and Purpose: Second Kings continues the history of Elijah and his successor, Elisha, but
it also continues what might be termed, the “Tale of the Two Kingdoms.” As such, it continues to
trace the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah until they
are finally conquered and taken into captivity. Israel fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. and Judah fell to
the Babylonians in 586 B.C. In both kingdoms the prophets continued to warn the people that
God would punish them unless they repented. Second Kings teaches that willful sin in a nation
has a woeful end. In 1 and 2 Samuel, the nation is born, in 1 Kings it is divided, and in 2 Kings it
is dispersed. After years of pleading with His people through the prophets, God’s patience finally
turns to discipline just as He promised. Because both books were originally one, 1 and 2 Kings
share the same theme and goal. They teach us how unfaithfulness (disobedience to God’s law
and rebellion) must lead to God’s discipline and the overthrow of the monarchy. The two kingdoms
collapsed because of the failure of the kings to rule righteously and give heed to God’s truth.

Title: FIRST CHRONICLES (Preparation of the Temple)

Author: Ezra (Jewish Traditional Author)
Date: 450-425 B.C.
Name of the Book: Though the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles cover the same period of Jewish
history, the perspective is very different. So, while the content is similar, it is not a mere repetition,
but more of a spiritual editorial of the history of the people of Israel. The Kings give man’s
viewpoint while the Chronicles give God’s perspective.
Originally one book with 2 Chronicles (until 180 B.C.), the book’s Hebrew title means “the words
(affairs) of the days,” i.e., the annals of Israel from Adam to the Babylonian captivity and Cyrus’s
decree allowing the exiled Jews to return. In a sense it is a “miniature Old Testament,” tracing in
capsule form the flow of Old Testament history.
When producing the Septuagint, the translators divided Chronicles into two sections. At that time
it was given the title, “Of Things Omitted,” referring to the things omitted from Samuel and Kings.
The name “Chronicles” comes from Jerome in his Latin Vulgate Bible (A.D. 385-405):
Chronicorum Liber. He meant his title in the sense of “The Chronicles of the Whole of Sacred
History.”
Theme and Purpose: First Chronicles begins with an outline of history from Adam through the
death of King Saul. The rest of the book is about the reign of King David. The books of Chronicles
seem like a repeat of Samuel and Kings, but they were written for the returned exiles to remind
them that they came from the royal line of David and that they were God’s chosen people. The
genealogies point out that the Davidic promises had their source in those pledged to Abraham
that He would make him the father of a great nation, one through which He would bless the
nations.

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The main theme is that God is faithful to His covenant.
Chronicles emphasizes the role of the Law, the priesthood, and the temple. Although Solomon’s
temple was gone, the second temple could be regarded as the Remnant’s link to the first. This
book also taught that the past was pregnant with lessons for their present. Apostasy, idolatry,
intermarriage with Gentiles, and lack of unity were the reasons for their recent ruin. It is significant
that after the Exile, Israel never again worshiped foreign gods.

Title: SECOND CHRONICLES (Destruction of the Temple)

Author: Ezra (Jewish Traditional Author)
Date: 450-425 B.C.
Title of the Book: See under 1 Chronicles.
Theme and Purpose: While 1 Chronicles parallels 1 and 2 Samuel, 2 Chronicles continues the
history of David’s line and parallels 1 and 2 Kings. But for all practical purposes, it ignores the
Northern Kingdom because of apostasy and total absence of any godly kings who patterned their
life after David. By contrast, 2 Chronicles focuses on those kings who did walk after the lifestyle
of David. Chapters 1-9 describe the building of the temple during Solomon’s reign. Chapters 10-
36 trace the history of the Southern Kingdom of Judah to the final destruction of Jerusalem and
the exile of the people to Babylon. Therefore, it devotes extended sections to the lives of those
kings who brought revival and reform to the nation like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, and
Josiah.
As mentioned, Chronicles goes over some of the same history as Samuel and Kings, but from a
different perspective in order to emphasize certain things: In 1 Chronicles, David is the subject
while in 2 Chronicles the house of David is central. In Kings the history of the nation is given from
the throne whereas in Chronicles it is given from the altar (the temple). In Kings the palace is
central, but in Chronicles the temple is prominent. In Kings the focus is on the political history
while in Chronicles the focus is on the religious or spiritual element of Israel’s history.
Chronicles is more than simply an historical record. It is God’s commentary on the spiritual
characteristics of David’s dynasty. Because of this, the focus is on the kingdom of Judah, the
Southern Kingdom where there were revival and godly kings in David’s line and why the Northern
Kingdom, with no godly kings, is basically ignored.

