Prophet Samuel

The return of the ark brought to Israel a disaster not unlike that which the Philistines had suffered. The over-curious people handled the ark with little reverence, and because of this profanation a great plague smote Israel. After that the people submitted themselves wholly to the commands of the Prophet Samuel.

The prophet was raised to Eli's double position, acting as both priest and the last of the judges. Samuel erected a new shelter for the ark at Kirjath-jearim. Here for twenty years the Prophet Samuel preached and taught, until he had brought Israel back to a knowledge of the true God. He reformed and changed the people as no man had done since Joshua's day.

When at length Samuel thought his followers were ready, he marshalled them once more against the Philistines after offering a sacrifice to God. In the midst of the ceremony, the Philistines attacked. "But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines." So completely were they defeated, that the Israelites were again independent, and there was peace thereafter "all the days of Samuel."

However, as Samuel grew old, and his sons rose to ineffectual power, the people of Israel decided that the priestly rule had grown too weak; they were determined to have a king "like all the nations."  Samuel warned against this plan, but the people insisted. The voice of God came to Samuel, bidding him to yield to the people's will, and so the Lord lead Samuel to Saul, who was anointed as the first king of Israel.

On this page you'll find nine pictures of the Prophet Samuel taken from my collection of old Bible story books. You're welcomed to use these pictures of the Prophet Samuel in your art projects. Click on the illustrations of the Prophet Samuel below to see more details about saving a free Prophet Samuel image or about purchasing the images of the prophet Samuel at a higher resolution.