People of The Land 31

PEOPLE OF THE LAND
Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

SHMUEL -
BORROWED FROM HASHEM

The name given to him by his long childless mother Chana expressed the career of service which the Prophet Shmuel was to render to his people. She had made a promise to Heaven when she prayed for a child in the Sanctuary at Shiloh that if her prayer were answered she would dedicate him to the Service of Hashem for his entire life. Her prayer was answered and the name given to him was a double expression - she had borrowed him from Hashem and had loaned him to Hashem.

As soon as he was weaned, Shmuel was brought to Shiloh to serve under Eli Hakohen, eventually succeeding him as the leader of his people whom he faithfully served for half a century until his passing.

Love of the Land Archives

Written by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Web Production: Jonathon Proctor

© 2002 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.

This publication is available via E-Mail

Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

SHMUEL - BORROWED FROM HASHEM

SHMUEL -
BORROWED FROM HASHEM