Samuel
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(asked of God)—the name of three persons: (1) (Num. 34:20) son of Ammihud, appointed to represent Simeon when the Promised Land was divided under Moses; (2) (1 Chron. 7:2) son of Tola and a leader in Issachar; and (3) (1 Sam. 1:20; 2:11; Acts 3:24; Heb. 11:32 and elsewhere) the prophet and judge of Israel. Samuel’s parents, Elkanah and Hannah, lived at Ramathaim-zophim near the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah was a Levite descended through Kohath (1 Chron. 6:27, 34). His other wife, Peninnah, had sons and daughters, but Hannah, whom he loved, was childless and endured Peninnah’s taunts.