(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one larger book simply known as ‘Samuel’. It was first divided into two books in the Septuagint, which is the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel deal with the lives of Samuel the prophet, King Saul, and King David. Samuel was the final leader at the time when the nation of Israel changed from being ruled by judges to being ruled by kings. Samuel also anointed both Saul and David as the first two kings of Israel. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel give a historical description of the nation of Israel during that time.
No one knows who wrote 1 and 2 Samuel. The author didn’t mention himself in the text, but he lived at least as late as the time of King David or probably much later and also had access to other documents about the lives of Saul and Samuel. Because of the mystery surrounding the author or authors of these books, it is also not known when they were written.
Outline of 1 Samuel:
1. Chapters 1-3 tell of the birth and calling of the prophet Samuel.
2. Chapters 4-7 describe how the Philistines took the ark of God from the Israelites and how it caused destruction in the lands of the Philistines while it was with them.
3. Chapters 8-15 tell what happened when the Israelites asked for a king and Samuel anointed Saul as the first king, and then later how the Lord rejected Saul.
4. In chapters 16-31 we read how Samuel anointed David as Israel’s second king and how Saul tried from then on to kill David.
Outline of 2 Samuel:
1. Chapters 1-5 describe how David became the king of Judah and then later also king of the rest of Israel.
2. Chapters 6-10 tell how David reigned as king and defeated many of his enemies.
3. In chapters 11-12 we read how David committed adultery and murder and was then rebuked by the prophet Nathan.
4. Chapters 13-20 tell of two different rebellions against David.
5. Chapters 21-24 make concluding remarks about David’s reign as king.
Les livres de 1 et 2 Samuel ne formaient à l’origine qu’un seul livre plus long, connu tout simplement sous le titre de “Samuel”. Il a d’abord été divisé en deux dans la Septante, la traduction en grec ancien de l’Ancien Testament. Les livres de 1 et 2 Samuel traitent de la vie de Samuel le prophète, du roi Saül et du roi David. Samuel était le dernier chef à l’époque où la direction de la nation d’Israël a passé des juges aux rois. Samuel a également oint Saül et David comme les deux premiers rois d’Israël. Les livres de 1 et 2 Samuel donnent une description historique de la nation d’Israël à cette époque.
Personne ne sait qui a écrit 1 et 2 Samuel. L’auteur n’a fait aucune mention de lui-même dans le texte, mais il a vécu au moins jusqu’à l’époque du roi David ou probablement beaucoup plus tard, et il avait accès aussi à d’autres documents qui traitaient de la vie de Saül et de Samuel. En raison du mystère qui entoure l’auteur, ou les auteurs, de ces livres, on ne sait pas non plus quand on les a écrits.
Résumé du premier livre de Samuel
1. Les chapitres 1 – 3 racontent la naissance et l’appel du prophète Samuel.
2. Les chapitres 4 – 7 décrivent comment les Philistins ont pris l’Arche de Dieu aux Israélites et comment cela a causé la destruction dans le pays des Philistins pendant qu’elle était chez eux.
3. Les chapitres 8 – 15 racontent ce qui s’est passé lorsque les Israélites ont demandé un roi et que Samuel a oint Saül comme le premier roi, et puis plus tard comment le Seigneur a rejeté Saül.
4. Dans les chapitres 16 – 31 nous lisons comment Samuel a oint David comme le deuxième roi d’Israël et comment Saül a essayé jusqu’à la fin de sa vie de tuer David.
Résumé du second livre de Samuel
1. Les chapitres 1 – 5 décrivent comment David est devenu roi de Juda et plus tard roi du reste d’Israël.
2. Les chapitres 6 – 10 racontent comment David a régné comme roi et a vaincu beaucoup de ses ennemis.
3. Dans les chapitres 11 – 12 nous lisons comment David a commis l’adultère et le meurtre et a ensuite été réprimandé par le prophète Nathan.
