Era: The end of the time of the judges and the beginning of the monarchy (1 Samuel 7:15; 8:4-5)
Samuel
The boy who heard God at night and anointed Israel's first two kings
Samuel was the son Hannah asked of God with tears and then gave back to him. He grew up at the sanctuary in Shiloh with Eli the priest, and as a child he heard God call him by name in the night. Over the years, all Israel recognized him as a prophet.
He judged Israel all his life and guided the people through the change to a monarchy. At God's command he anointed Saul as king, confronted him when he disobeyed and later anointed young David in Bethlehem. His life links two eras in the history of Israel.
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Reviewed by Jon J ·