These schools were intended to serve as a barrier against the wide-spreading corruption, to provide for the mental and spiritual welfare of the youth, and to promote the prosperity of the nation by furnishing it with men qualified to act in the fear of God as leaders and counselors. To this end, Samuel gathered companies of young men who were pious, intelligent, and studious. These were called the sons of the prophets. As they studied the word and the works of God, His life-giving power quickened the energies of mind and soul, and the students received wisdom from above. The instructors were not only versed in divine truth, but had themselves enjoyed communion with God, and had received the special endowment of His Spirit. They had the respect and confidence of the people, both for learning and for piety. In Samuel's day there were two of these schools- one at Ramah, the home of the prophet, and the other at Kirjath-jearim. In later times others were established. 47

Disse skoler var beregnet til at tjene som et bolværk mod den omsiggribende fordærvelse, at tage sig af ungdommens sjælelige og åndelige velfærd og at skaffe nationen fremgang ved at forsyne den med mænd, der var skikkede til at handle i gudsfrygt som ledere og rådgivere. For at opnå dette samlede Samuel grupper af unge mænd, der var gudfrygtige, forstandige og flittige. Disse blev kaldt profetsønnerne. Mens de granskede Guds ord og gerninger, virkede hans livgivende kraft på tankens og sjælens evner, og de studerende modtog visdom fra Himmelen. Deres lærere var ikke blot bevandrede i de guddommelige sandheder, men de havde selv været i samfund med Gud og havde modtaget Guds Ånds særlige gave. De havde folkets agtelse og tillid, både på grund af deres lærdom og deres fromhed. På Samuels tid var der to sådanne skoler, den ene i Rama, profetens hjem, og den anden i Kirjat Jearim. Senere blev der oprettet andre skoler.