The books of Samuel are superb narratives full of intrigue and suspense. The recent appreciation of the narrative artistry of the Hebrew Bible has been a boon for the study of these books. In this regard, Jobling's commentary is an absolutely excellent and careful study of 1 Samuel. I highly recommend it (he's also a fellow Canadian). Alter is also excellent in this regard, as is Brueggemann and Cartledge. Anderson and Klein offer solid scholarship in their WBC volumes. McCarter provides a detailed text-critical analysis of Samuel, though not all will agree with his analysis. I also included Driver's excellent, albeit dated, work.

The more popular offerings of Arnold, Baldwin, Chafin, and Evans are all very good, though Baldwin is a bit dated. I would probably consider Arnold's volume the best of the more popular options.

• Alter, Robert. The David Story: A Translation with
  Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel.
  W.W. Norton, 1999.
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• Anderson, A. A. 2 Samuel.
  Word Biblical Commentary. Word, 1989.
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• Arnold, Bill T. 1 and 2 Samuel.
  NIV Application Commentary. Zondervan, 2003.
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• Baldwin, Joyce G. 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary.
  Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. InterVarsity, 1988.
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• Bergen, Robert D. 1, 2 Samuel.
  New American Commentary. Broadman & Holman, 2002.
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• Brueggemann, Walter. First and Second Samuel.
  Interpretation. WJK, 1990.
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• Cartledge, Tony W. 1 & 2 Samuel.
  Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary. Smyth & Helwys, 2001.
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• Chafin, Kenneth. 1, 2 Samuel.
  Mastering the Old Testament. Word, 1989.
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• Driver, S. R. Notes on the Hebrew Text and the Topography
  of the Books of Samuel.
  Clarendon Press, 1966.
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• Evans, Mary J. 1 and 2 Samuel.
  New International Biblical Commentary: Old Testament. Hendrickson, 2000.
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• Jobling, David. 1 Samuel.
  Berit Olam. Liturgical Press, 1998.
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• Klein, Ralph W. 1 Samuel.
  Word Biblical Commentary. Word, 1983.
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• McCarter, P. Kyle. I Samuel: A New Translation with Introduction,
  Notes, and Commentary.
  Anchor Bible. Doubleday, 1980.
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• McCarter, P. Kyle. II Samuel: A New Translation with Introduction,
  Notes, and Commentary.
  Anchor Bible. Doubleday, 1984.
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