I Samuel is Volume 8 in the Anchor Bible series of book-by-book translations of the Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha. In his series debut, P. Kyle McCarter, Jr., has written a volume of interest and value to both the scholar and the general reader. McCarter's treatment of I Samuel consists of: Introduction: review of the literary problems and historical circumstances surrounding the writing of the book. Translation : fresh and authoritative, this new translation of I Samuel fully utilizes for the first time ancient manuscript fragments found at Qumran. Textual Notes : for the scholar, technical information on the texts used in the translation. Notes : for the untrained reader, descriptions of people, places, customs, and unusual features of the language. Commentary : an explanatory summary of each passage of translation. Maps : illustrating the book's dramatic events.