I Samuel 1-7

In Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim, there lived a man named Elkanah. He was a son of Jeroham, who was a son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, and belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. He had two wives: one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Every year this man went from his home to Shiloh to bow down before the LORD of heavenly forces and offer sacrifices to Him. Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD there.

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When Elkanah made his annual sacrifice, he gave his wife Peninnah and her sons and daughters a portion of the sacrificial meat. But he gave the best portion to Hannah, because he loved her, even though the LORD had closed her womb. Her rival hurt her deeply by taunting her because the LORD had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time they went to the sanctuary of the LORD, Peninnah would taunt Hannah so badly that she would start crying and leave her food untouched.

When this happened again, her husband Elkanah asked her, "Why are you crying, Hannah? Why aren't you eating, and why are you so sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

After the meal, Hannah got up and went to the sanctuary of the LORD, where the priest Eli was sitting on a bench at the entrance. Deeply saddened, Hannah prayed to the LORD. In tears, she made a vow: "Lord of Heaven's Armies, I beg you, please look upon my misery. Remember me, your servant, and do not forget me. Give me a son, and I will give him to you for his entire life: no razor will ever touch his head."

As Hannah continued to pray, Eli began to watch her mouth. She was praying silently; her lips were moving, but her voice was not audible. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. He addressed her and asked, "How long will this continue? If you are drunk, go and sleep off your drunkenness!"

"You are mistaken, sir," Hannah replied. "I have not drunk wine or any other drink. No, I am weighed down with grief and pour out my heart to the LORD. Do not think I am a bad woman; I have prayed for so long because I am overwhelmed with sorrow and misery."

"Go in peace," Eli replied. "The God of Israel will give you what you have asked for."

"Thank you for your kindness," said Hannah, and she returned to her family. Her face was brightened, and she began to eat again.

Early the next morning, they bowed down before the LORD, and then they began their journey home. When they arrived in Ramah, Elkanah slept with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. Within a year, Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.

She named him Samuel, "because," she explained, "I asked the LORD for him."

The following year, when Elkanah went up with his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD, he wanted to fulfill his vow. But Hannah did not go with him.

She said to her husband, "I will not bring him until he is weaned. Then I will bring him to appear before the LORD and leave him there forever."

Her husband Elkanah replied, "Do whatever you think is best. Stay at home as long as you are nursing him. May the LORD fulfill his promise."

So Hannah stayed at home and nursed her son until she weaned him. As soon as she stopped nursing him, she took him to Shiloh and brought him to the sanctuary of the LORD, even though he was still young. She also brought a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

Hannah said, "Forgive me, sir, as surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here before you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this son, and the LORD has given me what I asked for. Now I give him to the LORD for as long as he lives."

Then the boy knelt there before the LORD, and Hannah prayed.

Hannah's song

Now my heart rejoices in the LORD,

my head is lifted high because of the LORD,

my mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,

for thanks to your help I am joyful.

There is no one holy like the LORD,

there is no other god but You,

there is no rock like our God.

Do not use big words,

do not boast so highly,

for the LORD is an all-knowing God:

He weighs our deeds.

The bow of the mighty is broken,

but those who stagger are strengthened.

Those who had enough sell themselves for bread,

but those who hunger will be satisfied.

The barren woman bears seven sons,

but those who have many children will wither away.

The LORD causes death and gives life,

He brings down to the grave and raises up.

The LORD makes poor and He makes rich,

He humbles deeply and exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust,

from the ash heap He lifts up the poor.

He makes them dwell with princes,

He reserves a place of honor for them.

The pillars of the earth belong to the LORD

upon which He has set the world.

He protects those who are faithful to Him on their path,

but sinners perish in darkness.

Human strength is insufficient:

those who oppose the LORD will be broken,

His thunder sounds against them from heaven.

The LORD judges the whole earth,

He gives power to the king He chooses

and exalts the prestige of his anointed.

Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah. The boy remained behind under the care of the priest Eli to serve the LORD.

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The sons of Eli were men who did not shrink from anything. They did not care about the LORD and abused the right that priests had to a share of the offerings. When someone had an animal sacrificed, once the meat was cooked, a priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fork. He would poke it into the pot, pan, kettle, or dish, and whatever stuck to the fork, the priest would take for himself. This is what happened to all the Israelites who came to offer sacrifices at Shiloh.

In fact, sometimes the priest's servant would come before the smoke rose from the fat and demand, "Give the meat to the priest to roast. But raw; he doesn't want cooked meat!"

When the person offering the sacrifice replied, "At least wait until the smoke rises from the fat, then you can take what you want," the servant said, "Give it up! Otherwise, I'll take it by force!"