Title: EZRA (Reconstruction of the Temple and Restoration of the People)

Author: Ezra
Date: 457 B.C. and 444 B.C.
Name of the Book: In the ancient Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah were treated as one book
and called “The Book of Ezra.”
Modern Hebrew Bibles designate the two-fold arrangement of Ezra and Nehemiah as in our
English versions.

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Further, Josephus (Against Apion 1. 8) and Jerome (Preface to the Commentary on Galatians)
also considered the books of Ezra and Nehemiah as one. But not all agree. There is evidence
that the two books were originally separate. The lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 are basically the
same. This would militate against the idea that the two books were originally one, for it would
seem strange to repeat the same list in one volume. The name Ezra for the title of the first work
comes from the major person in the second half of the book, who also appears in chapters 8 and
12 of the Book of Nehemiah.
Theme and Purpose: From an historical standpoint, Ezra continues the narrative where 2
Chronicles ends and traces the history of the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon and the
rebuilding of the temple. From a spiritual and doctrinal standpoint, Ezra demonstrates how God
fulfilled His promise to return His people to the land of promise after seventy years of exile as
announced by the prophets. As in Chronicles, Ezra, as a priest, shows the centrality of the temple
and its worship to the life of the nation as God’s people. It begins with the decree of Cyrus, king
of Persia, which allowed a remnant of the people to return. The people enthusiastically began
rebuilding the temple, but were delayed for 18 years by enemies from the north. Finally, a decree
from Darius let them finish (see Ezra 1- 6). Chapters 7-10 talk about the return of the priest Ezra
who taught the people the law and reformed the nation’s spiritual life.
The theme can be summarized as the spiritual, moral, and social restoration of the Remnant who
returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Ezra.

Title: NEHEMIAH (Reconstruction of the City)

Author: Nehemiah
Date: 445 B.C. to 425 B.C.
Name of the Book: Though originally one book, the last half of that book draws its name from the
prominence of Nehemiah, contemporary of Ezra and cupbearer to the king of Persia. Nehemiah’s
name means “Yahweh consoles or comforts.”
Theme and Purpose: The book of Nehemiah continues the history of the Jews who returned from
exile. Nehemiah gave up his position as cupbearer to Artaxerxes, the Persian king, to become
governor of Jerusalem and lead the people in repairing the city walls. Ezra and Nehemiah were
contemporaries (see Neh. 8:2, 9), were both men of God but served Yahweh in different
capacities. While Ezra was a priest and involved more with the religious restoration of returning
Remnant, Nehemiah was a layman and served in a political capacity as governor in the rebuilding
of the walls of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah was also written to show the obvious hand of God in the establishment of His people
in their homeland in the years after their exile. Under the leadership of Nehemiah, they
accomplished in fifty-two days what had not been done in the ninety-four years since the first
return under Zerubbabel. By obedient faith they were able to overcome what appeared to be
insurmountable opposition.

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Title: ESTHER (Protection of God’s People)
Author: The book gives no hint of who wrote it. But whoever it was knew the Persian culture well.
The account has all the marks of a person who was there for he described the events as an
eyewitness. And he was probably a Jew. Some have suggested that Ezra or Nehemiah wrote the
account but no specific evidence supports that view.
Date: 470 and 465, during the latter years of Xerxes’ reign (see 10:2-3), or in the reign of his son
Artaxerxes (464-424).
Name of the Book: The book takes its name from the chief character, whose Hebrew name
Hadassah (Myrtle) was changed to the Persian named Ester, which probably means “star.”
Theme and Purpose: Esther tells the story of a beautiful Jewish girl whom King Xerxes of Persia
chose to be his queen. When Haman plotted to murder all the Jews, Queen Esther’s cousin
Mordecai persuaded Esther to try to save her people.
Risking her own life, she appealed to the king and rescued the Jews. Although the name of God
does not appear in this book, the theme and purpose of the book is to show God’s providential
care of His people in their trials and persecutions.
REFERENCE: https://bible.org/seriespage/4-historical-books

