When Were the Books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel Written?

The date of the writing of 1 and 2 Samuel cannot be fixed with absolute certainty. The Talmud incorrectly identifies Samuel as the author of the books that bear his name. This, along with “eyewitness” accounts and “general antiquity of linguistic features” have caused the unlikely suggestion that the material was written either “during David’s day or shortly thereafter (c. 1025–900 BC)” (J. Carl Laney, First and Second Samuel [Chicago: Moody, 1982], 8). But the reference in 1Sm 27:6 to the kings of Judah suggests that it was written after the division of the kingdom (about 930 BC). Further, the author did not mention the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria in 722 BC, which he surely would not have ignored in his writing, which makes it likely that the books were written before that date. Thus, “some [date] the books’ composition between 930 and 723/22 BC” (David M. Howard, Jr., An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books [Chicago: Moody, 1993], 145).