Last judge of Israel, first major prophet, anointed Saul and David
c. 1105–1010 BC · Old Testament
The boy given to Hannah after years of prayer, dedicated to the LORD before birth, who became Israel's last judge, anointed Israel's first two kings, and bridged the era of judges and the monarchy.
Samuel's birth was an answer to Hannah's prayer. Hannah was barren and grievously mocked by her husband's other wife. She prayed at the tabernacle in Shiloh with such intensity that Eli the priest thought she was drunk (1 Samuel 1). She vowed that if God gave her a son, she would give him back to the LORD all his days. God answered. She named him Samuel — 'because I have asked him of the LORD' (1 Samuel 1:20). After weaning him, she brought him to Eli at the tabernacle. Samuel grew up serving the LORD under Eli (1 Samuel 2:11). One night, as a boy, he heard a voice calling — three times he ran to Eli thinking it was him. The fourth time, instructed by Eli to say 'Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth' (1 Samuel 3:9), Samuel received his first prophecy — a word of judgment against Eli's house. From that day, the LORD was with Samuel, and 'all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD' (1 Samuel 3:20). Samuel served as Israel's judge for many years, going on circuit between Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:16). He led Israel in repentance and victory over the Philistines at Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:5-13). When Samuel grew old, the people demanded a king like the other nations. Samuel was grieved, but the LORD told him to give them what they asked. Samuel anointed Saul (1 Samuel 10) — and later, when Saul disobeyed and was rejected, anointed David (1 Samuel 16). Samuel never wavered in confronting kings — telling Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and pronouncing his rejection. After Samuel's death, Saul illicitly sought him through the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28). Samuel was a Nazirite from birth, a prophet, judge, priest (he offered sacrifices), and kingmaker. Hebrews 11:32 lists him among the heroes of faith. Acts 3:24 calls him 'and all the prophets from Samuel.'
"I have asked him of the LORD"
As a young child
"Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth"
Ebenezer — "hitherto hath the LORD helped us"
Israel's first king
Israel's greatest king
Saul rejected
All Israel mourned him
Samuel's significance: (1) He bridges the era of the judges and the monarchy — Israel's last judge and the first of the great prophets. (2) He anointed Saul and David — making kings, not by political power but by prophetic word. (3) His call story — 'Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth' — is the pattern of every prophetic vocation. (4) His confrontation of Saul — 'obedience is better than sacrifice' — is one of the great prophetic confrontations of kingly power. (5) Hannah's prayer at Samuel's birth (1 Samuel 2:1-10) is the template for Mary's Magnificat.
“Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.”— 1 Samuel 3:9-10
“Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”— 1 Samuel 7:12
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”— 1 Samuel 15:22
“The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”— 1 Samuel 16:7
Samuel was Israel's last judge and first major prophet, born to Hannah after years of prayer (1 Samuel 1). Dedicated to the LORD from birth, he served at the tabernacle and received the prophetic call as a boy (1 Samuel 3). He led Israel in victory over the Philistines (1 Samuel 7), anointed Saul as Israel's first king (1 Samuel 10), and later anointed David (1 Samuel 16). He bridged the era of judges and the monarchy.
1 Samuel 3 — As a boy serving in the tabernacle, Samuel heard a voice calling him in the night. Three times he ran to Eli the priest, thinking it was him. The fourth time, Eli instructed him to say 'Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.' Samuel received his first prophecy — a word of judgment against Eli's house. From that day, 'all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.'
Israel demanded a king like the other nations (1 Samuel 8). Samuel was grieved, but God told him to give them what they asked. Samuel anointed Saul (1 Samuel 10). Saul disobeyed God multiple times — particularly in not utterly destroying Amalek and offering a sacrifice himself (1 Samuel 13, 15). Samuel pronounced Saul's rejection: 'Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice' (1 Samuel 15:22). Samuel then anointed David secretly (1 Samuel 16).
Samuel judged Israel for many years — exact figures are debated, but he was a major figure from about 1075 BC (when he came of age) until Saul's coronation around 1050 BC, then continued as prophet until his death around 1010 BC. He went on circuit between Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:16). 1 Samuel 7:15 — 'Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.'