Study Desk

"So I thought that I would inform you, saying, 'Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, 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 will redeem it."

And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

but to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb.

And she made a vow and said, "LORD of armies, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your bond-servant and remember me, and not forget Your bond-servant, but will give Your bond-servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were quivering, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought that she was drunk.

But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman despairing in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "I will not go until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and stay there for life."

"The bows of the mighty are broken to pieces, But those who have stumbled strap on strength.

"Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to be hungry. Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes.

"He watches over the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a person prevail.

Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But the boy continued to attend to the service of the LORD before Eli the priest.

And if the man said to him, "They must burn the fat first, then take as much as you desire," then he would say, "No, but you must give it to me now; and if not, I am taking it by force!"

"If one person sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a person sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.

"Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, 'I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father was to walk before Me forever'; but now the LORD declares, 'Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant.

'But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.

But it happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to be poor and he could not see well),

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

And the LORD called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son, go back and lie down."

So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.

And about the time of her death the women who were standing by her said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer or pay attention.