THE JUDGES AND KINGS

After the death of Joshua, the period of the judges followed.
The Judges of Israel – served as military leaders appointed by Yahweh to defend Israel from their
enemies and to uphold obedience to Yahweh and fidelity to the covenant – not as legal
administrators and experts.
We can generally observe the following recurrent patterns in the stories of most judges.
• Israel turned to worship the Canaanite gods, the Baals and the Asherah. (Judges 3:7)
• Anger of the Lord was kindled (3:8) and as punishment, Israel became their enemy’s
subject/possession.
• Israel cried out to God (3:9)
• Yahweh raised a deliverer (judge)
• God rescued the people through his appointed judge (3:9)
• Israel returned to its sin of infidelity and idolatry (3:12)
The above pattern recurred in the life and story of the judges. Constantly, the theme of Yahweh’s
intervention and deliverance prevailed over the sinfulness of Israel, highlighting the short-lived
repentance of a stubborn people and the endless offer of Yahweh’s pardon.
Before the rise of the judges, there was already an attempt to establish monarchy. Abimelech
desired to be king, and was named a king. But due to his selfish end and unacceptable crime,

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Yahweh was displeased and avenged him for the lost lives that Abimelech was responsible, which
led to his death.
The idea of monarchy then was stained with negative impression in the past and cast an attitude
of hesitation or even doubt.
But in a time when people simply turned to their own ways and wishes – without due regard to
the greater good – leadership then is imperative. But as to what kind and how it will be realized
remained as points of difficulty.
To prepare the people in embracing the need of a new leadership, and welcoming a monarchy,
the person of Samuel was introduced as an emerging prophet who will eventually prophesy and
anoint kings, and effect a lasting legacy on the survival and relevance of Israel to all nations.
Before the institution of monarchy, Israel adhered to Theocracy (from Gk. Theos, God) wherein
Yahweh was held as the only king over all the earth, and worthy of obedience and worship by the
people of Israel; then came the time of tribal elders and their leaders and judges.
Samuel stood in a time of transition. With the disappearance of divinely appointed warrior-leaders
among the people, the increasing power of the Philistines and the growing insecurity of the people,
Samuel just came to be the right person at the right moment.
WHO IS SAMUEL?
• Born to a formerly barren woman who begged before Yahweh for a child and promised to offer
that male child as an offering to God.
• Samuel grew up under the watchful guide and training of Eli, a priest in Shiloh
• The turning point in the life of Samuel was when God appeared to him in a vision and informed
him of the punishment that awaits the family of Eli due to the perversion and injustice that his sons
committed and of his vocation as Yahweh’s messenger to the people of Israel.
The people demanded from Samuel to give them a king so that they would become like their
neighbour. So, Samuel anointed the first Israelitic king from among the tribes of Israel (Saul).
During the reign of Saul, Samuel constantly reminded Saul of Yahweh’s commandment which
Saul violated by making unlawful burnt offering.
• He was also instrumental for the anointing of David as the next king of Israel.
The life of Samuel was a true testimony of being God’s instrument. He served as a priest at Shiloh
offering sacrifices and worship, prophet who communicated Yahweh’s word to the people and a
judge by defending Israel from the Philistines.

SAUL
• Came from the tribe of Benjamin.
• Fulfilled the peoples demand for a king and responded to the divine calling delivered through
Samuel.

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• At first, enjoyed divine assistance, was blessed by God’s favour in his war against Israel’s
enemies
• His downfall started when he made a series of violations that were contrary to Yahweh’s will
• When he made burnt offerings contrary to Samuel’s prescription
• When he spared the Amalekite king and kept the valuable properties of the defeated Amalekites
• When he grew jealous and eventually paranoid of the rising popularity of David to the point that
he carried few attempts of killing him
As a consequence to Saul’s violations, Yahweh departed from him and he became more
obsessed in pursuing David. Worse, Saul lost his sons – Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua –
who were killed by the Philistines. Saul ended his own life in Mt. Gilboa, preferring not to hand
himself upon his enemies.

