Samuel plays a crucial role in the history of Israel. The last of the judges who rule Israel prior to its becoming a monarchy, Samuel is also a prophet. The son of Elkanah and Hannah, Samuel is a gift to his mother from God. Praying at the Sanctuary in Shiloh before the priest Eli, Hannah begs God for a son and promises to turn the boy over to the priest to be raised as a servant of God. God grants her wish, and, after Samuel is weaned, Hannah gives him to Eli. God visits Samuel with a prophecy, showing him the future destruction of Shiloh and the House of Eli. When this comes to pass, Samuel is recognized as a prophet and appointed a judge over Israel. In time, Samuel’s two sons, Joel and Abiyah, are also named judges but they are unjust, and the people demand that Samuel appoint a king over Israel and put an end to the system of judges. Samuel resists, but God commands him to anoint Saul as king, which he does after warning the people of the dangers of a monarchy. Saul fails to live up to the demands of God, and Samuel prophesies that his reign is at an end, secretly anointing David as king. On the eve of Saul’s battle with the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the witch of En-dor raises Samuel from the dead for a final prophecy in which he foretells the death of Saul and Saul’s sons.
