Kyle McCarter's AB (1980, 1984) is often regarded as the classic, standard work on Samuel. It contains more information than any other recent commentary on matters related to textual criticism, archeology, source criticism, Hebrew language, and historical background. I prefer Klein (WBC on I Sam) on textual criticism, and I expect Tsumura (NICOT) is even better. On all other matters besides textual criticism, there's plenty in the above list that McCarter shouldn't be necessary except for academic work, and I think Anderson should do as a temporary substitute on text criticism (for less money) until Tsumura's second volume is done. I had access to library copies of McCarter on my shelf as we worked through Samuel in sermons, and though I did refer a lot to commentaries I hardly had much reason to look to McCarter (and when I did I didn't find him to be all that helpful with the kinds of questions I was asking). Textually, McCarter favors the LXX much more than I would like, although he offers much more detail on the LXX and DSS than anyone else. His source-critical methodology focuses on redactional processes to explain different ideologies within the text, almost completely minimizing the final form and often ignoring theology. Those doing academic work on Samuel will need access to McCarter, but I don't think it's all that necessary for preaching and teaching. [Full Review]

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Moore Theological College Journal: Societas