Study Desk

Be strong; and behave like men, you P'lishtim; so that you won't become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Behave like men, and fight!"

On hearing the cries, ‘Eli asked, "What does this uproar mean?" So the man hurried, came to ‘Eli and told him.

They summoned all the leaders of the P'lishtim and asked, "What are we to do with the ark of the God of Isra'el?" They answered, "Have the ark of the God of Isra'el carried to Gat." So they carried the ark of the God of Isra'el to Gat.

So they summoned all the leaders of the P'lishtim and said, "Send the ark of the God of Isra'el away! Let it go back to its own place, so that it won't kill us and our people!" — because death and panic pervaded the whole city; God's oppression was very heavy there.

So make models of your tumors and models of your rats that are infesting your land, and show respect to the God of Isra'el. Maybe he will stop oppressing you, your gods and your land.

The people of Beit-Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley when they looked up and saw the ark. They were so happy to see it!

So the men of Kiryat-Ye‘arim came and brought back the ark of Adonai . They took it to the home of Avinadav on the hill and appointed his son El‘azar to guard the ark of Adonai .

So the people of Isra'el banished the ba‘alim and the ‘ashtarot and served only Adonai .

So they gathered together at Mitzpah, drew water and poured it out before Adonai , fasted that day, and said there, "We have sinned against Adonai ." Sh'mu'el began serving as judge over the people of Isra'el at Mitzpah.

Thus the P'lishtim were humbled, so that they no longer entered Isra'el's territory; and the hand of Adonai was against the P'lishtim as long as Sh'mu'el lived.

However, his sons did not follow his way of life; they turned off it to pursue riches, so that they would take bribes to distort justice.

Sh'mu'el was not pleased to hear them say, "Give us a king to judge us"; so he prayed to Adonai .

So do what they say, but give them a sober warning, telling them what kinds of rulings their king will make."

so that we can be like all the nations, with our king to judge us, lead us and fight our battles."

Adonai said to Sh'mu'el, "Do what they ask, and set up a king for them." So Sh'mu'el told the men of Isra'el, "Each of you, return to his city."

"Well said," Sha'ul answered his servant. "Come on, let's go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

Find him as soon as you enter the city, before he goes up to the high place to eat; because the people won't eat until he comes and blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards, the ones invited will eat. So go on up, because this is when you will find him."

The cook took the thigh and the adjoining meat and served it to Sha'ul. Sh'mu'el said, "Here, this is what remains! Put it in front of you and eat — it was kept especially for you until the right time; because I said, ‘I have invited the people.'" So Sha'ul dined with Sh'mu'el that day.

They got up early. About daybreak, Sh'mu'el called out to Sha'ul on the roof, "Get up, so I can send you on your way." Sha'ul got up, and both of them — he and Sh'mu'el — went out.

As they were going down, at the edge of the city, Sh'mu'el said to Sha'ul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead"; so the servant went on. "But you, stand still now, because I want you to hear what God has said."