1 Samuel 1 - Introduction

THE FIRST BOOK of SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED THE FIRST BOOK of the KINGS.

THE sacred history having digressed to relate the idolatry of the house of Micah, and of the Danites, the catastrophe of the Benjamites, and the marriage of Ruth with Boaz, resumes the thread of the narration respecting the judges, and gives us an account of the birth of Samuel, whom God raised up for his people after the death of Samson. The two books that bear the name of Samuel comprehend an historical account of the transactions which happened in the time of the two last judges, Eli and Samuel, and of the two first kings, Saul and David. They were composed, says Mr. Locke, in part by Samuel himself; at least the first twenty-four Chapter s of the first book; and the next, probably, by Nathan or Gad, or some prophet of those times. See 1 Chronicles 29:29. The Vulgate stiles the books of Samuel and Kings, the first, second, third, and fourth book of Kings, as they contain the history of the kings of Israel and Judah. Father Simon is of opinion, from several passages in these books, that Samuel could not have been the author of them; but those passages might probably have been inserted by Ezra, when he collected and revised the books of Sacred Scripture.

CHAP. I.

Peninnah, one of the wives of Elkanah, reproaches Hannah, his other wife, for her barrenness: Hannah, with many tears, prays to the Lord, and vows, if He will give her a son, that she will dedicate him to the Lord. Samuel is born, and presented to Eli the priest.

Before Christ 1115.