1 and 2 Samuel
in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries
Pages
512
Publisher
IVP Academic
Published
5/26/2020
ISBN-13
9780830842582
The stories of Samuel, Saul, and David are among the most memorable in the Old Testament. Yet the lives of these individuals are bound up in the larger story of God's purpose for his people. In this Tyndale Old Testament Commentary, V. Philips Long explores the meaning of the biblical history of Israel's vital transition from a confederation of tribes to nationhood under a king. He shows how attending to the books of Samuel repays its readers richly in terms of literary appreciation, historical knowledge, and theological grounding.
The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties.
In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment, and Meaning. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.
The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties.
In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment, and Meaning. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.
Collections
This book appears in the following featured collections.
- TGC: Preaching Commentaries by The Gospel Coalition
Reviews
DavidH
August 8, 2026
August 8, 2026
In my view, Long offers the best overall balance of originality, exegetical judgment and usefulness among the Samuel commentaries. He combines close literary reading with historical and theological sensitivity, and his original proposals frequently solve rather than merely identify difficult problems. Most notable is his reconstruction of Saul’s rise and rejection: Saul’s designation, intended demonstration and confirmation form a coherent sequence, with the charge of 1 Samuel 10:7–8 explaining both his initial failure to attack the Philistines and the judgment at Gilgal. Long is concise compared with Firth or Tsumura, but remarkably little space is wasted. An outstanding commentary and my first choice on Samuel.
The Gospel Coalition
June 1, 2024
June 1, 2024
Long’s commentary offers deeply insightful reflections on the Hebrew text and it’s especially helpful for understanding the stages of ancient Near Eastern ascension to kingship. Though the book is targeted to a broader audience, his engagement with the original languages is robust while also being concise.
[Full Review]