The David Story (I & II Samuel)
Reason Book was Chosen:
This was a late addition and was the result of a seminar I joined with The Catherine Project covering I & II Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. This was suggested reading in preparation for the seminar that starts Friday, January 21.My Thoughts
This is both a translation and a commentary of I & II Samuel (also into the first two chapters of I Kings). It was incredible. Robert Alter describes the reasons for choosing certain translated words and shows how the narrative ties together in countless areas. This book brought The David Story to life. I read it for a Catherine Project seminar where we discussed I & II Samuel. This opened my eyes to new ways to consider Samuel, Saul, and David. With its emphasis on David, I’m left wondering why the Biblical book is called Samuel instead of David. Interestingly, Robert Alter titles it in the manner that seems most in line with its contents – The David Story.