The LORD was very angry with Eli's sons; they showed no respect for the gifts that belonged to the LORD.

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The young Samuel served the LORD, wearing a linen priestly robe. Every year his mother made him a new robe, which she brought with her when she and her husband came to offer their annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the LORD give you other children by this woman to replace the son she gave to the LORD."

Then they returned home. The LORD did indeed look after Hannah: she became pregnant again and gave birth to five more children, three sons and two daughters, while young Samuel grew up close to the LORD.

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Meanwhile, Eli had grown old. From time to time, rumors reached him about what his sons were doing to the Israelites, and that they were even sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the meeting tent.

Then he would rebuke them: "Why are you behaving so badly? I hear bad things about you from all sides. The people of the LORD have nothing good to say about you. This cannot go on! When people harm each other, God can intervene, but when people sin against the LORD, who will plead for them?"

But the sons refused to listen to their father, for the LORD had determined to kill them. Meanwhile, Samuel continued to grow up. He was very beloved, both by the LORD and by the people.

Finally, a prophet came to Eli and said:

This is what the LORD says: Did I not reveal myself to your ancestors in Egypt when they were held captive by Pharaoh? I chose your ancestors from all the tribes of Israel to be priests. They may enter my altar, offer incense, and wear priestly garments in the sanctuary. I also gave them a share of the offerings of the Israelites. But you are indulging in the meat and bread that is offered at the sanctuary according to my instructions. Apparently, you value your sons more than me, because you are fattening yourselves by always demanding the best part of the offerings that my people Israel bring to me.

Now, says the LORD, the God of Israel, I solemnly declared that your family would serve Me from father to son. But now, says the LORD, I am revoking that. I honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be despised! The day is coming when I will make you and your family powerless; none of them will live to a ripe old age. With sorrow in your eyes, you will have to watch as no one in your family ever grows old in peace, while Israel prospers. None of your family, except for one, will ever set foot on my altar again. Your eyes will dim with grief, and your life will lose all its luster. I will cause all your male descendants to die in the prime of their lives.

As a sign of all this, your two sons, Hofni and Phinehas, will die on the same day. I will appoint as priest someone who is faithful to me and carries out all my wishes and desires. I will allow his family to survive, and he will faithfully assist the one who is anointed at my behest. Those of your family who are left will come to him on their knees, begging for a few coins and a piece of bread, and pleading, "Please appoint me as an assistant priest, so that I can at least earn my bread."

So young Samuel served the LORD under Eli's guidance. In those days, the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were not widespread. One night, Eli was lying down in his bed. His eyes had grown dim, and he could hardly see. Samuel was sleeping in the sanctuary of the LORD, near the ark of God. The lamp of God had not yet gone out. Then the LORD called Samuel.

"Here I am," Samuel answered. He hurried to Eli and said, "Here I am. Did you call me?"

But Eli replied, "I did not call you. Go back to sleep."

When Samuel went back to sleep, the LORD called him again.

Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am. You called me, didn't you?"

But Eli replied, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

Samuel had not yet come to know the LORD, for the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. Once more the LORD called Samuel, for the third time.

Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me, didn’t you?”

Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. He said to Samuel, “Go back to bed. When you are called, answer, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”

Samuel lay down again, and the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!"

And Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Then the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen! I am going to do something in Israel that will make everyone's ears ring! When that day comes, I will carry out everything I have foretold to Eli and his family. I have announced to him that I will irrevocably execute judgment on his family because of his misdeeds: although he knew that his sons were blaspheming God, he did not rebuke them. Therefore, I have sworn to Eli's family that no grain or peace offering will ever be able to atone for their guilt."

Samuel lay down until morning, then opened the doors of the sanctuary of the LORD. He was reluctant to tell Eli what he had heard in the vision.

But Eli called to him, "Samuel, my boy, come here!"

"Here I am," Samuel replied,

and Eli asked, "What did He say to you? Don't try to hide it from me. May God do whatever He wants to you if you hide anything He said to you!"

Without holding anything back, Samuel told him everything God had said,

and Eli said, "He is the LORD. Let Him do what He thinks best."

Samuel grew up. The LORD was with him and fulfilled all his words. As a result, everyone in Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, recognized that Samuel had been appointed by the LORD as a prophet. In the years that followed, the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh. He revealed himself to Samuel there by speaking to him. And all Israel listened to Samuel's words.

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Some time later, the Israelites went to war against the Philistines. They set up camp at Eben-Ezer, while the Philistines were at Aphek. After the Philistines had lined up in battle formation against the Israelites, the battle began. Israel was defeated by the Philistines, and about four thousand men were killed in the battle.

