“It was the best of time, it was the worst of times…”
Even as Charles Dickens starts his famous book “A Tale of Two Cities,” the book of 1 Samuel could start with the same words. For the nation of Israel, it was indeed both the best and worst of times. There was no king and everyone did as they saw fit…and there was no king and everyone did whatever they wanted. As the book of kingship begins, we meet two families. It is this tale of two families that sets the pace and tone for where the nation will find itself.