David and Goliath, the call of Samuel, the witch of Endor, David and Bathsheba—these stories and people are familiar, even to some with no Biblical background. But the books of 1 and 2 Samuel are among the most difficult books in the Bible. The Hebrew text presents serious issues to translators and scholars alike. The social and religious customs depart in some ways from Moses’ tradition and don’t all make sense in a context of Judaism. But in the New International Commentary: 1 Samuel, David Toshio Tsumura provides a great deal of illumination on 1 Samuel’s cultural context, paying close attention to Philistine and Canaanite practices, as he clarifies the complicated Hebrew text.

New International Commentary on the Old Testament - Series Editor: Robert L. Hubbard Jr.

Maneuvering through Levitical laws, bloodshed in Joshua, or Daniel's apocalyptic visions, sincere readers often wonder what the Old Testament means and how it can be the Word of God. For several decades the New International Commentary on the Old Testament has helped countless people traverse this difficult literary terrain.

All the NICOT volumes combine superior scholarship, an evangelical view of Scripture as the Word of God, and concern for the life of faith today. Each volume features an extensive introduction treating the biblical book's authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology. The author's own translation of the original Hebrew and verse-by-verse commentary follow. The commentary itself carefully balances coverage of technical matters with exposition of the biblical text's theology and implications.