Biblical Profile: Samuel

Samuel

Samuel lived at the end of the period of the judges and ushered in the period of kingship. He was Israel’s last judge (1 Sam 7:6, 15-17) and was essentially considered Israel’s first prophet (1 Sam 3:20; Acts 3:24; 13:20). He functioned as a priest (see 1 Sam 2:18) and was a great man of faith (Heb 11:32).

Samuel was born in response to his mother Hannah’s prayers. Samuel’s parents traveled annually from Ramah to the sanctuary at Shiloh (1 Sam 1:3). While at the sanctuary, Hannah, who was infertile, prayed for a son and promised to dedicate him to God for full-time service (1 Sam 1:9-11). God answered the prayer, and Samuel was born (1 Sam 1:19-20). When Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to serve in the sanctuary with Eli, the high priest (1 Sam 1:24-28; 2:11).

Eli’s sons were wicked, but Samuel served the Lord, and soon it became clear that God spoke more intimately with Samuel than with Eli. God spoke to Samuel to warn Eli of the coming disaster upon his family (1 Sam 3:1-18). This prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines defeated Israel, killed Eli’s sons, and took the Ark of the Covenant (1 Sam 4:1-22). Later, under Samuel’s leadership, the people repented of their sin of idolatry and succeeded in winning an important battle against the Philistines (1 Sam 7:3-17).