Biblical scholar and author Timothy Yap has signed a publishing agreement with Cambridge Scholars Publishing for his forthcoming book, Hearing the Music of Samuel: Songs, Sound, and the Narrative of Kingship in 1-2 Samuel.
The book offers a fresh reading of the books of Samuel by arguing that music is not merely a decorative feature of the narrative but a key literary and theological framework through which the story of Israel's monarchy is told. Drawing on narrative criticism, sound studies, and biblical theology, Yap explores how songs, musical performances, laments, and public refrains shape the rise and fall of kingship from Hannah to David.
At the heart of the study is the contention that readers must not only read Samuel-they must also listen to it. The book traces a musical framework that begins with Hannah's song in 1 Samuel 2 and culminates in David's psalm in 2 Samuel 22, arguing that these compositions provide the theological lens through which the monarchy is understood.
Among its major contributions, the volume examines the role of prophetic music in Saul's reign, the political impact of Israel's victory songs, David's use of lament to shape national memory, and the significance of worship surrounding the ark. Yap argues that these musical moments are not isolated episodes but carefully placed narrative markers that reveal the theological message of the book as a whole.
"The books of Samuel invite readers to hear as well as to read," Yap said. "Music is woven into the narrative at crucial moments, providing a theological commentary on the rise, failure, and hope of Israel's monarchy."
The volume represents one of the first sustained studies to place music and sound at the center of Samuel's literary architecture, demonstrating how these elements contribute to the books' theology, politics, and narrative design.
Cambridge Scholars Publishing, an independent academic publisher based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, publishes original scholarly research across the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and health sciences. Its titles are distributed internationally through major academic and commercial platforms, including Amazon, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Ingram.
Publication details and release information will be announced at a later date.
