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Samuel 11th century BC
Old Testament ruler and Hebrew prophet

The son of Elkanah and his wife Hannah, he was an Ephraimite who was dedicated to the priesthood as a child by a Nazarite vow. 'Samuel' in Hebrew means 'name of God'. After the defeat of Israel and loss of the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines, he endeavoured to keep the tribal confederation together, moving in a circuit among Israel's shrines. He presided, apparently reluctantly, over Saul's election as the first King of Israel, but later criticized Saul for assuming priestly prerogatives and disobeying divine instructions. Samuel finally anointed David as Saul's successor, rather than Saul's own son, Jonathan.