The Prophet Samuel was the fifteenth and last of the Judges of Israel, living
more than 1146 years before the Birth of Christ. He was descended from the Tribe of Levi, and was the son of Elkanah from
Ramathaim-Zophim of Mount Ephraim. He was born, having been besought from the Lord through the prayers of his mother Hannah
(therefore he received the name Samuel, which means “besought from God”). Even before birth, he was dedicated
to God. Her song, “My heart exults in the Lord,” is the Third Ode of the Old Testament (1 Sam/1 Kings 2:1-10).
When the boy reached the age of three, his mother went with him to Shiloh
and in accord with her vow dedicated him to the worship of God. She gave him into the care of the High Priest Eli, who at
this time was a judge over Israel. The prophet grew in the fear of God, and at twelve years of age he had a revelation that
God would punish the house of the High Priest Eli, because he did not restrain the impiety of his sons. Eli’s whole
family was wiped out in a single day.
The prophecy was fulfilled
when the Philistines, having slain in battle 30,000 Israelites (among them were also the sons of the High Priest, Hophni and
Phinees), gaining victory and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Hearing this, the High Priest Eli fell backwards from his
seat at the gate, and breaking his back, he died. The wife of Phinees, upon hearing what had happened in this very hour, gave
birth to a son (Ichabod) and died with the words: “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away”
(1 Sam/1 Kgs 4: 22).
Upon the death of Eli, Samuel became
the judge of the nation of Israel. The Ark of God was returned by the Philistines on their own initiative. After returning
to God, the Israelites returned to all the cities that the Philistines had taken. In his old age, the Prophet Samuel made
his sons Joel and Abiah judges over Israel, but they did not follow the integrity and righteous judgment of their father,
since they were motivated by greed.
Then the elders of Israel,
wanting the nation of God to be “like other nations” (1 Sam/1 Kgs 8: 20), demanded of the Prophet Samuel that
they have a king. The Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king, but saw in this a downfall of the people, whom God Himself had
governed until this time, announcing His will through His chosen saints. Resigning the position of judge, the Prophet Samuel
asked the people if they consented to his continued governance, but no one stepped forward for him.
After denouncing the first king, Saul, for his disobedience to God, the Prophet
Samuel anointed David as king. He had offered David asylum, saving him from the pursuit of King Saul. The Prophet Samuel died
in extreme old age. His life is recorded in the Bible (1 Sam/1 Kgs; Sirach 46:13-20).
In the year 406 A.D. the relics of the Prophet Samuel were transferred from Judea to Constantinople.
