Generall Questions touching the whole Booke.
1. Quest. Of the inscription of this Booke.
1.WHy the first booke of Samuel is so named, there may be eui∣dent reasons giuen; as both because the booke beginneth with the storie of Samuels natiuitie, as the Hebrewes vse to name the bookes of Scripture of the beginning; as also be∣cause it containeth Samuels acts principally; and besides, Samuel is held to haue beene the writer thereof, till that place where mention is made of his death. 2. But of this second booke there is greater question, why it should beare the name of Samuel: for neither are Samuels acts therein described, neither was he the penne-man thereof: but it was written by some of the Prophets, as by Nathan, and Gad, who supplyed the rest of the historie, that followeth Samuels death, or by some other of the Prophets: some thinke they were collected by Hezekiah; some by Ezra. 3. Now why yet this booke is intituled by Samuel, two reasons may be yeelded, both because it sheweth the accomplishment of Samuels prophesie concerning the king∣dome of Dauid, and the consummation and perfection of that argument, which be∣ganne with Samuels anointing: Genevens. as also for that this booke is but a continu∣ation of the former historie: and therefore the Hebrewes doe not diuide it from the former. Pellic. 4. But whereas Hierome thinketh in his Hebrewe traditions, that this booke of Samuel is like to be that, which is called the booke of the righteous, it hath no probabilitie: Mar. for we finde mention made of that booke, before this historie was either done, or written: Ios. 10.13.
2. Quest. Of the Argument of this Booke.
1. As the former booke containeth the historie of such things as were done vnder Samuel and Saul, so this setteth forth the acts of Dauid: and specially three things in generall are handled in this booke: the beginning, increase, and flourishing of Dauids raigne: then the manifold troubles, treasons, and oppositions against his kingdome: as also Dauids fall, and his rising againe, and reconciling vnto God. 2. And further, herein is obserued a notable difference betweene the raigne of Saul and of Dauid: for Sauls kingdome beganne with great glorie and renowne, but ended with shame: but contrariwise, Dauids kingdome had but small beginnings, yet encreased more and more. Borr. 3. In which respect Dauid was a liuely type of Christ, who found many enemies in the world, which sought to suppresse his kingdome in the infancy thereof: But his dominion preuailed, and from a corner of the earth, hath ouerspread all the world. Mar.