PERSON · PROPHET
Samuel
Samuel's birth was the answer to his mother Hannah's prayer and was accompanied by a vow of dedication to God as a Nazirite (1 Samuel 1:11, 27–28). He received a prophetic word from God as a child in the tabernacle at Shiloh, and Scripture states that God let none of his words fall to the ground, establishing him as a prophet throughout all Israel (1 Samuel 3:19–20). He served as the pivotal figure bridging the era of the judges and the era of the monarchy.
1 Samuel 1:1–28
- Ministry
- Late period of the Judges, transitional era into the United Monarchy of Israel (c. 11th century BC)
The Story
Before Samuel was born, he was prayed for. His mother Hannah stood at the door of the tabernacle in Shiloh, her lips moving but no sound coming out, her heart so desperate that the priest Eli mistook her grief for drunkenness. She had made a vow: if God would give her a son, she would give that son back to God, setting him apart as a Nazirite all the days of his life.
11And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1 Samuel 1:11·KJV
God heard her. A child came. And Hannah, true to her word, brought him to Shiloh when he was weaned and left him there in the service of the Lord. Samuel's story, from its very first page, is a story about a life that belonged to God before it had fairly begun.
The Israel into which Samuel was born was a nation in spiritual disarray. The priesthood at Shiloh had been corrupted by Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, whose contempt for the offerings of God was well known throughout the land. The word of the Lord was rare in those days, Scripture tells us, and there was no open vision. Into that silence, God spoke — and he chose a child to hear him. Samuel was lying down in the tabernacle when he heard his name called in the night. Three times he ran to Eli, and three times the old priest sent him back. On the third occasion, Eli understood what was happening and instructed the boy to answer. Samuel did. What God told him that night was a word of judgment against the house of Eli, and it was not an easy first message to carry. Yet he carried it faithfully, hiding nothing from Eli when morning came.
From that night forward, the pattern of Samuel's life was set. He was a vessel God had chosen to speak through, and Scripture records a remarkable thing about this: that as Samuel grew, God was with him, and did not let any of his words fall to the ground.
19And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
1 Samuel 3:19·KJV
All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, came to know that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. The silence had broken. The famine of the word was ending, and it ended through one man.
Life & Legacy
Death
ScriptureSamuel died and was buried at his home in Ramah, and all Israel mourned and lamented him (1 Samuel 25:1). His spirit was subsequently summoned by the medium of Endor at Saul's request, where he delivered a final message of judgment against Saul (1 Samuel 28:15–19).
1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Samuel 28:12–19
Legacy
ScriptureSamuel was the last of the major judges and the first of the great prophets after Moses (Acts 13:20; Hebrews 11:32). He anointed both Saul and David as kings over Israel, thereby establishing the monarchy (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:13). Chronicles records that he authored written accounts concerning the acts of David (1 Chronicles 29:29).
Acts 13:20; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Chronicles 29:29
Character
ScriptureScripture records that Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, going on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:15–16). At the end of his service he publicly challenged all Israel to testify whether he had defrauded or oppressed anyone, and they declared he had not (1 Samuel 12:3–4). Psalms 99:6 lists him alongside Moses and Aaron as one who called on the name of the Lord and was answered.
1 Samuel 7:15–16; 1 Samuel 12:3–4; Psalms 99:6
Significance
ScriptureSamuel's birth was the answer to his mother Hannah's prayer and was accompanied by a vow of dedication to God as a Nazirite (1 Samuel 1:11, 27–28). He received a prophetic word from God as a child in the tabernacle at Shiloh, and Scripture states that God let none of his words fall to the ground, establishing him as a prophet throughout all Israel (1 Samuel 3:19–20). He served as the pivotal figure bridging the era of the judges and the era of the monarchy.
1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 3:19–20; Acts 13:20
DeathScripture
Samuel died and was buried at his home in Ramah, and all Israel mourned and lamented him (1 Samuel 25:1). His spirit was subsequently summoned by the medium of Endor at Saul's request, where he delivered a final message of judgment against Saul (1 Samuel 28:15–19).
1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Samuel 28:12–19
LegacyScripture
Samuel was the last of the major judges and the first of the great prophets after Moses (Acts 13:20; Hebrews 11:32). He anointed both Saul and David as kings over Israel, thereby establishing the monarchy (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:13). Chronicles records that he authored written accounts concerning the acts of David (1 Chronicles 29:29).
Acts 13:20; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Chronicles 29:29
CharacterScripture
Scripture records that Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, going on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:15–16). At the end of his service he publicly challenged all Israel to testify whether he had defrauded or oppressed anyone, and they declared he had not (1 Samuel 12:3–4). Psalms 99:6 lists him alongside Moses and Aaron as one who called on the name of the Lord and was answered.
1 Samuel 7:15–16; 1 Samuel 12:3–4; Psalms 99:6
SignificanceScripture
Samuel's birth was the answer to his mother Hannah's prayer and was accompanied by a vow of dedication to God as a Nazirite (1 Samuel 1:11, 27–28). He received a prophetic word from God as a child in the tabernacle at Shiloh, and Scripture states that God let none of his words fall to the ground, establishing him as a prophet throughout all Israel (1 Samuel 3:19–20). He served as the pivotal figure bridging the era of the judges and the era of the monarchy.
1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 3:19–20; Acts 13:20
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