1 Samuel 1-15

This commentary explores the history, theology, and politics of 1 Samuel 1-15. The narrative's rich literary detail lays the foundation for Davidic kingship before David enters the scene: from Shiloh, the ark begins its journey south to Jerusalem; the monarchy is established through political negotiation and compromise between kin; and Saul, a cipher for northern kingship, is rejected in favour of one whom God prefers. Tracing the text's composition through monarchic and post-monarchic periods, the portrait of patrimonial kingship in 1 Samuel 1-15 is punctuated by the theopolitics of its eventual loss. This commentary engages a range of contemporary interpretive methodologies, including ethical, disability, interspecies, gender, and trauma-informed readings, to place the emergence of Israel's monarchy within broader discussions of power, violence, and divine-human relationships.