It is likely that Samuel preached in various places throughout Israel for about twenty years until there was a widespread consensus among the people that repentance was necessary together with public confession and covenant renewal.1 Samuel was the prophet used by the Lord to call Israel back to covenant faithfulness.2
2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.