In ancient Israel, prophets exercised primary roles of leadership in all periods. Abraham was called a prophet (Gen 20:7), and Moses is presented as the epitome of the prophetic office, here in the law of the prophets (18:15, 18) and at the conclusion of the book of Deuteronomy (34:10–12). Joshua functions as a prophet as well (see 1 Kgs 16:34; Josh 6:26). Samuel appears as the last of the judges and the first of the classical prophets, where prophets and kings together share authority to rule God’s people.
