JOURNEY
Through The Scriptures
Samuel:
Prophet, Priest, and Judge
By Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
May 2006
$5.00
The Great Prophet, Priest, and Judge
Who Led Israel through Dark Times and
Anointed the Nation’s First Two Kings
God Answers Hannah’s Prayer
Study Points
See Pages:
2. God Answers
Hannah’s Prayer
3. Samuel Answers
God’s Call
4. Victory Over
the Philistines
5. The Anointing
of Saul
6. Saul Is Confirmed
as King
7. Samuel’s Final
Message
8. Samuel’s Final Days
1 Samuel 1:1–2:36
The birth of Samuel was a blessed event in Israel. This great leader came
on the scene at the end of the judges, a dark period in the nation’s history.
Samuel served as Israel’s last judge, and he also functioned as a priest. But
his greatest role was that of a prophet, a spokesman for God who called
Israel back to faithfulness. Samuel also anointed Israel’s first two kings,
Saul and David.
But all of this was far in the future the day that Hannah, the wife of an
Israelite named Elkanah, cried out to God to give her a child as she
worshiped in the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Hannah was a devout woman,
and God heard her prayer. She had promised to give her child back to the
Lord, so when Samuel was still a small boy he was brought to the
Tabernacle. There he served under Eli, the high priest who presided over
a corrupt nation. In the midst of this unfaithfulness, Samuel grew and
served the Lord. An unnamed prophet pronounced judgment on Eli and
his family, opening the way for Samuel to assume the leadership for which
he was so well qualified.
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
1. Why were Elkanah and Hannah at the
Tabernacle in Shiloh?
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2. Why was Hannah so heartbroken over her
inability to have children?
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3. Why was the promise Hannah made to God
(1 Samuel 1:11) so significant for the life of
both Samuel and the nation of Israel?
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4. Who were the main perpetrators of the
corruption occurring in Israel at this time
(1 Samuel 1:3; 2:12–17, 22)?
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5. Why was God’s judgment on Eli and his
family so harsh, as described by the unnamed
prophet (1 Samuel 2:27–36; see also 3:12–14)?
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Something to Think About:
It is easy to make promises to God when we are asking Him to do something we want very much,
and we often do so with good intentions. But sometimes those good intentions fade after we have
received what we requested. Hannah’s faithfulness to God in fulfilling her vow reminds us not only
to be careful in the promises we make, but to be ready to keep them whatever the cost.
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
Samuel Answers God’s Call
1 Samuel 3:1–21
God’s audible call to Samuel marked the
beginning of a new era in Israel. Up to this
point, the primary revelation to the people had
been through the priesthood.
But with Samuel’s call, God began a new day of
revealing His word through prophets.
The nation’s weak spiritual condition, and the
decadent nature of Eli’s high priesthood, are
indicated by the fact that a word from God was
“rare” in those days. So rare, in fact, that Samuel
thought he was hearing Eli’s voice.
To his credit, Eli soon realized that the voice
calling Samuel was God’s. Eli’s advice was very
wise; “Here I am” is always the proper response
to God’s call.
Although the nature of the prophecy Samuel
received meant devastating judgment for Eli, he
accepted it as the Lord’s will.
Meanwhile, Samuel continued to receive God’s
message and spread it throughout all Israel,
which recognized Samuel as a man of God.
1. Why do you think God called a boy to do
His will when Eli was already in office as the
high priest and had many more years of
experience than Samuel?
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2. Why did Samuel think it was Eli calling to
him that night?
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3. How did Eli know what to tell Samuel to say
to God?
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4. What does verse 19 mean when it says that
none of Samuel’s words “[fell] to the ground”?
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Something to Think About:
When God calls to us, it is our responsibility and privilege to answer, “Here I am.” Although
God does not speak to us audibly as He did to Samuel, His will is made clear to us in the pages
of Scripture and in prayer. But sometimes we have a hard time hearing God’s voice because we
allow other voices to interfere. Ask God to help you be sensitive and alert to His leading.
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
Victory Over the Philistines
1 Samuel 7:1–17
One of the greatest achievements of Samuel’s
long ministry was the spiritual renewal he led that
brought Israel back to the exclusive worship of
God. The people had been engaged in idolatry
for many years—and the nation reached a low
point when the Ark of the Covenant was
captured by Israel’s archenemies, the Philistines.
These non-Semitic people had held the Ark for
seven months, and had captured many Israeli
towns. The people mourned their condition, and
Samuel used this occasion to deal with the root of
Israel’s problem.
