It was when the nation was racked with internal strife, when the calm, God-fearing counsel of Samuel seemed to be most needed, that God gave His aged servant rest. Bitter were the reflections of the people as they looked upon his quiet resting place, and remembered their folly in rejecting him as their ruler; for he had had so close a connection with Heaven that he seemed to bind all Israel to the throne of Jehovah. It was Samuel who had taught them to love and obey God; but now that he was dead, the people felt that they were left to the mercies of a king who was joined to Satan, and who would divorce the people from God and heaven.

Gud lagde sin gamle tjener til hvile på et tidspunkt, hvor landet hærgedes af indre stridigheder og Samuels besindige, gudfrygtige råd syntes at være mest påkrævede. Når israelitterne stod ved hans fredfyldte grav og tænkte tilbage på den svundne tid og på den dårskab, de begik, da de forkastede ham som deres leder, bebrejdede de sig selv dybt. Samuel havde så nær forbindelse med Himmelen, at han ligesom knyttede hele Israel til Herrens trone. Det var Samuel, der havde lært dem at elske og adlyde Gud, men efter hans død følte folket, at de var fuldstændig prisgivet en konge, der stod i ledtog med Satan og ville skille dem fra Gud og Himmelen.