Will Vaus

  Our next stop in our “Route 66” sermon series is the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. Originally, 1 and 2 Samuel were one book.  Author Jewish sources ascribe the composition to Samuel himself. But since Samuel’s death is recorded in chapter 25, the prophets Gad and Nathan, who are mentioned together with Samuel as the authors of a history of David (1 Chronicles 29:29) are said to have finished the work. In the book of Samuel itself one source is mentioned: the Book of Jashar, from which David’s elegy for Saul and Jonathan was taken (2 Samuel 1:18).   According to most modern scholars, 1 Samuel is but one part of the Deuteronomistic History which consists of the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings. However, the editor who put together this history probably drew together earlier written sources to compose the book of Samuel. Scholars have noted the presence of large thematic units: the Ark narrative, the Saul cycle, the history of David’s r...

Author   Today as we cruise down “Route 66” our next stop is at the Old Testament book of Ruth. Traditionally, Samuel is thought to be the author of the book of Ruth. But it is unlikely that Samuel was the author. The mention of King David in 4:17,22 implies a later date of authorship. Most modern scholars maintain that the book of Ruth was written by some unknown author.    Date   The traditional date for the composition of Ruth coordinates with Samuel as author, thus in the time of David, c. 1000 B.C.E. It could not have been composed earlier.   Based upon linguistic criteria, most modern scholars place the writing of Ruth sometime between 950 and 700 B.C.E., that is, between the time of David and the end of the Northern Kingdom, Israel, in 722 B.C.E. A few scholars, noting certain Aramaisms, date the composition of Ruth even as late as the exilic or postexilic period in the sixth or fifth century B.C.E.   Themes   The main theme of Ruth is  che...