Samuel told the Israelites that the Lord would
deliver them if they discarded their many idols
and turned to Him. The people responded, and
God answered with blessing as Samuel interceded
for Israel. The change was immediate, as God
caused the Philistine army to be confused and
easily routed by the Israelites. Israel took back
many of their cities and drove the Philistines out
of their region. Samuel raised an “Ebenezer,” or
“stone of help,” in honor of God’s blessing.
Samuel also continued to judge Israel as a true
“circuit rider” who went from city to city to carry
out his ministry.
1. Why was losing the Ark of the Covenant to
the Philistines so devastating for Israel?
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2. Why did God intervene in the battle against
the Philistines described in this chapter?
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3. Verse 9 says that Samuel offered a burnt
offering to the Lord. What important role was
Samuel fulfilling by this sacrifice?
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4. Why did the Israelites need Samuel to serve as
their judge?
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Something to Think About:
The great spiritual renewal that Samuel led reminds us God is always ready and willing to accept
the worship and commitment of His people. True repentance always involves turning away from
whatever may be interfering with our devotion to God. Read Malachi 3:7 for God’s promise to
those who return to Him.
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
The Anointing of Saul
1 Samuel 8:1–10:27
This study begins with a rather stunning report
that the people of Israel must have believed
would never happen in Samuel’s lifetime. Like
Eli before him, Samuel also had two sons who
were unfaithful to God in their service.
1. Besides their wanting to be rid of Samuel’s
sons, why did the Israelites want Samuel to
choose a king?
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Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah, abused their
offices as judges after the elderly Samuel
appointed them to carry out the responsibilities
he was no longer able to fulfill. The corruption of
Samuel’s sons became one reason the Israelites
began to demand a king to rule over them.
2. Why would neither of Samuel’s sons not have
made a good choice for a king?
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Samuel was distressed by the people’s request, for
he knew that it represented a lack of faith in
God’s kingship. But God told Samuel to fill the
request and anoint Saul as Israel’s first king. In
many ways, Saul was an unlikely choice. Other
than his striking physical appearance, Saul
seemed to have few qualities that would
commend him for leadership. God’s choice of
Saul did not necessarily mean that Saul was the
perfect man for the throne—as would soon
become clear when Saul failed the Lord. But
Israel insisted on having a king, and there was
jubilation at Saul’s coronation.
3. What burdens were the people of Israel
accepting when they demanded a king (1 Samuel
8:10–17)?
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4. Why was Saul hesitant to become king of Israel
(1 Samuel 9:21)?
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Something to Think About:
This lesson is a stark reminder that, as the common saying goes, we cannot expect something for
nothing. Israel’s desire to have a king would cost the people dearly, but they were not concerned
about the consequences of their decision. Every choice has consequences—and we do well to
consider those before we pursue our desires.
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
Saul Is Confirmed as King
1 Samuel 11:1–15
Although Samuel had anointed Saul the
Benjamite as king of Israel, apparently there
were still some Israelites who were uneasy with
this choice and questioned Saul’s fitness to rule.
1. Why do you think the people of Gibeah
wept when they heard that the Ammonites had
besieged Jabesh Gilead?
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The battle against the Ammonites served to put
these issues to rest, as God gave Saul a great
victory over a cruel invader who wanted to
humiliate Israel. It is possible that Saul’s
ancestors may have come from Jabesh Gilead,
which would have given him even more
incentive to rescue the town.
2. Why was Saul so angry over the statement
of the Ammonite leader?
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The Israelites were so overjoyed at Saul’s victory
that his supporters wanted to round up their
fellow Israelites who had opposed him and put
them to death. But Saul showed great restraint
and humility in silencing this foolish idea that
would have marred a great day in Israel.
3. Why would Saul’s supporters want to kill
those who had opposed him?
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Realizing that this was the time to confirm
Saul’s leadership in the eyes of all Israel, Samuel
led the people in a great celebration that
reaffirmed Saul’s kingship. The people of Israel
now knew that Samuel’s choice of a king was
also the man God had chosen.
4. Why did Samuel need to reaffirm Saul as
king?
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Something to Think About:
Many times we also need reaffirming from God—and we do not have to win a battle to see
evidence of His hand in our lives. If God has made His blessing known to you in a problem or
other circumstance, thank Him for this testimony of His presence with you.
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
Samuel’s Final Message
1 Samuel 12:1–25
Samuel knew that the speech recorded in
chapter 12 was his last opportunity to address
the people of Israel as their spiritual leader.
And ever faithful to his calling, Samuel had
some harsh, but necessary, words of rebuke and
admonition for the nation.
