Book Description
Returning to the ground of the highly successful first volume in the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary Series, Walter Brueggemann’s 1 & 2 Kings, this volume explores the beginnings of kingship in Israel. From the counsel of Samuel through the determination of Saul to the towering figure of David, this commentary thoughtfully considers the debt that our religious and literary heritage owes to the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. Cartledge describes and analyzes the events in these books as central to the preservation of the traditions that influence the remainder of the Hebrew and Christian bibles. Written in commentary form with the addition of numerous insights and visuals drawn from the worlds of art, archaeology, literature, history, and geography, 1 & 2 Samuel opens up the biblical text in significant and faithful ways.
Book Reviews
--Paul L. Redditt, Ph. D.
Chair, Department of Religion
Georgetown College
The new Smyth and Helwys Bible Commentary, 1 & 2 Samuel, is a refreshing study of the stories about the early days of kingship in ancient Israel. Tony Cartledge combines an outstanding scholarly treatment of the text with insightful applications to the twenty-first-century world. 1 & 2 Samuel is an excellent companion volume to its Bible Commentary predecessor, 1 & 2 Kings, and will be a necessary addition to libraries and studies and a valuable classroom tool.
--Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford
Associate Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages,
McAfee School of Theology
Managing Editor, The Review and Expositor
The Bible Today Reviews 1 & 2 Samuel, May/June 2002
Like other books in this series, this commentary is accompanied by a CD-ROM. A very informative Introduction explains canonical context, literary development, the historical setting of the narratives recounted, and their theological significance. A detailed outline of the biblical book precedes its interpretation. Written for the general reader, the section-by-section commentary demonstrates the author's ability to relate biblical issues to contemporary situations. Each page is laid out in an attractive manner and sometimes includes icons that alert the reader to additional information about the meaning of a Hebrew word, insight into a detail of culture, a connection with a contemporary issue, or suggestions for further reading. Helpful maps and reproductions of classic art are found throughout the pages.