1 Samuel 1–15

The first book of Samuel is one of the historical books of the Old Testament. In the Vulgate it is called the First Book of Kings, the four books of Samuel and Kings being numbered as one series. Jerome translated it from the Hebrew in about 390 to 392, one of the first books of his new version. These chapters, 1 to 15, cover the transition from the last judges to Israel's first king.

Hannah, childless and mocked by her rival, prays at the sanctuary of Shiloh and bears Samuel, whom she gives to serve the priest Eli; her song of thanks follows. Eli's sons are corrupt, and the boy Samuel is called by God in the night and told of their fall. The Philistines defeat Israel and capture the ark of the covenant, Eli's sons are killed and Eli dies on hearing the news. In Philistine hands the ark brings disaster, the statue of the god Dagon falls before it, and it is sent back on a cart drawn by cows. Samuel judges Israel and defeats the Philistines, but in his old age the people demand a king. Saul, sent to look for his father's lost asses, is anointed by Samuel, chosen by lot and proves himself by rescuing the town of Jabesh-gilead. After Samuel's farewell, Saul offers sacrifice without waiting for him, his son Jonathan wins a daring victory, and Saul spares the Amalekite king Agag against God's command and is rejected.

The narrative is lively and tragic, and the Latin plain and direct.