11. SAMUEL
Samuel was the last of the judges who were local leaders. He also was a
priest and a prophet.
GOD CALLS SAMUEL. The young Samuel was living with the elderly priest,
Eli, at the shrine located at Shiloh. One night when Samuel was asleep, he
heard a voice calling him. Thinking it was Eli, he went to him saying,
"Here I am." Eli said that he did not call Samuel. This happened two
other times. Finally Eli understood that it was God who was calling him. God
called Samuel to be his prophet.
SAMUEL ANOINTED SAUL AS KING. God informed Samuel that he would send him
a man from the tribe of Benjamin who would be anointed king. When Samuel saw
Saul, God informed him that Saul was the chosen one. One day Samuel took oil
and poured it over Saul's head kissed him saying that the Lord anointed him as
leader over his people. Saul became the first king of Israel.
SAMUEL ANOINTED DAVID AS THE SECOND KING OF ISRAEL. God and Samuel were
displeased with Saul because of his disobedience. God informed Samuel to go to
Bethlehem where he would anoint another king. Samuel went to the house of a man
named Jesse where God would choose one of his sons to become king.
God chose Jesse's eighth son, David, who was a shepherd to become the second
king of Israel.
Samuel was chosen by God to be the last judge. He anointed both Saul and
David to become the first and second kings of Israel.
