The book of Judges accentuates the people’s need for a king. Ruth promises the coming of the king. The books of Samuel record the king’s arrival. First Samuel begins with the birth of the Prophet Samuel (c. 1140 BC), the last of Israel’s judges. In chapter 4, the Philistines capture the ark of God at Shiloh. Then, in chapter 10, Samuel anoints Saul as king at the insistence of the people (c. 1070 BC) and contrary to the warnings of Moses (Deut. 17) and Samuel (1 Sam. 8).

God rejects Saul (1 Sam. 15), and directs Samuel to anoint David as king (c. 1065 BC; 1 Sam. 16). A long struggle ensues as Saul seeks to destroy his rival. David exercises great patience, waiting on God’s time to assume official leadership of the kingdom. In the meantime, Samuel dies (1 Sam. 25) and is mourned by the people (c. 1057 BC). Finally, Saul is wounded in battle against the Philistines and, rather than be found by the enemy, he ends his own life by falling on his sword (c. 1055 BC; 1 Sam. 31).

After mourning Saul’s death, David is anointed king over Judah (c. 1053 BC; 2 Sam. 2). Meanwhile, under the command of Abner, the remnants of Saul’s army anoint Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, as king over Israel. Civil war breaks out between the house of David and the house of Saul. After the assassination of Ishbosheth (2 Sam. 4), David becomes king over all Israel (2 Sam. 5).

David sacks the stronghold of the Jebusites and Mount Zion becomes the City of David. At this time, the Lord also gives the Philistines into the hand of David and the ark of God is returned to Jerusalem with great pomp and celebration (2 Sam. 6).

All of the preceding prepares the way for God’s covenant with David (c. 1042 BC):

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to Me a son. (2 Sam. 7:12-14)

David is astonished by God’s promise. “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind” (2 Sam. 7:18-19, emphasis added).

David proceeds to consolidate the kingdom against all opposition. Once accomplished, he calls for a census, displeasing God and going against good (c. 1017 BC; 2 Sam. 24; 1 Chron. 21). God answers with a plague and 70,000 men die. David repents and the prophet Gad directs David to build an altar and offer sacrifices (2 Sam. 24:18). God accepts David’s sacrifice, halts the plague, and reveals the location for His temple, His chosen place for worship (Deut. 12; 1 Chron. 22:1). Second Samuel closes with David representing the people before God as both a king and a priest.

Importantly, the kingship of David foreshadows the kingship of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32). The temple of old foreshadows the Church of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 6:16; Matt. 16:18). Thus we see that 1–2 Samuel, like the rest of Israel’s history, “were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11).