2 Samuel: Dating

1 and 2 Samuel form part of a great work of history which along with the books of Joshua, Judges, 1 Kings and 2 Kings, deal with the history of Israel and Judah until around 560 BC. In its present form the book probably dates to the period 550 to 500 BC.

According to the traditional Jewish view, the books of Samuel were written around 1000 BC by the prophets Samuel, Gad and Nathan.

According to most modern scholars the books of Samuel contain a collection of texts, varying in style, origin and age. They were gathered from various earlier sources. Archives were used which were kept up to date at the courts of the kings of Israel and Judah. Some episodes were taken from a collection of more or less legendary stories, which were probably reformulated. Others come from a collection of songs and from administrative documents.
The books of Samuel in their present form are part of the great historical work, covering the history of Israel from the entry into the land of Canaan to the Babylonian exile. This was probably in the period 550 to 500 BC.
Research shows that later copyists processed and expanded the texts from 300 BC until 2 AD.