To meet this growing evil, God provided other agencies as an aid to parents in the work of education. From the earliest times, prophets had been recognized as teachers divinely appointed. In the highest sense the prophet was one who spoke by direct inspiration, communicating to the people the messages he had received from God. But the name was given also to those who, though not so directly inspired, were divinely called to instruct the people in the works and ways of God. For the training of such a class of teachers, Samuel, by the Lord's direction, established the schools of the prophets.

For at imødegå dette stadig tiltagende onde sørgede Gud for andre midler til hjælp for forældrene i deres opdragelsesgerning. Fra de tidligste tider var profeter blevet anset for at være guddommeligt ansatte lærere. Profeten var i højeste forstand den, der talte ved direkte inspiration og meddelte folket de budskaber, han havde modtaget fra Gud. Men profetbetegnelsen blev også givet til dem, der, skønt de ikke havde fået så direkte inspiration, dog var kaldet af Gud til at undervise folket om Guds gerninger og veje. Til uddannelse af sådanne lærere oprettede Samuel, efter Herrens anvisning, profetskolerne.