One of the first prophets and the last judge; anointed Saul and David as kings. In keeping with his mother's vow, he was raised by the priest Eli at the Tabernacle in Shiloh. He succeeded Eli as national leader. Samuel lived in Ramah, north of Jerusalem, and the altar he built there was a temporary substitute for the Tabernacle at Shiloh. He made peace with Israel's Amorite neighbors, and rallied the people to war against such aggressors as the Philistines and Amalekites. He did more than any other judge to unite the tribes of Israel, and eventually had to accede to the people's demand for a king. After anointing Saul, he retired from political and military affairs, but remained the nation's spiritual leader. When Saul failed to implement God's command to exterminate the Amalekites, Samuel anointed David to succeed him as king.
Designated "the Seer" (i.e., prophet), he is ranked with Moses: "Moses and Aaron among His priests, Samuel, among those who call on His name. . ." (Ps. 99:6). Through him, prophecy became a movement no longer exclusive to individuals, and prophets played a major role as admonishers of king, ministers and nation.
He is the central figure in the biblical book I Samuel. In early Jewish sources, the book was not divided into two, this occurring only in the 1515 Venice edition of the Vulgate translation. The Book of Samuel covers the story of Samuel (I Sam. 1712), of Saul and his dynasty, until his death and burial (I Sam. 137II Sam. 1), and of most of David's rule (II Sam. 2724).
