How Abba Earned a Son Like Samuel the Prophet

Midrash Shmuel 10:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And all Israel from Dan etc." (1 Samuel 3:20). Abba, the father of Shmuel bar Abba, used to deal in silk, and he sent [goods] to Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira in Nisibis. After a time, [the Rabbi] settled accounts with him. He [Abba] said to him: "My master does not owe this sum." He [the Rabbi] said to him: "Were there not words [an agreement between us]?" He said to him: "Is your word not more to be relied upon by me than the money?" He [the Rabbi] said to him: "Since you have relied upon my word concerning you, may you merit to raise a son like Samuel the prophet, of whom it is written, 'And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew [that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD]' (1 Samuel 3:20)." And he merited to raise Shmuel bar Abba. "And the LORD continued to appear in Shiloh etc." (1 Samuel 3:21). Rabbi Berekhiah in the name of Rabbi Levi [said]: In every place where the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed, "in Shiloh" [is written with a he]; the second [occurrence] is written "in Shilo" [with a vav].

Retold in these myths

God Tells His Prophets the Secret Before He ActsAmos swore God never moves without warning his prophets first. Midrash Shmuel turns that single line into a roll call of everyone who heard the secret early.

Themes

ProphecyDivine Revelation

Biblical References

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