True or False: The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally a single book.

The assertion that the books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally a single book is accurate. Historically, in the earliest texts of the Hebrew Bible, 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel were combined into one continuous narrative. This was due to the scroll format of the time, where the length of the texts necessitated breaking them up for practical purposes. When the texts were later divided for easier reading and referencing, they maintained thematic and narrative continuity, focusing on the transition of Israel from a loose confederation of tribes to a unified monarchy under Saul and later David.

The subsequent divisions made in translations and versions, such as the Septuagint and the Vulgate, reflect this splitting while acknowledging the texts' cohesive storyline. This understanding is important, as it aids in contextualizing the historical and theological messages conveyed in the narrative of David's rise, Saul's fall, and the complex nature of kingship in Israel.