Cave Four of Qumran shows that 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book (4QSama). This manuscript contains “fragments from forty-three of the fifty-five chapters of 1, 2 Samuel.” Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), p.18 (see footnote). It wasn’t until the later Greek editions that the books were split into two. Bergen states that this was likely because the scrolls were simply two large to fit one book on one scroll.
Cave Four of Qumran shows that 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book (4QSama). This manuscript contains “fragments from forty-three of the fifty-five chapters of 1, 2 Samuel.” Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), p.18 (see footnote). It wasn’t until the later Greek editions that the books were split into two. Bergen states that this was likely because the scrolls were simply two large to fit one book on one scroll.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
