Samuel, the man of God, was instrumental in the transition of a loose confederacy of Hebrew tribes to a centralized monarchy. The book of Samuel starts with his birth and ends with Saul's death on Mount Gilboa. The character of Samuel, who has been equally compared to Moses and Aaron, serves as a link between the various stories. In two major speeches Samuel rejects the idea of monarchy; still, as a loyal servant of the Lord, he anoints Saul as the...