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1 Samuel 1-8
Christian Standard Bible

Hannah’s Vow

1 There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim(A) in[a] the hill country of Ephraim.(B) His name was Elkanah(C) son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives,(D) the first named Hannah(E) and the second Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless. 3 This man would go up from his town every year(F) to worship and to sacrifice(G) to the Lord of Armies at Shiloh,(H) where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the Lord’s priests.

4 Whenever Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he always gave portions of the meat(I) to his wife Peninnah and to each of her sons and daughters. 5 But he gave a double[b] portion(J) to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving. 6 Her rival would taunt her severely just to provoke her, because the Lord had kept Hannah from conceiving. 7 Year after year, when she went up to the Lord’s house,(K) her rival taunted her in this way. Hannah would weep and would not eat. 8 “Hannah, why are you crying?” her husband, Elkanah, would ask. “Why won’t you eat? Why are you troubled? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (L)

9 On one occasion, Hannah got up after they ate and drank at Shiloh.[c] The priest Eli was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s temple.(M) 10 Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.(N) 11 Making a vow,(O) she pleaded, “Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction,(P) remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.”[d](Q)

12 While she continued praying in the Lord’s presence, Eli watched her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying silently,(R) and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to be drunk?(S) Get rid of your wine!”

15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman with a broken heart. I haven’t had any wine or beer; I’ve been pouring out my heart before the Lord.(T) 16 Don’t think of me as a wicked woman;(U) I’ve been praying from the depth of my anguish and resentment.”(V)

17 Eli responded, “Go in peace,(W) and may the God of Israel grant the request you’ve made of him.”(X)

18 “May your servant find favor with you,”(Y) she replied. Then Hannah went on her way; she ate and no longer looked despondent.[e](Z)

Samuel’s Birth and Dedication

19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah.(AA) Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.(AB) 20 After some time,[f] Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[g] because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”

21 When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice(AC) and his vow offering to the Lord, 22 Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence(AD) and to stay there permanently.”(AE)

23 Her husband, Elkanah, replied, “Do what you think is best,(AF) and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your[h] word.”(AG) So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull,[i] half a bushel[j] of flour, and a clay jar of wine.(AH) Though the boy was still young,[k] she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh.(AI) 25 Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

26 “Please, my lord,” she said, “as surely as you live,(AJ) my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this boy,(AK) and since the Lord gave me what I asked him for,(AL) 28 I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.”(AM) Then he[l] worshiped the Lord there.[m]

Hannah’s Triumphant Prayer

2 Hannah prayed:(AN)

My heart rejoices in the Lord;(AO)
my horn is lifted up by the Lord.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.(AP)
2 There is no one holy like the Lord.(AQ)
There is no one besides you!(AR)
And there is no rock like our God.(AS)
3 Do not boast so proudly,
or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and actions are weighed by him.(AT)
4 The bows of the warriors are broken,(AU)
but the feeble are clothed with strength.(AV)
5 Those who are full hire themselves out for food,
but those who are starving hunger no more.
The woman who is childless gives birth to seven,(AW)
but the woman with many sons pines away.(AX)
6 The Lord brings death and gives life;(AY)
he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up.(AZ)
7 The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth;(BA)
he humbles and he exalts.(BB)
8 He raises the poor from the dust(BC)
and lifts the needy from the trash heap.(BD)
He seats them with noblemen(BE)
and gives them a throne of honor.[n]
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;(BF)
he has set the world on them.(BG)
9 He guards the steps[o] of his faithful ones,(BH)
but the wicked perish in darkness,(BI)
for a person does not prevail by his own strength.(BJ)
10 Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered;[p](BK)
he will thunder in the heavens against them.(BL)
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.(BM)
He will give power to his king;
he will lift up the horn of his anointed.[q](BN)

11 Elkanah went home to Ramah,(BO) but the boy served the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli.(BP)

Eli’s Family Judged

12 Eli’s sons were wicked men;(BQ) they did not respect the Lord(BR) 13 or the priests’ share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling 14 and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot.(BS) The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh. 15 Even before the fat was burned,(BT) the priest’s servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won’t accept boiled meat from you—only raw.” 16 If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,”(BU) the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” 17 So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because the men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt.(BV)

18 Samuel served in the Lord’s presence(BW)—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.(BX) 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe(BY) and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.(BZ) 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife:(CA) “May the Lord give you children by this woman in place of the one she[r] has given to the Lord.”(CB) Then they would go home.

