Samuel[a] is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the biblical judges to the United Kingdom of Israel under Saul, and again in the monarchy 's transition from Saul to David. He is venerated as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
In the Bible, Samuel was a man chosen for God, from his miraculous birth until his death. He served in several important positions during his life, earning God's favor because he knew how to obey. Samuel was a contemporary of King Saul and King David.
Samuel, whose name means “heard of God,” was dedicated to God by his mother, Hannah, as part of a vow she made before he was born (1 Samuel 1:11). Hannah had been barren and prayed so fervently for a child that Eli the priest thought she was drunk (1 Samuel 1).
In his ministry Samuel served as judge, priest, and prophet. The book of 1 Samuel provides the basic source material for the life of Samuel. The parents of Samuel were Elkanah and Hannah. By lineage Elkanah was a Levite, a descendant of Kohath but not of the Aaronic line (1 Chron 6:26, 33).
Samuel was a religious hero in the history of Israel, represented in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) in every role of leadership open to a Jewish man of his day—seer, priest, judge, prophet, and military leader. His greatest distinction was his role in the establishment of the monarchy in Israel.
Samuel is a pivotal figure in the history of Israel, serving as the last judge, a prophet, and a priest. His life and ministry are chronicled primarily in the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. Samuel's role was crucial during a transitional period in Israel's history, as the nation moved from the era of judges to the establishment of the monarchy.