Samuel was the transitional figure between the judges and the monarchy. His mother Hannah had been barren for years and vowed that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him to the LORD. God answered, and when Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to the high priest Eli. As a small boy in the tabernacle, Samuel heard God's voice calling him — three times he ran to Eli thinking it was the old priest. He answered, "Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:10). That night God gave the boy a devastating message about Eli's wicked sons, which Samuel delivered. "And the LORD was with Samuel, and let none of his words fall to the ground" (1 Samuel 3:19). Samuel grew to become leader of Israel during Philistine domination. He circuit-rode between Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, judging cases. When the people demanded a king "like all the nations have" (1 Samuel 8:5), Samuel was heartbroken but obeyed God's instruction to grant the request. He anointed Saul, then later David, and spent the rest of his life as God's prophetic voice to both. His famous rebuke to Saul captures his ministry: "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22).