Samuel does mark the beginning of the "Historical Books" so I'm hopeful. Let's head off and see what my bible says about the Books of Samuel:
"Originally but one book, the scroll of Samuel was early divided into two. The Greek translators called these the first and second Books of Kingdoms, a title St. Jerome later modified to 'Kings.' The Hebrew title, 'Samuel,' alludes to the leading figure in the first book, who was responsible for the enthronement of David. It is David's history that the second book recounts.
This sacred work thus comprises the history of about a century, describing the close of the age of the Judges and the beginnings of monarchy in Israel under Saul and David. It is not a complete and continuous history, nor a systematic account of the period, but rather a series of episodes centered around the persons of Samuel, Saul and David.
The final editor is unknown, nor are we certain of the time at which the various strands of the narrative were put together, though one may think of the period, perhaps late in the seventh century B.C., when the other volumes of the 'Former Prophets,' from Joshua through Kings, were built into a more or less continuous historical corpus. The Samuel-Saul-David narratives clearly depend on several written sources: a Samuel cycle, two sets of stories about Saul and David, and a family history of David. This last (2 Sm 9-20; 1 Kgs 1-2), one of the most vivid historical narratives surviving from ancient times, probably originated early in the reign of Solomon.
One of the most significant theological contributions of the Old Testament is found in 2 Samuel 7, the oracle of Nathan. David is here promised an eternal dynasty, and this becomes the basis for the development of royal messianism throughout the Bible. With this promise to David one should compare 1 Chr 17; Pss 89, 20-38 and 132, 11ff; Acts 2, 30; and Heb 1, 5."
Have fun and remember that we're only doing the first book!