4. Les chapitres 13 – 20 racontent deux rébellions différentes contre David.
5. Les chapitres 22-24 font des remarques finales sur le règne de David en tant que roi.
Translation: Swahili
Utangulizi wa 1 na 2 Samweli
Vitabu vya 1 Samweli na 2 Samweli mwanzoni vilikuwa ni kitabu kimoja kikubwa kilichojulikana kama ‘Kitabu cha Samweli’. Kwa mara ya kwanza kitabu hiki kiligawanywa na kuwa vitabu viwili katika toleo lililoitwa, ‘Toleo la Septuaginti’. Hili lilikuwa toleo la mwanzoni la tafsiri ya Agano la Kale katika lugha ya Kiyunani. Vitabu vya 1 Samweli na 2 Samweli vinabeba matukio ya kihistoria yanayohusu maisha ya nabii Samweli, mfalme Sauli, na mfalme Daudi. Samweli alikuwa ndiye kiongozi wa mwisho wakati taifa la Israeli lilipobadilika kutoka katika kutawaliwa na waamuzi, na kuanza kutawaliwa na wafalme. Samweli huyo huyo ndiye aliyewapaka mafuta Sauli na Daudi kuwa wafalme wa Israeli. Vitabu vya 1 Samweli na 2 Samweli vinatoa ufafanuzi wa kihistoria wa taifa la Israeli katika kipindi hicho.
Hakuna ajuaye ni nani aliyeviandika vitabu vya 1 Samweli na 2 Samweli. Mwandishi hakujitaja mwenyewe ndani ya vitabu hivyo, lakini yamkini alikuwa hai katika kipindi chote cha utawala wa mfalme Daudi, na pengine alisalia hai hata baada ya utawala huo, na yamkini pia alikuwa na uwezo wa kuona na kusoma nyaraka nyingine zilizoelezea maisha ya Sauli na Samweli. Kutokana na hali ya sintofahamu inayozunguka utambulisho wa mtu au watu walioandika vitabu hivi, pia haijulikani vitabu hivi viliandikwa lini.
Muhtasari wa Yaliyomo katika 1 Samweli:
1. Sura 1-3 zinasimulia kuzaliwa na kuitwa kwa nabii Samweli katika utumishi wa Mungu.
2. Sura 4-7 zinaelezea jinsi Wafilisti walivyolichukua sanduku la agano la Mungu kutoka kwa Waisraeli, na jinsi lilivyosababisha uharibifu katika miji ya Wafilisti wakatii lilipokuwa katika miji yao.
3. Sura 8-15 zasimulia jinsi Wasraeli walivyotaka wawe na mfalme; pia jinsi Samweli alivyompaka mafuta Sauli awe mfalme wa kwanza na jinsi Mungu alivyomkataa Sauli baadaye.
4. Katika sura 16-31 tunasoma jinsi Samweli alivyompaka mafuta Daudi awe mfalme wa pili wa Israeli na jinsi Sauli alivyojaribu hadi mwisho wa maisha yake kuyakatilia mbali maisha ya Daudi.
Muhtasari wa Yaliyomo katika 2 Samweli:
1. Sura 1-5 zaelezea jinsi Daudi alivyopata kuwa mfalme wa Yuda, na baadaye akawa mfalme wa Israeli yote.
2. Sura 6-10 zaelezea jinsi Daudi alivyotawala kama mfalme, na kuwashinda wengi wa adui zake.
3. Katika sura 11-12 twasoma jinsi Daudi alivyofanya dhambi ya uzinzi na kuua, na jinsi alivyokemewa na nabii Nathani.
4. Sura 13-20 zinasimulia uasi wa kwanza na wa pili ulioinuka dhidi ya Daudi.
5. Sura 21-24 zinatoa maelezo yanayohitimisha habari za maisha ya Daudi kama mfalme.
(The Catholic Christian Community Bible [first English edition 1997, other translations into Indonesian, Chinese, Cebuano, Chavacano, French, Ilonggo, Korean, Quechuan, Spanish, and Tagalog] “for the Christian Communities of the Third World” uses the following introduction.)
The books of Samuel are two parts of the same work. What has been said in the introduction to the first book holds true for the second.
In this second part, the deeds of King David are narrated. No history as sincere as this was ever written in ancient times –- a story written by a man of God who could unearth David’s real greatness. Thus, what is exceptional about King David can be noted in a series of small things that perhaps seemed insignificant or even stupid to his contemporaries (see how different David is from Joab, the “achiever” and “effective” man). But these things did not pass unnoticed by the one who narrated the story. Then, Israel understood that if they had had several outstanding kings, only David provided them with an anticipated image of the true King, Christ.
