Lesson 318: SAMUEL - PROPHET, PRIEST, JUDGE

Full Lesson HERE

INTRODUCTION. After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel did not have a

national leader. "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which

was right in his own eyes" (Judg. 17:6). The twelve tribes, although related through

their common ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were not united, but were

rather an unorganized and loose confederation. The judges raised by God to deliver

the people from their enemies were generally tribal leaders, not national rulers. Fifteen

judges (including Abimelech, the bramble king) ruled over a period of some 200-

400 years. The last and by far the most outstanding judge was Samuel who also

served as prophet and priest.