years of Samuel’s life there were already these two opposed tendencies; but it is more likely that the anti-royalist thinking in the book came from a Deuteronomic author of a later period (sixth century BC) who was well aware of the disasters the kings caused. Anyway, we need to remember that the last editor of this book is interpreting history in a theological way, showing how the Lord intervenes in the affairs of men, sometimes permitting rulers to transgress gravely, sometimes punishing them to