שמואל א, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ז

Samuel led the Israelites through constant travel, moving in circuits around the land to guide the nation. Yet, the city of Ramah served as the central anchor of his personal, legal, and spiritual life. After completing his regular travels, he always returned to his permanent residence in Ramah [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This routine also highlights his profound integrity. The sages explain that wherever Samuel went, he essentially brought his own home with him. He never took anything from the local people or benefited from their wealth, choosing instead to support himself entirely from his own personal means [רד״ק].

Even upon returning home, Samuel did not rest from his public duties. Ramah functioned as a permanent court. People living in distant areas who were not on his regular travel route would journey to Ramah to seek his guidance and judgment [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

Alongside this legal center, Samuel established a focal point for spiritual worship by building an altar to God. The construction of a private altar was permissible during this era because, following the destruction of the Tabernacle in Shiloh, offering sacrifices on private altars became allowed. This altar stood in a constant state of readiness for the service of God [מלבי״ם]. There, Samuel brought vows, freewill offerings, and peace offerings, as the rules of a private altar permitted a non-priest to offer sacrifices [רד״ק].