The people had sinned in asking for a king
because it meant that they had ceased to rely on
the Lord as their true King and Deliverer. The
people’s rash request would have long-term
consequences, as Samuel had warned them earlier.
Samuel recounted events from the past in which
Israel had failed to listen to God’s appointed
leaders and suffered for it. He declared that God
would remove His hand from the people if they
turned back to idolatry, or if their king was evil.
But the great prophet also reminded Israel that
God had not rejected His people. The best thing
the nation could do at this point was to stay
faithful to God and refuse to worship idols.
Samuel also left the people with the comforting
promise of his own prayers for them, and his
help as they sought to follow God.
1. Samuel began his address by affirming his
integrity as Israel’s judge. Why did Samuel feel
the need to remind the people of his honest
service?
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2. What facts did Samuel’s brief recounting of
Israel’s history demonstrate?
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3. Why did Samuel call for thunder and rain?
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4. How does remembering God’s past blessings
help us to be faithful to Him today?
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Something to Think About:
We must be honest and admit that it is difficult to trust God at times. Humans feel the need for
earthly power and presence, but in seeking these things we may leave God out of the picture.
Samuel’s message is a needed reminder that ultimate authority rests in God’s hands.
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
Samuel’s Final Days
1 Samuel 13:1–22; 15:1–35; 16:1–13;
19:18–24; 25:1; 28:3–20
Samuel’s later years must have been filled with
great anguish as he watched King Saul spiritually
self-destruct. It was Samuel’s painful duty to
rebuke Saul for his rashness in acting as a priest,
and in his disobedience to God in the matter of
the Amalekites. Samuel announced to Saul that
he had been rejected by the Lord as king and
would see his family line removed from the
throne. Although Jonathan, Saul’s son, defeated
the Philistines, Saul’s rejection stood and God
sent Samuel to anoint the shepherd boy David as
the new king of Israel.
Samuel went to Bethlehem secretly, knowing that
Saul would probably try to kill both him and
David. Samuel’s fears proved real as Saul’s jealousy
against David exploded into a murderous rage that
led him to pursue David until the day Saul died in
battle (1 Samuel 31). Samuel’s death brought all
of Israel together to mourn their great leader and
man of God. And in a bizarre chapter of Saul’s
tragic life, the king sought out a spirit medium for
help. But both Saul and the medium were stunned
when Samuel supernaturally appeared and repeated
Saul’s doom.
1. Why did God finally reject Saul as king?
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2. Why would Saul try to kill David even
though Saul was still firmly in control of the
throne?
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3. Why did the Lord continue to speak through
Samuel, even though Saul was Israel’s king?
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4. Why did Samuel privately mourn for Saul?
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Something to Think About:
God’s words to Samuel regarding His choice of David are an encouraging reminder that we do not
have to be great in the eyes of others to be useful to God, for “The LORD does not look at the things
man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
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JOURNEY
Through The Scriptures
Answer Key for: Samuel: Prophet, Priest, and Judge
Page 2: God Answers Hannah’s Prayer
1. The tabernacle was the focal point of Israel’s worship, and
Elkanah and Hannah went there each year to worship and
offer the prescribed sacrifices to God.
2. In biblical times, not being able to bear children was
disgraceful for a woman, even considered a sign of God’s
disfavor. Also, children were necessary to carry on the family
line, and childbearing was the main responsibility for
women of that day.
3. Hannah’s promise to the Lord meant that Samuel would be
set apart for special service to God all his life, which proved
to be an incredible blessing for Israel as Samuel turned the
people back to the faithful worship of God.
4. The two culprits were Hophni and Phineas, Eli’s own sons
who were serving as priests in the Tabernacle at Shiloh and
thus should have been setting the standard of holiness.
5. Eli had allowed his sons to despise and corrupt the worship of
God in the Tabernacle, and other than a mild rebuke he
apparently did nothing to stop them.
Page 3: Samuel Answers God’s Call
1. God’s choice of Samuel was a clear sign that Eli had forfeited
his right to serve as God’s priest and representative to the
people of Israel.
2. Samuel had never heard God’s voice before, so it was natural
for him to assume that it was the voice of Eli––who was, after
all, Samuel’s “employer.”
3. Eli had enough spiritual sensitivity left to discern what God
was doing. In addition, Eli must have known by now that
Samuel was no ordinary child.
4. It means that every word he spoke as God’s prophet came to
pass, the true test of a biblical prophet, according to
Deuteronomy 18:21–22.
Page 4: Victory Over the Philistines
1. The Ark was the symbol of God’s presence among His
people, and thus was the holiest of Israel’s possessions.
