Endorsements for 1 & 2 Samuel

Cartledge is a new and important voice in biblical interpretation. The books of 1-2 Samuel contain marvelous stories of Israel's beginnings as a nation, and each of them here receives many-sided, rich, and readable interpretation. Combining the resources of historical and literary analysis with theological penetration, the author also brings the world of today into conversation with the text. This is a worthy companion to Brueggemann's commentary on the books of Kings in the same series.

--Walter Harrelson


Tony Cartledge has produced a commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel that is readable by any interested and educated person, with or without theological training. The commentary is informed by, but not bound to the results of critical scholarship. It does not hide from problematic texts, but judges them by the later revelation in Jesus. It is a worthy addition to the series.

--Paul L. Redditt, Ph. D.
Chair, Department of Religion
Georgetown College


The new Smyth and Helwys Bible Commentary, 1 & 2 Samuel, is a refreshing study of the stories about the early days of kingship in ancient Israel. Tony Cartledge combines an outstanding scholarly treatment of the text with insightful applications to the twenty-first-century world. 1 & 2 Samuel is an excellent companion volume to its Bible Commentary predecessor, 1 & 2 Kings, and will be a necessary addition to libraries and studies and a valuable classroom tool.

--Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford
Associate Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages,
McAfee School of Theology
Managing Editor, Review and Expositor