Answer
In our contemporary Bible, there are two books of Samuel, divided based on a difference in content and theme. The book of 1 Samuel centers on the life of the prophet Samuel, the establishment of monarchy in Israel, Saul’s anointing, his eventual fall, and the coronation of David—a key figure in Israel’s history. The narrative seamlessly continues in 2 Samuel, concentrating on King David’s reign. In the Tanakh, the two books are undivided, existing as the single Sefer Shmuel.
The book of 1 Samuel contains no explicit mention of the author, nor do we have convincing testimony from other parts of the Bible. Nevertheless, the Jewish Talmudic tradition attributes a substantial portion of the book to the prophet Samuel, with the section recounting his death written by either Gad or Nathan. This attribution is logical, as Samuel was literate (he is seen writing in 1 Samuel 10:25), and he was a leader among a group of prophets (1 Samuel 19:18–24). The book of Chronicles further cites the records of “Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer” as contributors to events in David’s life (1 Chronicles 29:29). So, Samuel kept records on David’s life, and that is a strong clue that he at least contributed to the book of Samuel, with the final product likely being edited by one or more men from the “school of prophets.”
Yet, the question of authorship remains inconclusive. Some Bible commentators propose that the writing of Samuel occurred during the period of the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah, pointing to verses like 1 Samuel 11:8 and 17:52, which reference both kingdoms. These references imply that the division had transpired by the time Samuel was written. Additionally, 1 Samuel 27:6 notes the city of Ziklag as belonging to “the kings of Judah unto this day” (KJV), indicating a period after King Solomon. These details challenge the traditional attribution as Samuel, Gad, and Nathan, but they do not entirely dismiss it. It is quite plausible that the author(s) and editor(s) drew information directly from the three prophets and the records they kept.
So, who wrote the book of 1 Samuel? It was probably compiled by one or more prophets from the period of the divided kingdom, utilizing written materials from Samuel, Gad, and Nathan. Regardless of the specifics of who held the pen, we are privileged to hold this ancient, divinely inspired text that traces God’s redemptive history through the annals of Israel’s history.
