Editing Samuel (section)

=== Judaism ===
[[File:Samuel Nabi.JPG|thumb|[[Tomb of Samuel]]]]
According to the [[Book of Jeremiah]]<ref>{{bibleverse||Jeremiah|15:1|NKJV}}</ref> and one of the [[Psalms]],<ref>{{bibleverse||Psalm|99|HE}}</ref> Samuel had a high devotion to God. [[Classical Rabbinical literature]] adds that he was more than an equal to [[Moses]], God speaking directly to Samuel, rather than Samuel having to attend the tabernacle to hear God.<ref>Berakot 31b, Ta'anit 5b, Exodus Rashi 14:4</ref> Samuel is also described by the Rabbis as having been extremely intelligent; he argued that it was legitimate for laymen to slaughter sacrifices, since the [[Halakha]] only insisted that the priests ''bring the blood'',<ref>cf {{Bibleverse||Leviticus|1:5|HE}}</ref><ref>Zebahim 32a</ref><ref name=Berakot>Berakot 31b</ref> Eli, who was viewed negatively by many Classical Rabbis, is said to have reacted to this logic of Samuel by arguing that it was technically true, but Samuel should be put to death for making legal statements while Eli (his mentor) was present.<ref name=Berakot/>

Samuel is also treated by the Classical Rabbis as a much more sympathetic character than he appears at face value in the Bible; his annual circuit is explained as being due to his wish to spare people the task of having to journey to him; Samuel is said to have been very rich, taking his entire household with him on the circuit so that he didn't need to impose himself on anyone's hospitality; when Saul fell out of God's favour, Samuel is described as having grieved copiously and having prematurely aged.<ref>[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berakot]] 10b, [[Nedarim (tractate)|Nedarim]] 38a, [[Ta'anit]] 5b</ref>

His [[yahrzeit]] is observed on the 28th day of [[Iyar]].<ref name="Talmud">[[Bikkurim (Talmud)|Bikkurim]] 6b</ref>