Prophet Samuel: Ten Fascinating Facts and a Unique Blessing

1. Prophet Samuel, son of Elkanah and Hannah, was from the Levite family of Kohath. A nazir from birth, he served as a prophet and leader of Israel at the close of the period of the Judges, between the death of Eli the High Priest and the reigns of King Saul and King David. Samuel had two sons - Joel and Abijah.

2. Before his birth, Samuel was dedicated by his mother Hannah to serve Hashem at the Tabernacle. He was brought to the Tabernacle in Shiloh as a young child, where he was raised and trained by Eli the High Priest, who served as the judge at that time.

The story of his birth is elaborated in the Book of 1 Samuel: Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had ten sons, but Hannah was barren. During one of the family's pilgrimages to Shiloh, Hannah vowed to dedicate her child to Hashem if she bore one. When Samuel was born, Hannah fulfilled her vow and brought him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh to serve Hashem under Eli's guidance.

3.Hannah’s Prayer in 1 Samuel 2 is read as the Haftarah following the Torah reading on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. This was the prayer she made when she was childless, and her plea was answered with the birth of Samuel.

This prayer has given rise to many Jewish laws on prayer. It is customarily recited after lighting Shabbat candles as a *segulah* (spiritual remedy) for an enduring legacy and a smooth upbringing. Among Sephardic Jews, it is said every morning before the Shacharit prayer as a *segulah* to remove spiritual barriers, for it states: "Hashem will break His adversaries."

The text of the prayer:

Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in Hashem, my horn is exalted by Hashem; I laugh at my enemies, for I delight in Your salvation.

No one is holy like Hashem; there is none beside You, and there is no Rock like our God.

Stop talking so proudly and let no arrogance come out of your mouth, for Hashem is a God of knowledge, and He weighs actions.

The bows of the mighty are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves for bread, and those who were hungry have ceased to hunger; even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has languished.

Hashem kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

Hashem makes poor and makes rich; He brings low, He also exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are Hashem’s, and on them, He has set the world.

He will guard the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall man prevail.

Those who contend with Hashem shall be shattered; He will thunder against them in the heavens. Hashem will judge the ends of the earth; He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed.

His signs are great, His wonders are mighty. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.

We are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture; we will give thanks to You forever; from generation to generation, we will speak of Your praise.

Evening, morning, and at noon I will cry out and moan, and He will hear my voice.

The morning stars sang together, and all the children of Hashem shouted for joy.

I will not fear the multitudes of people that have set themselves against me round about.

But I will look to Hashem, I will wait for the God of my salvation. Hashem will hear me.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, Hashem will be my light. (This verse is not recited on Shabbat and Jewish holidays)

In You, Hashem, have I hoped; You will answer, Hashem, my God.

My feet stand on level ground; in the assemblies, I will bless Hashem.

(Photo: Flash 90)

4. The Midrash tells that forty years before Prophet Samuel was born, a heavenly voice announced that "a righteous person named Samuel will arise." This news became known among the people of Israel, and "all women who bore sons named them Samuel" to the point where the heavenly voice continued unrevealed, indicating that the true Samuel had not yet been born. When Samuel, son of Hannah, was born, the heavenly voice ceased, and all of Israel knew Samuel as a faithful prophet.

Our sages said that "all the sons whose mothers named them 'Samuel' were granted prophecy, being part of the group of prophets." This is the interpretation of the verse: "Samuel among those who call upon His name," meaning that because their name was Samuel, they prophesied. Our notable sages teach from this Midrash the power of desire; the strong will of these women to give birth to the righteous Samuel led to their children becoming prophets.

5. The greatness of Prophet Samuel: After Eli's death, Samuel led Israel as a trusted judge. He traveled across Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, to teach and judge the people. Samuel's leadership was characterized by his accessibility, as he journeyed from city to city rather than waiting for people to come to him for Torah study and judgment.

Prophet Samuel established a permanent court in Ramah, mentioned in various sources. It is noted in the Talmud that this court was one of three places where the Divine Presence appeared.

According to the Talmud in Bava Batra, Samuel wrote the Book of Samuel until his death. The sections after, particularly the Book of 2 Samuel, were written by Gad the Seer and Nathan the Prophet. He is also attributed with writing the Book of Judges and the Scroll of Ruth.

In several places, Samuel is noted as a prominent prophet. In the Book of Jeremiah, Hashem says: "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My soul would not be with this people." In Psalms, he is equated with Moses and Aaron: "Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who call on His name; they called upon Hashem, and He answered them." The sages interpret this to mean that Samuel was as valuable as Moses and Aaron together.

6. The Talmud in Tractate Sukkah mentions Prophet Samuel as one of the "Eight Princes of Man," alongside Jesse, Saul, Amos, Zephaniah, Zedekiah, Messiah, and Elijah.

7. In his latter years, Samuel appointed his sons, Joel and Abijah, as judges, but they did not follow his ways and were swayed by personal gain. Near the end of his life, the elders of Israel gathered to request a king to judge and lead them, similar to surrounding nations. This displeased Samuel, but Hashem instructed him, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them." Samuel consequently anointed Saul as king, followed by David.

8. Prophet Samuel passed away at the age of 52, shortly before the end of King Saul's reign, and was buried in Ramah, his hometown.

9. After his death, a difficult period with the Philistines descended upon Israel. During the last battle at Mount Gilboa, in his desperation, Saul asked a necromancer to bring up Samuel. Samuel warned Saul: "Hashem has turned away from you... Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and Hashem will deliver Israel into the hands of the Philistines." In that battle, Saul and his son Jonathan died, and Israel was defeated.

10. There is a debate about Prophet Samuel's yahrzeit (anniversary of passing), either on the 28th or 29th of Iyar. On both days, tens of thousands visit his tomb in Ramah, near the Ramot neighborhood in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Emmanuel Mizrahi offers an intriguing lecture on Samuel's character: