The Prophets.

What we have to remember is that the Old Testaments prophets did not write the Books of the Bible themselves.

That was done by interpreters many years later.

So, as we see with the disciples, there was a lesser understanding - an orthodoxy, a primitive worldview, a worldly interpretation - which we may not have seen in Jesus or the prophets themselves.

Those who had direct contact with God were not those who wrote the Books of the Bible.
The Books of the Bible have been interpreted, translated, and re-interpreted.

There is a large margin for error.

So where it says that Samuel cut a man to pieces in front of the altar, this may not be exactly what happened.
Either Samuel has misunderstood God or the writer of Samuel has misinterpreted the story.

In my experience God does not act violently towards anyone.
The stories of violence in the Bible are misinterpretations of God's word.

Most often it is an overlaying of assumptions of reward or punishment projected from worldly authority figures like kings or pharaohs.

God is beyond violence.

God does not resolve conflict with violence.

God waits for us to respond with love and compassion, even for our enemies.