Wordplay on the name Samuel in the Book of Mormon

A recent Interpreter paper by Matthew Bowen illustrates the apparent wordplay on the name Samuel. It is yet another great example of the subtleties waiting to be discovered in the Book of Mormon.

As usual, Bowen goes into exquisite depth as he unfolds the various meanings and contexts associated with the name, both in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon.  I recommend reading the entire paper if this topic interests you.  For the purposes of this post, I'll try to keep things pretty focused on the Book of Mormon relevance of the name Samuel.

The meaning of the name 'Samuel'

Bowen explains the Old Testament meaning(s) of the name:

The Semitic/Hebrew name Samuel (šĕmûʾēl) most likely means “his name is El” — i.e., “his name [the name that he calls upon in worship] is El” — although it was also associated with “hearing” (šāmaʿ) God (e.g., 1 Samuel 3:9–11). In the ancient Near East, the parental hope for one thus named is that the son (and “his name”) would glorify El (a name later understood in ancient Israel to refer to God); or, like the biblical prophet Samuel, the child would hear El/God (“El is heard”).

Mormon seems to be quite familiar with this meaning of the name, as his account of the actions of Samuel the Lamanite seem to swirl around the concept of "hearing."  

Consider this example, from the early part of Samuel's sermon:

39 O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words! And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved. (Helaman 13)

The story of Samuel involves divisive imagery: He stands alone upon a wall to deliver his message to the apostate Nephites, causing waves of division between those who believe his words and choose repentance and baptism and those who reject him and wish to see him killed:

1 And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the city. And as many as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord.

2 But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows.

3 Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there were many more who did believe on his words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to be baptized.

4 For behold, Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying, and preaching, crying repentance unto the people, showing signs and wonders, working miracles among the people, that they might know that the Christ must shortly come—

5 Telling them of things which must shortly come, that they might know and remember at the time of their coming that they had been made known unto them beforehand, to the intent that they might believe; therefore as many as believed on the words of Samuel went forth unto him to be baptized, for they came repenting and confessing their sins.

6 But the more part of them did not believe in the words of Samuel; therefore when they saw that they could not hit him with their stones and their arrows, they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow and bind him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take him and bind him, and away with him.

7 And as they went forth to lay their hands on him... (Helaman 16)

One prophet standing on a wall causing a division among the people really reminds me of Helaman 10:1, which I discussed in this post. When the wicked who will not repent try to take him, he leaves.  Here is what Mormon says about Samuel's escape:

7 ...behold, he did cast himself down from the wall, and did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto his own country, and began to preach and to prophesy among his own people.

8 And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites; and thus were the affairs of the people. (Helaman 16)

There's the "hearing" theme again! Mormon's message is: Reject the prophet and eventually you'll never have to hear his offensive words again.

The fulfillment of prophecy

There is one really important footnote in the story of Samuel regarding the context of his name's meaning.  After the words of prophecy that he spoke are fulfilled among the Nephites -- after terrible destruction and loss of life -- Mormon highlights the tragic nature of covenant rebellion in the way he describes their cries:

24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla.

25 And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible. (3 Nephi 8)