2 Samuel

2 Samuel begins directly after the end of 1 Samuel. Both the books form a continuous story, but in Bibles it is always spread over two books. The story continues even further in 1 Kings and 2 Kings. In 2 Samuel the kingship of David is the central theme.

2 Samuel takes its name from one of the main characters, the prophet Samuel. He was the last person to lead Israel as a judge. In this way he marks the transition from the time of the judges to that of the monarchy.

2 Samuel is the story of David. He first becomes the king of Judah, and then of the whole nation of Israel.
David is described as a man of great faith and dedication to God, and as a king who knew how to win the hearts of his people. But he also has a negative side to his character. He is prepared to do terrible things to satisfy his own desires and reach his own goals.

The stories in 1 and 2 Samuel are a mixture of storytelling and historical writing. They are to be seen as a high point in biblical literature.
In a variety of scenes, the experiences of the different characters are compared with each other. A great deal of the storyline develops in lively, true-to-life dialogues.
In contrast to 1 and 2 Kings, the narrator hardly ever passes comment on the events. It is left to the readers to form their own judgement.
The stories are interspersed with songs, prayers and lists.

On the grounds of their historical content, 1 and 2 Samuel are regarded as historical books.
In the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, 1 and 2 Samuel are placed with the Early Prophets, along with Joshua, Judges, 1 Kings and 2 Kings. In these books we read how the Israelites take possession of the land of Canaan and establish themselves there. Prophets remind the people of the Law of Moses and warn them against breaking the commandments.