Samuel

Samuel. The 1st of the great prophets of Israel after Moses, being placed side by side with the great lawgiver Moses by Jeremiah (Jer 15:1). His father Elkanah was a Levite of the family of Kohath (1 Chr 6:26, 33, 34) who lived in the territory of Ephraim and therefore was also called an Ephraimite (1 Sa 1:1). His home town was Ramathaim—zophim, also called simply Ramah (chs 1:1, 19 2:11). Elkanah had 2 wives, Hannah and Peninnah. The former was his favorite wife, but she was barren (1 Sa 1:2, 7, 8). After much heart searching and prayer, Hannah vowed that if God would give her a son she would dedicate him to God as a Nazirite. God heard her prayer and she gave birth to a son whom she named Samuel. After he was weaned she took him to the high priest Eli at Shiloh to have him trained in the Lord's service at the tabernacle (1 Sa 1:9—28).

At Shiloh, Samuel lived in a room connected with the sanctuary and in close proximity to the room of the high priest. He was dressed in a simple linen ephod, a garment worn by priests and Levites, and performed simple duties such as opening the doors of the sanctuary in the morning (1 Sa 2:18 3:1, 3, 4, 15). While he was still a boy, 12 years of age according to Josephus (Ant. v. 10. 4), the Lord revealed to him the doom that would overtake Eli's house for the criminal behavior of the high priest's sons, and for the failure of their father to correct them (ch 3:1—18).

Samuel became a leader, prophet, and judge of Israel. He was a great man. The New Testament lists him with the heroes of faith (Heb 11:32). He revealed himself as a political leader, who regained for his people independence and liberty, and who was able to retain it during the long period of his successful administration. He was in communion with God from his childhood and constantly acted according to divine directions. As a judge he was held in high esteem by the people for his impartiality, loyalty, and honesty. As the founder of the kingdom of Israel, he showed humility and prudence by stepping aside when the people demanded a new leader.

On the other hand, he was a man who permitted no compromise when the honor of God was at stake, or when a direct command of the Lord had not been carried out. His bloody severity against Agag (1 Sa 15:33) is an illustration of this. Yet, Samuel had a warm heart. He constantly prayed for his people (ch 12:23) and could not cease to love Saul even after he had been forced to reject him as king. Unfortunately, his sons did not follow in his footsteps (ch 8:3).