Includes the author's translation of 1 Samuel.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Main bibliography -- Introduction -- The birth of Samuel -- The song of Hannah -- Good son / bad sons -- Samuel and the word of Yahweh -- The ark goes into exile -- The victorious hand of Yahweh -- The victorious ark comes home -- The rise of kingship -- Samuel judges Israel -- The rights of the king -- Asses sought, a kingdom found -- The king whom Yahweh has chosen -- Saul proclaimed king -- Kingship : right or wrong? -- No dynasty for Saul -- Military exploits of Saul and Jonathan -- Saul rejected as king -- Samuel anoints David -- The history of David's rise -- David comes to the royal court -- David defeats the Philistine -- Saul's jealousy and David's success -- Four escapes -- Bilateral loyalty -- A priest favors David -- David, the madman -- Abiathar joins David in flight -- Yahweh does not surrender David -- David refuses to kill Yahweh's anointed -- David and Abigail -- Reprise : David refuses to kill Yahweh's anointed -- David as double agent -- Bad news at En-Dor -- A narrow escape -- A kinglike hero -- The death and burial of Saul.

Section by section, Dr. Klein progresses through the book of 1 Samuel, offering extensive bibliography, original translation and exhaustive notes before discussing Form/Structure/Setting, Comment, and Explanation. Interesting and informative word studies and background information, up-to-date archeological findings, and other pertinent data are all combined to give a well-rounded commentary on this often neglected book of the Old Testament.