(heard of God)
The government of Saul. Through failure priesthood connection is broken (in the family of Eli), the ark taken, the prophet (Samuel) is given, theocracy rejected (8:7), Saul (“asked for”), their choice (“profiteth nothing”) reigned 40 years. David, in rejection,-the place of power for faith until he reigns, which Jonathan lacked courage to take. David means “beloved.” He, as his greater Son later, was barn in Bethlehem and was a shepherd, a type of The Good Shepherd. Samuel was a Nazarite from birth, a descendent of Korah, a Levite, last of the judges and first of the writing prophets. The two books were originally one, The first 24 chapters were probably written by Samuel and the balance by Gad and Nathan (1 Chron. 29:29).
B.C. 1171-1056, covering 115 years.