21 The Lord paid attention to Hannah’s need,(CC) and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.(CD)

22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel(CE) and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(CF) 23 He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people. 24 No, my sons, the news I hear the Lord’s people spreading is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” (CG) But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.(CH) 26 By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.(CI)

27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him,(CJ) “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family[s] when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace?(CK) 28 Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house[t] to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence.(CL) I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite food offerings. 29 Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship?(CM) You have honored your sons more than me,(CN) by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.’

30 “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever.(CO) But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor,(CP) but those who despise me will be disgraced.(CQ) 31 Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.(CR) 32 You will see distress in the place of worship,(CS) in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.(CT) 33 Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief[u] and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.[v][w] 34 This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas:(CU) both of them will die on the same day.(CV)

35 “‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest(CW) for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him,(CX) and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.(CY) 36 Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”

Samuel’s Call

3 The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence.(CZ) In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.(DA)

2 One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing,(DB) was lying in his usual place. 3 Before the lamp of God had gone out,(DC) Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.

4 Then the Lord called Samuel,[x] and he answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Once again the Lord called, “Samuel!”

Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 The Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do something in Israel that will cause everyone who hears about it to shudder.[y](DD) 12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end.(DE) 13 I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God,[z] and he has not stopped them.(DF) 14 Therefore, I have sworn to Eli’s family: The iniquity of Eli’s family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering.”(DG)

15 Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

“Here I am,” answered Samuel.

17 “What was the message he gave you?” Eli asked. “Don’t hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that he told you.”(DH) 18 So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, “He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is good.”(DI)

19 Samuel grew.(DJ) The Lord was with him,(DK) and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.[aa](DL) 20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord.(DM) 21 The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word.(DN)

4 And Samuel’s words came to all Israel.

The Ark Captured by the Philistines

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and[ab] camped at Ebenezer(DO) while the Philistines camped at Aphek.(DP) 2 The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

3 When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord defeat us today before the Philistines?(DQ) Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it[ac] will go with us and save us from our enemies.”(DR) 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.(DS) Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.(DT)

6 The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp, 7 they panicked. “A god has entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will rescue us from these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Show some courage and be men, Philistines!(DU) Otherwise, you’ll serve the Hebrews just as they served you.(DV) Now be men and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated,(DW) and each man fled to his tent.(DX) The slaughter was severe—thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(DY)

Eli’s Death and Ichabod’s Birth

12 That same day, a Benjaminite man ran(DZ) from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn,(EA) and there was dirt on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road waiting,(EB) because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.

14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” The man quickly came and reported to Eli. 15 At that time Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes didn’t move[ad] because he couldn’t see.(EC)

16 The man said to Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle.[ae] I fled from there today.”

“What happened, my son?” (ED) Eli asked.

17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate,(EE) and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel forty years.

19 Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her. 20 As she was dying,[af] the women taking care of her said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!” (EF) But she did not respond or pay attention. 21 She named the boy Ichabod,[ag] saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,”(EG) referring to the capture of the ark of God(EH) and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “because the ark of God has been captured.”

The Ark in Philistine Hands

5 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer(EI) to Ashdod,(EJ) 2 brought it into the temple of Dagon[ah](EK) and placed it next to his statue.[ai] 3 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord.(EL) So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. 4 But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. This time, Dagon’s head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained.[aj] 5 That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.

6 The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod.(EM) He terrified(EN) the people of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors.[ak][al](EO) 7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of Israel’s God must not stay here with us, because his hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon.” 8 So they called all the Philistine rulers together(EP) and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God?”

“The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they moved the ark of Israel’s God. 9 After they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against the city of Gath,(EQ) causing a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.(ER)

10 The people of Gath then sent the ark of God to Ekron, but when it got there, the Ekronites cried out, “They’ve moved the ark of Israel’s God to us to kill us and our people!” [am]

11 The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together.(ES) They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. Let it return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!” [an] For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them.(ET) 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.(EU)

The Return of the Ark

6 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory for seven months, 2 the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners(EV) and pleaded, “What should we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we can send it back to its place.”

