Samuel

Samuel is a figure in the Hebrew Bible who plays a key role in the narrative, in the transition from the period of the biblical judges to the institution of a kingdom under Saul, and again in the transition from Saul to David. He is venerated as a prophet by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. In addition to his role in the Hebrew Scriptures, Samuel is mentioned in the New Testament, and in rabbinical literature. He is also treated in the fifth through seventh books of Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews, written in the first century CE (AD).

Samuel's mother was Hannah and his father was Elkanah. Elkanah was a Leite who lived at Ramathaim in the district of Zuph. According to 1 Samuel 1:20, Hannah named Samuel to commemorate her prayer to God for a child. On one occasion Hannah went to the sanctuary and prayed for a child. In tears, she vowed that were she granted a child, she would dedicate him to God as a Nazirite.

Eli, who was sitting at the foot of the doorpost in the sanctuary at Shiloh. Eli was the priest of Shiloh, and one of the last Israelite Judges after Samson. Eli blessed her and she returned home. Subsequently, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to Samuel.

After the child was weaned, she left him in Eli's care where he began his training. From time to time she would come to visit her son. Samuel was eleven years old when he was "established as a prophet of the Lord" and "all Israel from Dan to Beersheba" became aware of his prophetic calling.

The Philistines were allowed to conquer the Israelites and oppress them for 20 years until Samuel led them to victory. Later the people asked him to appoint them a king in 1 Samuel 8.

Samuel

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