To better understand the events that follow, let us bear in mind that even before David, the tribe of Judah which settled in southern Palestine felt different from the tribes of Israel situated more to the north. Saul had more allies in the north; while David was a Bethlehemite from the tribe of Judah and found his support there.
Down below are the introductions in the Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish editions.
Dalawang bahagi ng iisang libro ang mga aklat ni Samuel, kayat para rin sa ikalawang aklat ang sinabi sa Introduksyon sa una.
Isinasalaysay sa atin sa ikalawang bahaging ito ang mga gawa ni Haring David. Walang kasaysayang nasulat na kasintapat nito noong mga unang panahon. Kasaysayang sinulat ng isang tao ng Diyos, at alam niya kung paano madidiskubre ang tunay na kadakilaan ni David. Kaya ang katangi-tangi kay Haring David ay mapapansin sa isang serye ng maliliit na bagay na para sigurong walang halaga o kaya’y kahangalan pa nga para sa kanyang mga kapanahon (tingnan ang tungkol sa pagkakaiba nina David at Yoab, ang may nagagawa at ang “mabisa”). Ngunit hindi nakalampas ang mga ito sa nagsalaysay ng kanyang buhay. Kayat naintindihan ng Israel na kung nagkaroon nga sila ng ibang magagaling na mga hari, si David lamang ang nakapaglahad sa kanila ng isang larawan bilang pagpapauna sa tunay na Hari, si Kristo.
Para madaling maintindihan ang sumusunod na mga pangyayari, alalahanin nating bago pa man dumating si David ay itinuring na ng tribu ng Juda na nanirahan sa timog ng Palestina, na sila’y iba sa mga tribu ng Israel na nasa mas hilagang bahagi. Mas maraming kakampi si Saul sa hilaga samantalang taga-Betlehem naman si David, sa tribu ng Juda.
Translation: Cebuano
Gibahig duha sa mao rang tagsulat ang Samuel. Ang napadayag na sa Pasiuna sa 1 Samuel, mohaom sab dinhi.
Gisaysay ang dinhi binuhatan ni David. Ang 2 Samuel maoy lalbing matinud-anong kasaysayan sa kakaraanan – sinulat sa tawo sa Diyos, nga nakasuhid sa tinuod nga kabantog ni David. Ang nakatalagsaon ni Hari David makita sa nagsunodsunod nga gagmayng butang nga daw walay bili o gani binuang alang sa katawhan sa iyang panahon. (Basaha ang kalainan tali ni David ug ni Joab, ang “makab-oton” ug “malamposon”.) Apan wala palabya kining mga butanga sa tagsulat ining istoryaha. Human ini, natino sa Israel nga bisag may pipila sila ka masinabotong mga hari, si David lang ang nakahatag nila sa inisyal nga hulagway ni Cristo, ang matuod nga hari.
Alang sa mas maayong pagsabot sa mosunod nga mga hitabo, angayng timan-an nga bisan sa wala pa si David, ang tribu ni Juda nga nagpuyo sa habagatan sa Palestina mibati nang daan og kalahi sa mga tribu ni Israel sa amihanang Palestina. Daghan ang katawhan nga nagpaluyo ni Saul gikan sa Amihanan diin gisuportahan si David nga taga Betlehem sa tribu ni Juda.
Translation: Spanish
Los libros de Samuel son las dos partes de una misma obra, y vale para el segundo lo que se dijo en la Introducción al primero.
En esta segunda parte se nos cuentan los hechos de David, rey. Historia tan sincera como no se escribió ninguna otra en la antigüedad. Historia escrita por un hombre de Dios que supo descubrir la verdadera grandeza de David. Lo inimitable del rey David se nota en una serie de cosas pequeñas que a sus contemporáneos les parecieron insignificantes o incluso tonterías (ver al respecto las divergencias entre David y Joab, el hombre cumplidor y «eficaz»). Pero no pasaron inadvertidas al que contó su vida y, después de él, Israel comprendió que si bien habían tenido algunos reyes excelentes, sólo David les había presentado alguna figura anticipada del Rey verdadero, Cristo.
Para facilitar la comprensión de los acontecimientos que vienen a continuación, recordemos que, ya antes de David, la tribu de Judá instalada en el sur de Palestina se oponía frecuentemente a las tribus de Israel ubicadas más al norte. Saúl había tenido más partidarios en el norte, mientras que David era el hombre de Belén, en la tribu de Judá.
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