Study Desk

So he confided everything to her, and he said to her, "A razor has never touched my head, for I am a Nazirite of God from birth. If I am shaved my strength will leave me, and I will become weak, like everyone else.

And Micah said to him, "From where do you come?" And he said to him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah; I am going to dwell as a foreigner wherever I can find a place."

And he said to him, "We are crossing over from Bethlehem in Judah up to the remote areas of the hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, but now I am going to Yahweh's house, but no one took me in to spend the night.

Turn back, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should think there is hope for me, even if I should have a husband this night, and even if I should bear sons,

And she fell on her face and bowed down to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes by recognizing me—for I am a foreigner?"

And she said, "May I find favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and have spoken kindly to your servant, and I am not one of your servants."

And he said, "Who are you?" And she said, "I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your garment over your servant because you are a redeemer."

Now truly I am a redeemer, but there is also a redeemer of a closer relationship than me.

And I thought I would tell you and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting and before the elders of my people,' if you want to redeem it, redeem it. But if you do not want to redeem, tell me so that I may know, for there is no one except you to redeem it, and I am after you." And he said, "I want to redeem it."

And the redeemer said, "I am not able to redeem for myself, lest I ruin my inheritance. You redeem for yourself my kinsman-redemption, for I am not able to redeem it."

So Elkanah her husband would say to her: "Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat? And why are you heartsick? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord. I am a woman deeply distressed, but I have not drunk wine or strong drink. Rather, I have poured out my soul before Yahweh.

She said, "Excuse me, my lord. As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood with you in this place to pray to Yahweh.

And he asked them, "Why are you doing all these things that I am hearing, namely, your evil dealings with all these people?

No, my sons, the report is not good that I am hearing the people of Yahweh spreading.

Then Yahweh called out to Samuel and he said, "Here I am!"

And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, because you called me." But he said, "I did not call you. Go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

And Yahweh called Samuel again, so Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, because you called me." And he said, "I did not call you, my son. Go back and lie down."

Again Yahweh called Samuel a third time, so he got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, because you called me." Then Eli realized that Yahweh was calling the boy.

So Yahweh said to Samuel, "Look, I am doing something in Israel which will cause the two ears of everyone who hears it to tingle.