3 They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, do not send it without an offering.(EW) Send back a guilt offering to him,(EX) and you will be healed. Then the reason his hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.”[ao]

4 They asked, “What guilt offering should we send back to him?”

And they answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice(EY) corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers,(EZ) since there was one plague for both you[ap] and your rulers. 5 Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God,(FA) and perhaps he will stop oppressing you,[aq](FB) your gods, and your land.(FC) 6 Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs?(FD) When he afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?(FE)

7 “Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked.(FF) Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the Lord, place it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you’re sending him as a guilt offering in a box(FG) beside the ark.(FH) Send it off and let it go its way. 9 Then watch: If it goes up the road to its homeland toward Beth-shemesh,(FI) it is the Lord who has made this terrible trouble for us. However, if it doesn’t, we will know that it was not his hand that punished(FJ) us—it was just something that happened to us by chance.”

10 The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen. 11 Then they put the ark of the Lord on the cart, along with the box containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors. 12 The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh.(FK) They stayed on that one highway,(FL) lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh.

13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it. 14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.(FM) 15 The Levites(FN) removed the ark of the Lord, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. 16 When the five Philistine rulers(FO) observed this, they returned to Ekron that same day.

17 As a guilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city:(FP) Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18 The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages.(FQ) The large rock[ar](FR) on which the ark of the Lord was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh today.

19 God struck down the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord.[as](FS) He struck down seventy persons.[at] The people mourned because the Lord struck them with a great slaughter. 20 The people of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord this holy God?(FT) To whom should the ark go from here?”

21 They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim,(FU) saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and get it.”[au]

7 So the people of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the Lord and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill.(FV) They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.

Victory at Mizpah

2 Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord. 3 Samuel told them, “If you(FW) are returning to the Lord(FX) with all your heart,(FY) get rid of the foreign gods(FZ) and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him.(GA) Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths(GB) and only worshiped the Lord.

5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah,(GC) and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.”(GD) 6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord’s presence.(GE) They fasted that day,(GF) and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.”(GG) And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.”

9 Then Samuel took a young lamb(GH) and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him.(GI) 10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly(GJ) against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.(GK) 11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.

12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright(GL) between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[av] explaining, “The Lord has helped us to this point.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued(GM) and[aw] did not invade Israel’s territory again.(GN) The Lord’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life. 14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.(GO) 16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations. 17 Then he would return to Ramah(GP) because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to the Lord there.

Israel’s Demand for a King

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.(GQ) 2 His firstborn son’s name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.(GR) 3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways—they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.(GS)

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.(GT) 5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”(GU)

6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord. 7 But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king.(GV) 8 They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me,[ax] since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods. 9 Listen to them, but solemnly warn them(GW) and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them.”

10 Samuel told all the Lord’s words to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “These are the rights of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots. 12 He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties,(GX) to plow his ground and reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots. 13 He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants.(GY) 15 He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants. 16 He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best cattle,[ay] and your donkeys and use them for his work. 17 He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves,(GZ) but the Lord won’t answer you on that day.”(HA)

19 The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. 20 Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us,(HB) and fight our battles.”

21 Samuel listened to all the people’s words and then repeated them to the Lord. 22 “Listen to them,” the Lord told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.”(HC)

Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Or from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from
  2. 1:5 Or gave only one; Hb obscure
  3. 1:9 LXX adds and presented herself before the Lord
  4. 1:11 Lit and no razor will go up on his head
  5. 1:18 Lit and her face was not to her again
  6. 1:20 Lit In the turning of the days
  7. 1:20 In Hb, the name Samuel sounds like the phrase “requested from God.”
  8. 1:23 DSS, LXX, Syr; MT reads his
  9. 1:24 DSS, LXX, Syr; MT reads Shiloh with three bulls
  10. 1:24 Lit bull and an ephah
  11. 1:24 Lit And the youth was a youth
  12. 1:28 DSS read she; some Hb mss, Syr, Vg read they
  13. 1:28 LXX reads Then she left him there before the Lord
  14. 2:8 DSS, LXX add He gives the vow of the one who makes a vow and he blesses the years of the just.
  15. 2:9 Lit feet
  16. 2:10 DSS, LXX read The Lord shatters those who dispute with him
  17. 2:10 Or Messiah
  18. 2:20 DSS; MT reads he
  19. 2:27 Lit the house of your father
  20. 2:28 Lit selected him
  21. 2:33 Lit grief to your eyes
  22. 2:33 DSS, LXX read die by the sword of men
  23. 2:33 Lit die men
  24. 3:4 DSS, LXX read called, “Samuel! Samuel!”
  25. 3:11 Lit about it, his two ears will tingle; Hb obscure
  26. 3:13 LXX, Old Lat; MT reads them
  27. 3:19 Lit he let none of his words fall to the ground
  28. 4:1 LXX reads In those days the Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel, and Israel went out to engage them in battle. They
  29. 4:3 Or he
  30. 4:15 Lit his eyes stood; 1Kg 14:4
  31. 4:16 LXX reads camp
  32. 4:20 LXX reads And in her time of delivery, she was about to die
  33. 4:21 = Where Is Glory?
  34. 5:2 A Philistine god of the sea, grain, or storm
  35. 5:2 Lit to Dagon
  36. 5:4 LXX; Hb reads Only Dagon remained on it
  37. 5:6 LXX adds He brought up mice against them, and they swarmed in their ships. Then mice went up into the land and there was a mortal panic in the city.
  38. 5:6 Perhaps bubonic plague
  39. 5:10 DSS, LXX read “Why have you moved... people?”
  40. 5:11 DSS, LXX read “Why don’t you return it to... people?”
  41. 6:3 DSS, LXX read healed, and an atonement shall be made for you. Shouldn’t his hand be removed from you?”
  42. 6:4 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read them
  43. 6:5 Lit will lighten the heaviness of his hand from you
  44. 6:18 Some Hb mss, LXX, Tg; other Hb mss read meadow
  45. 6:19 LXX reads But the sons of Jeconiah did not rejoice with the men of Beth-shemesh when they saw the ark of the Lord.
  46. 6:19 Some Hb mss, Josephus; other Hb mss read 70 men, 50,000 men
  47. 6:21 Lit and bring it up to you
  48. 7:12 = Stone of Help
  49. 7:13 LXX reads The Lord humbled the Philistines and they
  50. 8:8 LXX; MT omits to me
  51. 8:16 LXX; MT reads young men
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1 Samuel 1-8
New International Version

The Birth of Samuel

1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim,(A) a Zuphite[a](B) from the hill country(C) of Ephraim,(D) whose name was Elkanah(E) son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives;(F) one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

3 Year after year(G) this man went up from his town to worship(H) and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh,(I) where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli,(J) were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice,(K) he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.(L) 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion(M) because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.(N) 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.(O) 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.(P) 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?(Q)”

9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.(R) 10 In her deep anguish(S) Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow,(T) saying, “Lord Almighty(U), if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember(V) me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,(W) and no razor(X) will ever be used on his head.”

12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled.(Y) I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring(Z) out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”(AA)

17 Eli answered, “Go in peace,(AB) and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.(AC)”

18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.(AD)” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.(AE)

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.(AF) Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered(AG) her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(AH) She named(AI) him Samuel,[b](AJ) saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual(AK) sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,(AL) 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present(AM) him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”[c]

23 “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the Lord make good(AN) his[d] word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned(AO) him.

24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,[e](AP) an ephah[f] of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed(AQ) for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life(AR) he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Hannah’s Prayer

2 Then Hannah prayed and said:(AS)

“My heart rejoices(AT) in the Lord;
    in the Lord my horn[g](AU) is lifted high.
My mouth boasts(AV) over my enemies,(AW)
    for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy(AX) like(AY) the Lord;
    there is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock(AZ) like our God.

