The magnificent conclusion to the blessing of the Tribes Deuteronomy 33:26-29,) forms a perfectly beautiful and fitting close to the pen of inspiration in the hand of Moses. The first eight verses of the concluding Chapter of Deuteronomy were probably written by Joshua, and the last four verses by an utterly unknown hand, perhaps Ezra the editor of the Old Testament. This last Chapter of the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 34). is however as fully inspired as the first Chapter (Genesis 1).
The next group of sacred writings is from Joshua to Esther, twelve books in our Bibles, but reckoned by the Jews as six.
JOSHUA. It has been gathered by some from the frequent use of the third person that not Joshua, but a contemporary and eye-witness was the writer of the book. But it must be remembered that it was not an unfrequent occurrence on the part of the inspired writer, both to speak and write in the third person, (see Ezra 7). Jewish tradition ascribes the authorship of the whole to Joshua save the last five verses which were evidently written after the death of the “Savior” of Israel as the name Joshua imports. Probably one of the elders who out-lived Joshua added these supplementary verses, as also the record of certain transactions which occurred some time after the death of Joshua, (Chapter 15:16-19 comp. with Judges 1:12-15; Chapter 19:47 with Judges 18)
JUDGES. According to generally accepted Jewish tradition, Samuel was the writer of this book. The remark, “In those days there was no king in Israel,” four times repeated (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) would skew that the book was written after the establishment of Monarchy in Israel, but before the capture of Jerusalem and destruction of the Jebusites by David; (for this compare Chapter 1:21, with 2 Samuel 5:6-9.)
RUTH. From the allusion to a then old custom in Israel “concerning redeeming and concerning changing” (Chapter 4:7), and the historical account of David’s genealogy (Chapter 4:17-22), we gather that the book was written certainly not earlier than the accession of David to the throne of Israel. Probably Samuel was the writer.
BOOKS OF SAMUEL. These books in the ancient Hebrew formed but one. In the Septuagint and Vulgate and in the sub-title of our English Bibles they are spoken of as, 1St and 2nd Books of Kings. We have no difficulty, on the authority of 1 Chronicles 29:29, in assigning the first 24 chapters of the first book to Samuel, and the remaining chapters with the whole of the second book to the prophets Nathan and Gad.