DAVID
• From a humble shepherd to a destined king of Israel, David rose to greater prominence because
Yahweh was with him.
• He was a musician who played the lyre the freed Saul’s heart from evil.
• An emerging young war hero who killed the gigantic Philistine champion – Goliath.
• He spared the life of Saul (his assassin) and took no revenge.
• He truly showed a pleasing character before Samuel and Yahweh.
• While he was installed as king of Judah, Saul’s son was made king (by Saul’s army commander)
over all the other tribes.
• After Ishbaal’s death, all the tribes of Israel came to Hebron to make David their king and leader.
• With David as the king and leader, it was agreed by scholars that David’s reign was the “golden
age of Jewish history” because of the ff. reasons:
• He united the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah after generations
of tribal conflict and war.
• He took Jerusalem from the Jebusites, and established it as the capital of Judah and Israel and
renamed it as the “city of David”
• He transferred the Ark of the covenant to Jerusalem with great rejoicing and celebration among
all the people, establishing the city of David as the center of worship to God.
• He received God’s assurance for the continuity of his kingdom
• He subdued greater number of enemies, especially the Philistines, and expanded the territory
of his empire, which was a feat unmatched by his predecessor.
• All these achievements were made possible because Yahweh was with David for he always
sought what God desired for him and for all of Israel.

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• His downfall was brought about by his personal sinfulness.
• He instructed his general to put Uriah his soldier at the forefront of the battle in order for him to
take Bathsheba as his wife.
• His selfishness displeased the Lord who sent prophet Nathan to warn him of a punishment
greater than what he did.
• His selfishness became like fire that lit up misfortunes to his family and to Israel.
• The death of David’s firstborn to Bath-sheba
• The rape of Tamar by his brother Amnon, David’s well -loved firstborn
• The killing of Amnon by Absalom, Tamar’s brother
• The rebellion of Absalom with his army against his father David which made the king to escape
from Jerusalem
• David mourned for the death of his son Absalom
In the end, David was still forgiven by Yahweh though his sinfulness cast a lasting consequence
on his family and his people.
SOLOMON
• Son of Bathsheba and David
• Was distinguished by his wisdom, his great skill in administration, trade and international
relations, and most popular of all, his building projects, especially the legendary beautiful temple.
• In the later part, He changed his ways and displeased Yahweh and his people in several ways.
• He imposed forced labor in building the temple
• His love for foreign women ended his marriages to them despite Yahweh’s stern warning of
marrying them for they inclined his heart of worshipping pagan gods.
• He built pagan altars for his foreign wives and allowed them to practice their scandalous worship.
Schism: The divided monarchy
From one king and one nation, the chosen people of God were divided into the southern kingdom
of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel ruled by separate lineages of kings for generations.
CONCLUSION:
Without failure, Yahweh delivered his promise to the descendants of Abraham, the pledge of a
land flowing with milk and honey. In an endless, unconditional commitment, he raised and
appointed leaders, judges, priests and prophets to guide Israel and remind them of their reciprocal
duty in view of the covenant they made.
However, the graces of Yahweh still remained unrecognized, and the duty to worship in reverence
and gratitude neglected and even violated. From the kings to ordinary citizens, the pattern of sin
and violation of Israel characterized their response to Yahweh’s gratuity.

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The punishment for Israel was so severe. At the end of the day however, it was Yahweh’s
forgiveness that prevailed even in the midst of all these chaos and tragedy. And the prophets of
Israel stood as a witness to this unwavering divine love and mercy for his broken people.
Perhaps, we are then invited to reflect in our moments of grace and blessing.
Points for Reflection:
1. How many times have we asked for God’s favour and received his blessings?
2. In what ways have we reciprocated his gratuity and goodness?
3. Are we like the ungrateful and stubborn Israelites who seek for Divine assistance then blessed
by God but ended up forgetting the giver once the grace was already enjoyed?
4. Are we the ones who have the joy of gratitude in our hearts to our ever-loving generous God?

References
Catechism for Filipino Catholics: Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. (1997). Manila,
Philippines: ECCCE World and Life Publications.
Flannery, A. (2006). Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents. Catholic
Church
Doctrines. Pasay City: Paulines.
Hill, Andrew E. & John H. Walton. Introduction to the Historical Books. In a survey of the Old
Testament.
2nd Edition. Zondervan, 2000.

Electronic Sources
Historical Books Lessons
https://tellibrary.org/lessons/historical-books/ retrieved May 27, 2020
Introduction to the Old Testament Books

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