When the army returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why has the LORD caused us to suffer defeat today against the Philistines? The ark of the covenant of the LORD must be brought here from Shiloh. Then the LORD will be among us and deliver us from the hand of our enemies."

The army had the ark of the covenant brought from Shiloh, the ark of the LORD of heavenly forces, who sits enthroned above the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, came with the ark. When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel raised a great shout, so that the earth resounded.

The Philistines heard the noise and asked, "What is this shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had arrived in the camp, they were afraid and said, "Their God has come into the camp. We are doomed, for nothing like this has ever happened before. It looks bad for us! Who will save us from the power of this mighty God? It is the same God who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. Take courage, Philistines, and show what you can do! Otherwise, we will become slaves to the Hebrews, just as they have been to us. So show what you can do. Attack!"

The Philistines attacked, and the Israelites were defeated. Everyone fled to their own homes. It was a heavy defeat for Israel, in which thirty thousand foot soldiers were killed. The ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.

A Benjaminite broke away from the ranks and ran to Shiloh, where he arrived that same day. He had torn his clothes and thrown dust over his head. When he arrived, Eli was sitting on a bench by the side of the road, keeping watch, because he was seriously concerned about the ark of God. As soon as the man had reported to the city, the entire population began to wail.

Eli heard the crying and asked, "What is all this noise?"

The man hurried to Eli to tell him. Eli was ninety-eight years old at the time; his eyes had become completely fixed and he could no longer see. The man said to Eli, "I have come from the battlefield; I have just fled from the battlefield."

"But boy, what happened?" asked Eli,

and the messenger replied, "Israel has fled from the Philistines. There has been a great slaughter among our soldiers. Your sons Hophni and Phinehas have also been killed. And the ark of God has been taken from us."

The moment the man mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward from the bench next to the city gate and fell to the ground. He was so old and heavy that he broke his neck and died. For forty years he had led Israel as a judge.

Eli's daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was in the last days of her pregnancy. When she heard that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, her labor pains began. She went into labor and gave birth to her child.

As she was dying, the women who were assisting her said, "Don't worry, you have a son."

But she did not respond or pay attention to their words. She named the boy Ichabod and declared, "Israel has been stripped of its honor." By this she meant the loss of the ark and the death of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, "Israel has been stripped of its honor, for the ark of God has been taken from us."

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The ark of God, which had been captured by the Philistines at Eben-Ezer, was brought to Ashdod. They took the ark, brought it to the temple of Dagon, and placed it there beside the idol. The next morning, the people of Ashdod saw that Dagon had fallen face down on the ground in front of the ark of the LORD. They picked up the statue and put it back in its place, but when they returned early the next morning, Dagon was again lying face down on the ground in front of the ark. Only his torso was still intact; his head and both hands were broken off and lay on the threshold. That is why the priests of Dagon and all others who come to the temple do not set foot on this threshold to this day.

The LORD dealt harshly with the people of Ashdod. He spread panic and struck all the inhabitants of the kingdom with bulges. When the citizens of Ashdod saw how things were going for them, they said, " the LORD's ark cannot stay here, for He is dealing harshly with us and our god Dagon." They called the Philistine city princes and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?"

"Take the ark to Gath," they replied, and so they did.

When the ark was brought to Gath, the LORD turned against that city, causing great panic there as well. He struck the people of the city, both young and old, and everyone developed bulges. They sent the ark of God on to Ekron, but as soon as it arrived there, the people began to cry out, "They have sent the ark of the God of Israel here to kill us all!" Again they called the Philistine city leaders.

"Send the ark of the God of Israel back to where it came from," they said, "or we will all be killed."

For a deadly fear had seized the whole city, because God was punishing its inhabitants. Those who did not die were afflicted with bulges, and the cries of the city rose to heaven.

The ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory for seven months. Now they also called the priests and diviners and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? How can we send it back?"

The answer was, "When you send back the ark of the God of Israel, don't just let it go. Give him compensation, and you will be healed and find out why you have been so severely punished all this time."

"What should the compensation be?" they asked,

and the answer was, "There are five principalities. Therefore, give five golden bulges and five golden rats. For all the principalities have suffered the same plague, including the city princes themselves. Make statues of your bulges and of the rats that have ravaged your land, to honor the God of Israel. Perhaps then He will leave you alone, and also your gods and your land. Why should you stubbornly resist, as Egypt and Pharaoh did? When He took harsh action against them, did they not have to let the Israelites go? This is what must be done: Provide a new cart and two suckling cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, take their calves away from them and put them in the stall. Place the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with a box containing the gold objects you are giving as compensation, and let the cart go on its way. If it crosses the border into the territory of Beth Shemesh in Israel before your eyes, then the God of Israel has brought this disaster upon us. If not, then we will know that it was not He who brought this disaster upon us, but that it was mere chance.

