(1.) These books together contain one unbroken nar- rative, both in form and matter, each portion being con- nected with the preceding by the conjunctive 1, or the continuative ("n"^ The book of Judges shows itself to be a separate work from Joshua by opening with a nar- ration of events with which that book closes; the work then proceeds through the times of the Judges, and goes on to give, in Ruth, the family history and genealogy
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of David, and iii Samuel and Kings the events which transpired down to the captivity.
("2.) The recurrence in Judges of the phrases, "And in those days there was no king in Israel" (xvii, 6 ; xviii, 1 ; xxi, 2b) ; " It came to pass in those days when there was no king" (xix, 1) ; and in liuth (i, 1), " Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled," shows that this jjortion of the worlv was Mritten in the times when there u-ere kings in Israel. The writer therefore was in a position to pass under review the whole period of the times of the judges, and we find that he estimates the conduct of the people according to the degree of their conformity to the law of the Lord, after the man- ner of the writer of Kings (Judg. ii, 11-19; 2 Kings xvii, 7-23).
Again, in Judg. i, 21, it is said that the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this (la// ; and in 2 Sam. xxiv, 16, mention is made of Araunah the Jebusite as an inhabitant of Jerusalem, from which it is inferred that the writer intended these facts to explain each other. (But see Josh, xv, 63.) So there is a reference in Judg. xx, 27 to the removal of the ark of the covenant from Shiloh to Jerusalem; and the expression " in those days" points, as in xvii, G, etc., to remote times. There is thought to be a reference in Judg. xviii, 30 to the captivity of Israel in the days of Hoshea, in which case that book must have been written subsequently to that time, as well as the books of Kings.
(3.) The books of Kings take up the narrative where 2 Samuel breaks off, and proceed in the same spirit and manner to continue the history, with the earlier parts of ^vhich the writer gives proof of being well acquainted (comp. 1 Kings ii, 11 with 2 Sam. v, 4, 5 ; so also 2 Kings xvii, 41 with Judg. ii, 11-19, etc.; 1 Sam. ii, 27 with Judg. xiii, 6 ; 2 Sam. xiv, 17-20, xix, 27, with Judg. xiii, G ; 1 Sam. ix, 21 with Judg. vi, 15, and xx ; 1 Kings viii,
1 with 2 Sam. vi, 17, and v, 7, 9; 1 Sam. xvii, 12 with Paith iv, 17; Faith i, 1 with Judg. xvii, 7, 8, 9; xix, 1,
2 [Bethlehem-Judah]). Other links connecting the books of Kings with the preceding may be found in the comparison, suggested by De Wette, of 1 Kings ii, 26 with 1 Sam. ii, 35; 1 Kings ii, 3, 4; v, 17, 18; viii, 18, 19, 25, with 2 Sam. vii, 12-16 ; and 1 Kings iv, 1-6 with 2 Sam. viii, 15-18.
(4.) Similarity of diction has been observed through- out, indicating identity of authorship. The phrase "Spirit of Jehovah" occurs first in Judges, and fre- quently afterwards in Samuel and Kings (Judg. iii, 10; vi, 34, etc. ; 1 Sam. x, 6, etc. ; 1 Kings xxii, 24; 2 Kings ii, 10, etc.). So "Man of God," to designate a prophet, and " God do so to me and more also," are common to them; and "till they were ashamed" to Judges and Kings (Judg. iii, 25; 2 Kings ii, 17; viii, 11).
(5.) Generally the style of the narrative, ordinarily quiet and simple, but rising to great vigor and spirit when stirring deeds are described (as in Judg. iv, vii, xi, etc. ; 1 Sam. iv, xvii, xxxi, etc. ; 1 Kings viii, xviii, xix, etc.), and the introduction of poetry or poetic style in the midst of the narrative (as in Judg. v, 1 Sam. ii, 2 Sam. i, 17, etc., 1 Kings xxii, 17, etc.), constitute such strong fcatiures of resemblance as lead to the conclusion that these several books form but one work.
But these reasons are not conclusive. Many of the resemblances may be accounted for in other ways, while there are important and wide differences.
(1.) If the arguments were sufficient to join Judges, Samuel, and Kings together in one work, for the same rea.sons Josluia nnist be added (Josh, i, 1 ; xv, 63 ; xxiii and xxiv; Judg. i, 1).
(2.) The writer of Kings might be well acquainted with the previous history of his people, .ind even with the contents of Judges and Samuel, without being him- self flic author of those books.
(3.) Siicli similarity of diction 'as exists mdy be as- crilicd 111 the use by the writer of Kings of earlier docu- menis. to which also the writer of Samuel had access.
(4.J There are good reasons for regarding the Kings
as together forming an entire and independent work, such as the similarity of style and language, both vo- cabulary and grammar, which pervades tlie two books, but distinguishes them from others — the uniform system of quotation observed in them, but not in the books which precede them — the same careful attention to chronology — the recurrence of certain phrases and forms of speech peculiar to them. A great number of words occur in Kings, which are found in them onh' ; such are chiefly names of materials and utensils, and architect- ural terms. Words, and unusual forms of words, occur, whicli are only found here and in writers of the same period, as Isaiah and Jeremiah, but not in Samuel or Judges. See § v, below.