What are 1 and 2 Samuel about?

Last updated Jul 15, 2026

Published by Bible Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0

The book of 1 Samuel is two historical books covering the rise of Israel's monarchy and sits in the historical books of the Old Testament; it has 31 chapters in the King James Version.

1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Samuel. 1 Samuel opens with the birth of the prophet Samuel and follows the reigns of Saul and the rise of David; 2 Samuel then records the reign of King David over Israel. A well-known passage from this book is 1 Samuel 17 (David and Goliath). Read the full book at 1 Samuel.

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  • · 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel overview
  • · What are the books of Samuel about

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