The last of the judges who ruled Israel in early days, Samuel’s name means “name of God” or “his name is El” (El is the name of the God of strength and power).
PERSONAL HISTORY
Samuel’s parents were committed to God and went every year to worship at the sanctuary at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3). His father, Elkanah, was a Levite (1 Chronicles 6:26) who lived in Ramah, a territory of Ephraim. His mother, Hannah, was unable to bear children early in their marriage. Elkanah had a second wife, Peninnah.
On a visit to Shiloh, Hannah prayed in the sanctuary (1 Samuel 1:6-11), promising that if the Lord gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God’s service for life as a judge, or Nazirite (Numbers 6:1-21). The Lord heard Hannah’s prayer and granted her request. She had no other children until after she had fulfilled her vow to dedicate Samuel.
When Samuel was presented to Eli and began his service in the sanctuary, he bowed before the Lord and “worshiped the Lord there” (1 Samuel 1:28). Three ingredients-a feeling of worth, a knowledge of his parents’ love (see 1 Samuel 2:19), and a sense of purpose-laid the foundation of his personality and his future accomplishments.
First Samuel 2 gives further proof of the value of Samuel’s early training. Eli’s sons were at that time following the ungodly practices of the false religions around them. Eli, now an old man, had allowed his sons to get away with too much and was now powerless to stop them. Samuel refused to follow Eli’s sons in the path of evil, or to behave disrespectfully toward Eli. When God told Samuel that he had decided to judge Eli and Eli’s family, Samuel responded with reverence and respect. His personal and spiritual growth indicated that he had been marked out as a future prophet of the Lord.
In times when the Israelites refused to follow God and “did what was right in their own eyes” (compare Judges 17:6; 21:25), God allowed nearby nations to attack Israel as a way of scolding his people, until a judge arose to deliver them. When the Philistines invaded the land (1 Samuel 4-6), the Israelite army was defeated. They believed that the ark of the covenant would guarantee their success, and they sent away to Shiloh for it. The next day the Israelites were again defeated and the ark captured. When this news reached Eli, he fell from his stool and died.
Twenty years go by before Samuel’s name is mentioned again (1 Samuel 7:2-3). It appears that he lived in Ramah during this time and went around the country preaching and warning the Israelites to turn from sin (compare Deuteronomy 16:18-22; 17:8-13). Samuel probably also started “schools” for the prophets during this period. Schools were started at Bethel (1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Kings 2:3), Gilgal (2 Kings 4:38), Ramah (1 Samuel 19:20), and elsewhere (2 Kings 2:5), perhaps as a natural result of Samuel’s ministry.
After a twenty-year ministry, Samuel thought the time was right to try to move Israel toward spiritual and national oneness. He called a meeting at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7). There, the Israelites poured out water on the ground, fasted, and prayed to express deep humiliation and repentance.
The Philistines did not understand what the Israelites were doing and decided to attack the defenseless worshipers, who begged Samuel to pray for them. He offered a sacrifice and the Lord sent a violent thunderstorm, frightening off the Philistine invaders. The Israelites pursued them and won an important victory at Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:12).
As Samuel grew older, Israel rejected his leadership and asked for a king (1 Samuel 8 ). After earnest prayer, the Lord gave Samuel direction, and Samuel granted Israel’s request for a king. Later he anointed Saul with oil and declared that Saul was prince over God’s people. Samuel then summoned the Israelites to Mizpah, where God’s choice was made official, and Saul was hailed as king. After Saul’s victory over Nahash (1 Samuel 11), Samuel confirmed Saul’s kingship at Gilgal. Then Samuel retired to Ramah to train men to carry on his ministry.
Twice Samuel reproved Saul. The first time was for Saul’s impatience and disobedience (1 Samuel 13:5-14), and the second, for Saul’s disobedience to the Lord’s direct command (15:20-23), when the Lord rejected him as king. Samuel was then sent to the home of Jesse in Bethlehem, where he anointed David as the king chosen by God (16:1-13).
First Samuel 25 briefly tells of Samuel’s death, when all Israel gathered together and mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah. The only later mention of Samuel is in 1 Samuel 28. Summoned by the witch of Endor at Saul’s request, Samuel’s spirit announced that on the following day Saul and his sons would die in battle (4:1-19).
CHARACTER
Samuel overcame many problems through godliness, perseverance, and dedication to the service of the Lord. His concern was for the good of his people. Wise and courageous, he boldly criticized the king, elders, and other people when necessary, always from the certain ground of God’s revealed will.
While Samuel served as judge and priest, he was first and foremost a prophet. Through his ministry the spiritual life of the Israelites improved. By naming a king, he led the people of Israel from tribal disunity to national unity. He appointed gatekeepers to the tent of meeting (1 Chronicles 9:17-26), organized observance of the Passover so well that it was still spoken about in Josiah’s day (2 Chronicles 35:18), wrote down the way that a king and his kingdom should be (1 Samuel 10:25), and wrote “The Chronicles of Samuel the Seer” (1 Chronicles 29:29).
Samuel well deserves a place among the great men of faith (Hebrews 11:32). He was the last of the judges (1 Samuel 7:6, 15-17) and the first of the prophets (3:20; Acts 3:24; 13:20).
Who?
Who was Samuel? Samuel was a prophet but also served as a judge and a priest.
What?
What was Samuel’s significance? He turned the Israelites from their ways of sin, and also ordained Israel’s first king.
When?
When did Samuel live and prophesy? Samuel was the last of the Judges, and ordained both Saul and David as kings.
Where?
Where was Samuel born and raised? Samuel was born to Hannah, who was unable to bear children until she pleaded to God for a child. Samuel was raised for two years by Hannah, and then lived in the Temple until his adulthood.
How?
How did Samuel affect Israel? Samuel turned the Israelites from their sinful ways, thereby allowing Israel to enjoy God’s goodness, instead of his wrath. He also brought them their first king.
Hannah
Eli
Saul
David
Philistines