Study Desk

Then Naomi took the child and held him, and became his nurse.

There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim. His name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

This man would go from his city each year to worship and to give gifts on the altar in Shiloh to the Lord of All. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord's religious leaders there.

On the day when Elkanah killed animals on the altar in worship, he would give part of the gift to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

Then she made a promise and said, "O Lord of All, be sure to look on the trouble of Your woman servant, and remember me. Do not forget Your woman servant, but give me a son. If You will, then I will give him to the Lord all his life. And no hair will ever be cut from his head."

The family got up early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord. Then they returned to their house in Ramah. Elkanah lay with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.

Then Elkanah went up with all those of his house to give the Lord the gift on the altar in worship as he did each year, and to pay what he had promised.

He watches over the steps of His good people. But the sinful ones will be made quiet in darkness. For a man will not win by strength.

Those who fight with the Lord will be broken to pieces. He will thunder in heaven against them. The Lord will decide about all people to the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king. He will give power to His chosen one."

This is the way the religious leaders acted toward the people. When any man brought an animal to give to the Lord, the religious leader's servant would come with a meat-hook in his hand, while the meat was hot.

Each year his mother would make him a little coat. She would bring it to him when she came with her husband to bring the gift in worship each year.

Then Eli would pray that good would come to Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she gave to the Lord." Then they would return to their home.

Now Eli was very old. He heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the door of the meeting tent.

At that time Eli was lying down in his own place. His eyes had become weak and he could not see well.

Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

I have told him that I will punish his family forever for the sin he knew about. Because his sons brought the sin upon themselves, and Eli did not stop them.

So I swear to the family of Eli that the sin of his family will not be paid for with gifts given on the altar forever."

So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And Eli said, "It is the Lord. Let Him do what is good in His eyes."

So the Philistines fought, and Israel lost. Every man ran to his tent. And many were killed, for 30,000 foot soldiers of Israel fell.

A man of Benjamin ran from the battle and came to Shiloh the same day. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head.