Book on I Samuel combines religious scholarship, easy-to-read writing

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin in Pikesville, Maryland

Rabbi Amnon Bazak’s book I Samuel: A King in Israel (2024) is a thoughtful study of one of the most dramatic books in the Hebrew Bible. He is known for his work in biblical interpretation and his teaching at Yeshivat Har Etzion and Herzog College. He edits the weekly journal Shabbat BeShabbato, as well as other books, such as II Samuel, Nekudat Peticha, and Makbilot Nifgashot.

He brings decades of scholarship and classroom experience to this volume, offering readers a clear, pleasing, and thought-provoking exploration of the biblical narrative and its relevance today.

The Book of Samuel describes a momentous moment in Israelite history—the struggle and eventual transition from the loose tribal leadership of the Book of Judges to the centralized monarchy that begins with King Saul and culminates in King David. Bazak approaches this political change not merely as a historical narrative but as a practical and theological drama that explores the nature of leadership, prophecy, and national identity.

It begins with the words, “In those days, there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” It follows the biblical book Judges, and anticipates a future monarchy. It traces the gradual development of that monarchy, with all of its benefits and challenges, and raises questions about the proper form of government, the relationship between Israel and the nations of the world, military ethics, the character of prophecy, and more.

The book chronicles Israel’s transition from a confederation of tribes led by judges to a united monarchy under kings, covering the lives of Samuel (the last judge), Saul (the first king), and David’s rise to power.

Key events include Samuel’s birth and call, the Ark Narrative, the demand for a king, and David’s fight with Goliath. It tells of the birth of Samuel, his call from God, and his role as a judge, prophet, and leader in chapters 1-7. The Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant, and its subsequent return is narrated in chapters 4-6. The people request a king, and Samuel anoints Saul as Israel’s first king in 8-12. Saul’s disobedience leads God to reject him as king in 13-15. Samuel anoints David, David defeats Goliath, and a jealous Saul pursues David in 16-31, attempting repeatedly to kill him.   The death of Saul and his sons in battle against the Philistines is found in chapter 31.

Besides Samuel the prophet, kings Saul and David, we are introduced to Eli the Priest, Hannah the mother of Samuel, David’s wives Michal and Abigail, Saul’s son Jonathan, and General Joab, and we learn much by reading about them.

Bazak highlights how the narrative gradually reveals the strengths and weaknesses of its central figures. Saul emerges as a tragic and conflicted leader whose early promise deteriorates because of his disobedience and insecurity. At the same time, David appears first as a heroic youth—most famously in his confrontation with Goliath—and later as a rising political force pursued by Saul’s jealousy.

Bazak demonstrates how recurring motifs, parallel stories, and subtle narrative clues shape the reader’s understanding of events. He follows the method of the “plain sense” (peshat), while integrating insights from traditional Jewish commentators and modern scholarship. The result is a balanced interpretation that remains faithful to the biblical text while illuminating its deeper themes.

He also highlights the broader questions raised by the book of Samuel: What kind of leadership does Israel require? How should prophetic authority interact with political power? And what ethical demands are placed upon a nation at war? By examining these issues through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, he shows how the biblical narrative wrestles with the challenges of creating a stable government without abandoning religious ideals.

His writing is clear and accessible, never dry. His book succeeds as a scholarly study and an engaging guide for general readers interested in biblical literature. Most significantly, his analyses of the political and ethical actions embedded in the dramatic stories of the first book of Samuel reveal that, beyond being fascinating, they offer much we can learn from them today.

*
Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin is a retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.  He is the author of 67 books.