I Samuel: A King in Israel

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,........

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