2. Because the Israelites were in the process of repenting and
turning from the worship of their pagan gods to worshiping
the true God alone.
3. Samuel was acting as a priest for the nation, another of his
ministries in addition to being a prophet and a judge.
4. The nation was still under the administration of the judges, a
period that climaxed with Samuel and ended when Saul was
chosen as Israel’s first king.
Page 5: The Anointing of Saul
1. The people said they wanted to be like the nations around
them that were ruled by kings, and they also wanted a
military commander who could lead them against their
enemies (1 Samuel 8:20).
2. Joel and Abijah had already proven themselves to be corrupt
and unfaithful to God, and would no doubt have led Israel in
the wrong direction.
3. Samuel warned the people that a king would press their sons
into military service, require many of them to be his servants,
reward his attendants with the best of the land, and exact
taxes from their possessions.
4. Saul felt he was not worthy, being from the smallest clan in
the smallest tribe, Benjamin––which was also the tribe that
had disgraced itself during the period of the judges (see
Judges 19).
Page 6: Saul Is Confirmed as King
1. Probably because they knew there was no way the people of
this small town could defend themselves.
2. Saul was angry over this threat to his people—and he also
knew that in reality, the Ammonites were defying the God of
Israel and seeking to humiliate Him.
3. It was the common if cruel practice in that day for a king to
eliminate his enemies.
4. Samuel realized that Saul’s victory in battle was not only a
reaffirming sign from the Lord that Saul was His choice, but
an opportunity to establish Saul in the eyes of the people.
Page 7: Samuel’s Final Message
1. Perhaps because his own sons, whom Samuel had personally
appointed, had acted with a complete lack of integrity in their
roles as his successors.
2. Samuel’s history lesson was a reminder that God had always
been faithful to send Israel a deliverer when one was needed.
The point was that they should have called on God to deliver
them from the Ammonites instead of insisting on having a king.
3. He wanted to show the people the power of God, and remind
them that it is the Lord who has ultimate power, not an
earthly king.
4. Since God never changes and has lost none of His power, we
can trust Him to act on our behalf today as surely as we have
seen Him act in days past.
Page 8: Samuel’s Final Days
1. Saul allowed his impatience to cause him to usurp the role of
a priest, and his desire for spoils caused him to disobey God’s
strict instructions concerning the Amalekites.
2. Part of Saul’s purpose in wanting to kill David was the desire
to eliminate a threat. In addition, Saul must have realized
that his days were numbered as king, so he may have hoped
to extend his reign by killing David.
3. Saul did not honor God, but Samuel remained faithful and so
continued to be God’s primary spokesman throughout this
period.
4. Saul was the first king of Israel, and a man whom Samuel had
anointed. Samuel evidently still loved Saul, even though the
latter had proved to be a failure before God, and Samuel was
deeply saddened by Saul’s lack of faith.
© 2006, IFCJ, all rights reserved
JOURNEY
Through The Scriptures
An Exciting Adventure of
Discovery and Faith in
the Pages of God’s Word
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, an
orthodox rabbi, is the founder
and chairman of the
International Fellowship of
Christians and Jews.
He is an internationally
recognized teacher of the Bible, and an expert
in Jewish life and customs who has helped
tens of thousands of Christians discover the
Jewish roots of their Christian faith.
Rabbi Eckstein is also the author of several
books, including How Firm A Foundation, an
authoritative guide to Judaism for Christians,
and The Journey Home.
Rabbi Eckstein has spent over 25 years helping
Jews and Christians bridge the gap of
misunderstanding and mistrust that has marked
the past 2,000 years of their relationships.
Realizing what could be accomplished if
Christians and Jews came together in mutual
respect and cooperation, and drawing on their
shared biblical heritage, Rabbi Eckstein
founded The Fellowship in 1983 to build bridges
of understanding between these two faith
communities.
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312-641-7200 • 312-641-7201 (fax)
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© 2006 IFCJ
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Samuel: Prophet,
Priest, and Judge
Vol. 2 No. 3
JOURNEY
Through The Scriptures
Bible Study Series
An Exciting Adventure
of Discovery and
Faith in the Pages
of God’s Word
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The Bible studies presented in Journey Through The Scriptures are intended to be a devotional and
practical teaching series, rather than a formal or in-depth examination of biblical theology. For the deeper
meaning of many aspects of theology, and of Jewish practice, holidays, and events, we suggest that
you consult Rabbi Eckstein’s book explaining Judaism for Christians, How Firm A Foundation, and his
3-volume CD-ROM teaching series, Returning to Zion, all of which are available from The Fellowship.