AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, I have more people than usual to acknowledge for their support. I begin by expressing my gratitude to the trustees and administration of Asbury Theological Seminary for a sabbatical in the fall of 2000, which made it possible to complete the first draft of the commentary.
I have also benefited greatly from my colleagues in the Old Testament department at Asbury, who make it such a delightful place to work. Mary Fisher, Sandra L. Richter, Brian D. Russell, Lawson G. Stone, and David L. Thompson have enriched my thinking and fine-tuned my methodology on a number of points. In addition, Brent A. Strawn’s office was directly across the hall from mine the entire time I worked on this commentary. We shared countless conversations about the books of Samuel, leonine imagery in the ancient Near East, and too many other topics to mention (forgive me, Holly). Unfortunately, just as we were both finishing our respective books, Brent was called to another place of ministry, leaving us all the poorer.
The nature of this series as an “application commentary” especially offered me an opportunity to swim beyond the waters in which I normally move most comfortably, that of Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern studies. The Contemporary Significance sections often opened areas that raised more questions for me than I was prepared to answer. I have therefore especially enjoyed the help of colleagues who are critics of contemporary culture, and I have been more dependent than usual upon them for help with interpreting their various disciplines, as well as more mundane guidance such as bibliography.
Such cooperative bonhomie has been rewarding and has created in me a desire for more consistent dependence on each other in our research. It has also made me more thankful than ever for the privilege of ministering in a Christian academic context, and especially for my colleagues at Asbury. On more than one occasion, I consulted with the following colleagues about a variety of topics: Scott R. Burson, Kenneth J. Collins, Joel B. Green, George G. Hunter III, Christine Pohl, James R. Thobaben, Jerry L. Walls, and Ben Witherington III. I am also grateful to my student assistant, Paul Cook, for his help with the indexes.
The team at Zondervan has been helpful, as always. But I owe much especially to Robert Hubbard for his amazing editorial leadership. His many detailed and insightful comments have improved the manuscript at numerous points, and I am sure the book could have been improved even further had I accepted more of his suggestions. His sacrificial leadership as editor remains exemplary for us all. I am also indebted to Terry Muck and Verlyn Verbrugge for their careful efficiency and professionalism.
Finally, I dedicate this book to family and friends who sacrificed so much during World War II. In particular, I offer this work in appreciation of my father, my uncles, and two friends who mentored me at different stages of my life. The events of that war interrupted their happy youths and altered their lives forever.1 Though it happened a long time ago, I have only recently come to realize how much they suffered in order to make it possible for me to work and live in freedom today. These loved ones have surrounded me and nurtured me at different stages of my life. I am sure I will never fully comprehend the degree of their sacrifice and the degree to which they are my true heroes.