Who Was Samuel? — The prophet who judged Israel and anointed both of its first two kings

The Story of Samuel

Shmuel’s entire life begins with his mother Chanah’s vow at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1) — and from the moment he is weaned and brought to serve under Eli the priest, the text marks him as set apart. 1 Samuel 3 records his prophetic call: lying down at night, he hears his name — “Shmuel, Shmuel” — and, after mistaking the voice for Eli’s three times, finally answers, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” His first message is a hard one, a judgment against the house of Eli. From that night, “Yah was with him… and all Israel from Dan even to Be’er-Sheva knew that Shmuel was established as a prophet of Yah” (1 Samuel 3:20).

As judge, Shmuel led Israel through a national turning point at Mitzpah: after the people put away their foreign gods, Yah thundered against the Philistines in battle, and Shmuel raised a stone he named Ever-ha’ezer — “the stone of help” — saying, “Until now Yah has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:7–13). He judged Israel “all the days of his life” on a circuit between Beit-El, Gilgal, and Mitzpah (1 Samuel 7:15–17).

When the elders of Israel demanded a king “like all the nations,” Shmuel warned them at length of what a king would cost them — and then, at Yah’s instruction, anointed Shaul ben Kish anyway (1 Samuel 8–10). The relationship soured quickly: Shmuel confronted Shaul over an unlawful sacrifice at Gilgal (1 Samuel 13), and again after Shaul spared Agag and the best of the Amalekite spoil against an explicit command — telling him bluntly, “Yah has rejected you from being king over Israel” (1 Samuel 15).

Shmuel’s second anointing is quieter but more consequential. Sent secretly to Beit-Lechem, he passed over Yishai’s seven older sons and anointed the youngest, David — still a shepherd boy (1 Samuel 16:1–13). Shmuel died and was mourned by all Israel, buried at Ramah (1 Samuel 25:1) — though the story does not quite end there: 1 Samuel 28:3–20 records Shaul, on the eve of his last battle, consulting a medium at Endor who summons Shmuel’s spirit to pronounce, one final time, the doom Shmuel had already spoken in life.

Family

Mother

Hannah חַנָּה

Anointed

Saul שָׁאוּלDavid דָּוִד

Scripture References

• 1 Samuel 1–2 — birth and dedication at Shiloh.
• 1 Samuel 3 — the call in the night.
• 1 Samuel 7:7–17 — the victory at Mitzpah; judge of Israel.
• 1 Samuel 8–10 — anoints Shaul as king.
• 1 Samuel 15 — confronts Shaul over Amalek.
• 1 Samuel 16:1–13 — anoints David at Beit-Lechem.
• 1 Samuel 28:3–20 — the medium of Endor.
• Hebrews 11:32 — named among the heroes of faith.

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Hannahחַנָּה

Saulשָׁאוּל

Davidדָּוִד

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