Samuel (Săm'u-el), heard of God. A great prophet, the last judge of Israel before the monarchy, which he introduced by anointing Saul. He appears also as the head of a school of prophets. 1 Sam. chaps. 1-5. He was the son of Elkanah a Levite, descended from that Korah who perished in the wilderness. Numbers 16:1-50; Numbers 26:11. Little is recorded in detail of his administration. For a number of years he judged Israel—this is the sum of what is told—though whether his authority was recognized by all the tribes may admit of question. The places to which he is said to have gone on circuit were all in the south of Palestine, 1 Samuel 7:1-17; and when he appointed his sons to office it was in Beer-sheba, the extreme south.