And so it happened. They harnessed two nursing cows to the cart and locked their calves in the barn. They placed the ark on the cart and next to it the box with the golden rats and the statues of their bulges. The cows walked straight to Bet-Semes. They mooed, but did not turn to the left or right. The Philistine city princes followed them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

In the valley of Beth Shemesh, people were harvesting wheat. When they suddenly saw the ark approaching, they were very happy to see it. On the field of Joshua, one of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, the cart came to a halt at a large stone. They chopped up the cart for firewood and sacrificed the cows to the LORD on it. But first the Levites had unloaded the ark of the LORD from the cart and placed it on the large stone, together with the chest containing the golden objects. The people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD that day.

The five Philistine rulers had seen everything and returned to Ekron that same day. The Philistines gave five golden bulges to the LORD as compensation: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron. They also gave as many golden rats as there were towns in the five Philistine principalities, from the strongest fortified city to the most remote village. The large stone in Joshua's field at Beth Shemesh, on which the ark of the LORD stood, remains a memorial to this day.

But the people of Beth Shemesh also became ill, punished for looking at the ark of the LORD out of curiosity. Seventy people died in that city. And the people mourned, for the LORD had struck them hard. The citizens of Beth Shemesh asked themselves, "Who can bear the presence of the LORD, that holy God? To whom can we give the ark?" Then they sent to ask at Kiriath Jearim, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Can you bring it here?"

People from Kiriath Jearim came to take the ark. They brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill and consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of the ark of the LORD.

*

A long time passed from the day the ark was brought to Kiriath Jearim, twenty years in fact. More and more Israelites complained to the LORD about their distress. Finally, Samuel addressed the people as follows: "If you are truly serious about returning to the LORD, then get rid of the foreign gods such as Astarte and turn to the LORD with all your heart. Serve Him alone, and He will deliver you from the grip of the Philistines."

So the Israelites got rid of the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

Then Samuel said, "Let everyone come to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you."

All the people gathered at Mizpah. They drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted all day. They acknowledged, “We have sinned against the LORD.”

There at Mizpah, Samuel acted as judge over the Israelites.

When the Philistine rulers heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, they marched against Israel. The Israelites heard about this and were afraid. They said to Samuel, “Don’t abandon us. Call on the LORD our God to help us, so that he will rescue us from the Philistines.”

Samuel took a lamb and offered it as a burnt offering to the LORD. He called on the LORD for help for Israel, and the LORD answered him. While Samuel was still offering the sacrifice, the Philistines came to attack Israel. But then the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and caused such panic among them that they were defeated by Israel.

The Israelites pursued them from Mizpah and drove them back to below Beth-Car. Afterward, Samuel placed a stone between Mizpah and Sen and called it Ebenezer. "For," he declared, "the LORD has helped us thus far."

The Philistines had to admit defeat and did not dare to set foot on the territory of Israel again. As long as Samuel lived, the LORD kept the Philistines in check. The territory as far as Ekron and Gath was recaptured by Israel from the Philistines, and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Samuel continued to judge Israel until the end of his life. Every year he made a circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, where he administered justice for the people. Then he would return to his home in Ramah, where he had built an altar to the LORD.

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Psalm 145

A song of praise from David.

I will extol you, my God and King, and praise your name forever.

Every day I will praise you, and praise your name forever.

"Great is the LORD, He is worthy of all praise,

his greatness is unfathomable.'

Let generation after generation sing of your creation,

proclaim your mighty deeds.

Let them speak of the glory of your majesty,

and I too will proclaim your wonders.

Let them bear witness to your awesome deeds,

I too will tell of your greatness.

Let them spread the fame of your goodness,

and praise your righteousness:

"The Lord is gracious and loving,

He remains patient and great is his faithfulness.

The Lord is good to all,

He cares for all His creation.

May all your creatures praise you, Lord,

and may your faithful ones praise you.

Let them testify to the splendor of your kingship,

speak of your mighty deeds,

proclaim your mighty deeds to mortals,

the glory and splendor of your kingship:

"Your kingship spans the ages,

your dominion extends to all generations.'

The Lord is a support to those who have fallen,

He lifts up those who are bowed down.

All look to you with hope,

You give food in due season.

Your hand is generously open,

You fulfill the desires of all living things.

The Lord is righteous in all He does,

He remains faithful to all His creation.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

those who call upon Him in firm trust.

He fulfills the desires of those who honor Him,

he hears their complaints and comes to their aid.

The LORD watches over those who love Him,

but He will destroy the wicked.

Let my mouth speak the praise of the LORD,

and may all living creatures praise His holy name,

forever and ever.