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@samuel was created on a chilly November morning in 2015, while I was sitting on a rocky outcrop overlooking the ancient ruins of Gilgal, Israel. I had been traveling through the Middle East for a few months, on a personal pilgrimage to connect with the historical and spiritual roots of my name, Samuel. The web results you might have seen describe Samuel as a pivotal biblical figure—a prophet, judge, and leader who guided Israel through its transition from the era of judges to the monarchy under Saul and David. As someone named Samuel, I always felt a deep connection to this legacy, and I wanted to explore the places tied to his story.
That morning in Gilgal was particularly significant because, according to the Hebrew Bible, it’s where Samuel gathered the Israelites for a pivotal assembly just before his retirement. There, he gave a farewell speech, emphasizing the importance of prophets and judges over kings, and warning the people against idolatry (as noted in the Wikipedia entry). Sitting there, with the wind carrying the scent of olive trees and the distant hum of a local village waking up, I felt like I was stepping into a moment frozen in time. I could almost hear Samuel’s voice echoing through the centuries, calling for integrity and faith.
I had been meaning to create a Twitter account for a while, but I wanted the moment to feel meaningful. That day, as the sun rose over the Jordan Valley, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink, I decided it was time. I pulled out my phone, connected to a shaky 3G signal, and typed in "samuel" as my username. I didn’t want any numbers or extra characters—just the name, pure and simple, to reflect the timelessness of the figure who inspired me. To my surprise, it was available. I remember smiling to myself, feeling like it was a small gift from the universe—a nod to the connection I felt to this place and its history.
But there’s a little more to the story. As I was setting up the account, a local shepherd passed by with his flock of goats, their bells jangling softly. He noticed me sitting there with my phone and, in broken English, asked what I was doing. I told him I was creating a Twitter account inspired by Samuel, the prophet who once stood in this very place. The shepherd’s eyes lit up, and he shared that his own son was named Shmuel—the Hebrew form of Samuel—because his family believed the name brought wisdom and divine favor. He insisted I take a small, hand-carved wooden goat figurine as a token of our meeting, saying, “For Shmuel, to remember Gilgal.”
—not just because it’s my name, but because it embodies a moment of connection to history, faith, and an unexpected friendship in a faraway land.I posted my first tweet from @samuel right then and there: a photo of the sunrise over Gilgal, with the caption, “Starting a new chapter where history whispers. #Gilgal #Samuel.” That wooden goat figurine still sits on my desk, a reminder of the day I claimed @samuel
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