There was no provision from God for any particular leadership in Israel immediately after Joshua; only "evaluation"! But Israel was fully educated of the Commandments of God at the beginning of Judges.
Should we dare speculate that this no doubt began, "the Nation of Israel's" age of accountability in the eyes of God! And likewise, the world also becomes accountable when it hears the Plan(s) of God, beginning from Old Times; the Plan of Salvation, and of the Atoning work of Jesus; the Gospel; the Message of the Cross? (Refer to Mark 16:15 through 16:20)
All of the Old Testament's, Judeo - Christian Bible Books details the beginning and continued works being put forth of Almighty God of Creation to bring the human race into an eternal, peaceful, obedient, loving relationship with God the Creator again; after so long a time of Adam's disobedience! Thus, the books of 1 & 2 Samuel are additional records, events, instructions, prophecy, and illustrations; along the way of installments describing\ promoting the process God purposed to that end of reconciling men unto Him!
The New Testament's, Judeo - Christian Bible Books reveal and record results, and end time prophecy, Almighty God of Creation; the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, set in motion from those times of Old Testament foundations!
The first five (5) Books of the Judeo - Christian Bible were written by Moses, as God spoke to him face-to-face from a cloud that protected Moses and the children of Israel. The Books of Moses are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (collectively known as the Pentateuch). They explain the "beginning of creation, provides prophesy, and set in motion the foundational events and elements" that the LORD God planned for bringing forth His Son and sacrifice (the Lord Jesus Christ) that would accomplish the atonement: As He, the God of Creation offers Him (Jesus, the atonement) to the world in the New Testament Books and the Gospel; "with crowning emphasis on such verses as John 3:16; John 14:6; Roman 10:9 and 10:10 ..."!
The Apostle Paul (in the New Testament Book of Acts 13:20) estimated the time of Judges to have continued about four hundred fifty (450) years. And it is also likely that the events in the Book of Ruth occurred somewhere along this timeline of Judges, and/ or during the early days of 1 Samuel!
Some Bible Scholars agree with Jewish tradition that Samuel (a prophet, judge, and priestly leader of Israel) wrote the Books of Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel through Chapter 24. But after his death at 1 Samuel Chapter 25; opinions are that the prophets Gad and Nathan wrote subsequent events detailing 1 Samuel Chapter 25 through 2 Samuel Chapter 24.
And so, the lives of the prophet Samuel, King Saul, and King David are revealed as they contribute their service to Israel, and the LORD God of Creation, as described in this book, "A Testimony of Jesus 18: 1 & 2 Samuel (Thy Throne Forever I)".
