Who is the Author?

First Samuel’s authorship is traditionally credited to the book’s namesake, Samuel (1 Chronicles29:29). However, even conservative scholars shy away from staunchly holding this position. The designation of Samuel as the book’s author likely stems from the enormous significance he carries within the book.1 Ultimately, the book’s composition was a complicated process in which later editors used source material which likely originated as eyewitness accounts contained in royal documents.2