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
    or let your mouth speak such arrogance,(BA)
for the Lord is a God who knows,(BB)
    and by him deeds(BC) are weighed.(BD)

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,(BE)
    but those who stumbled are armed with strength.(BF)
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
    but those who were hungry(BG) are hungry no more.
She who was barren(BH) has borne seven children,
    but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 “The Lord brings death and makes alive;(BI)
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.(BJ)
7 The Lord sends poverty and wealth;(BK)
    he humbles and he exalts.(BL)
8 He raises(BM) the poor(BN) from the dust(BO)
    and lifts the needy(BP) from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and has them inherit a throne of honor.(BQ)

“For the foundations(BR) of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet(BS) of his faithful servants,(BT)
    but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.(BU)

“It is not by strength(BV) that one prevails;
10     those who oppose the Lord will be broken.(BW)
The Most High will thunder(BX) from heaven;
    the Lord will judge(BY) the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength(BZ) to his king
    and exalt the horn(CA) of his anointed.”

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah,(CB) but the boy ministered(CC) before the Lord under Eli the priest.

Eli’s Wicked Sons

12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard(CD) for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice(CE) of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat(CF) was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”

16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat(CG) be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they[h] were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.(CH)

18 But Samuel was ministering(CI) before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.(CJ) 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual(CK) sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed(CL) for and gave to[i] the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah;(CM) she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew(CN) up in the presence of the Lord.

22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything(CO) his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women(CP) who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God[j] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will(CQ) intercede(CR) for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.

26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow(CS) in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.(CT)

Prophecy Against the House of Eli

27 Now a man of God(CU) came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 28 I chose(CV) your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense,(CW) and to wear an ephod(CX) in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings(CY) presented by the Israelites. 29 Why do you[k] scorn my sacrifice and offering(CZ) that I prescribed for my dwelling?(DA) Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’

30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.(DB)’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor,(DC) but those who despise(DD) me will be disdained.(DE) 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age,(DF) 32 and you will see distress(DG) in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.(DH) 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants(DI) will die in the prime of life.

34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign(DJ) to you—they will both die(DK) on the same day.(DL) 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest,(DM) who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed(DN) one always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead,(DO) “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.(DP)”’”

The Lord Calls Samuel

3 The boy Samuel ministered(DQ) before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare;(DR) there were not many visions.(DS)

2 One night Eli, whose eyes(DT) were becoming so weak that he could barely see,(DU) was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp(DV) of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house(DW) of the Lord, where the ark(DX) of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.(DY)” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know(DZ) the Lord: The word(EA) of the Lord had not yet been revealed(EB) to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!(EC)”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.(ED) 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything(EE) I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,[l] and he failed to restrain(EF) them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned(EG) for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide(EH) it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely,(EI) if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”(EJ)

19 The Lord was with(EK) Samuel as he grew(EL) up, and he let none(EM) of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba(EN) recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.(EO) 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed(EP) himself to Samuel through his word.

4 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.

The Philistines Capture the Ark

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer,(EQ) and the Philistines at Aphek.(ER) 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why(ES) did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark(ET) of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh,(EU) so that he may go with us(EV) and save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim.(EW) And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout(EX) that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew(EY) camp?”

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid.(EZ) “A god has[m] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck(FA) the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues(FB) in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they(FC) have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated(FD) and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(FE)

Death of Eli

12 That same day a Benjamite(FF) ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust(FG) on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli(FH) sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.

14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?”

The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes(FI) had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, “I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day.”

Eli asked, “What happened, my son?”

17 The man who brought the news replied, “Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead,(FJ) and the ark of God has been captured.”(FK)

18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led[n](FL) Israel forty years.(FM)

19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

21 She named the boy Ichabod,[o](FN) saying, “The Glory(FO) has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The Glory(FP) has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”(FQ)

The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron

5 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer(FR) to Ashdod.(FS) 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.(FT) 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen(FU) on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken(FV) off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.(FW)

6 The Lord’s hand(FX) was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation(FY) on them and afflicted them with tumors.[p](FZ) 7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” 8 So they called together all the rulers(GA) of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”

They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.(GB)” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

9 But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic.(GC) He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.[q] 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.(GD)

As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” 11 So they called together all the rulers(GE) of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it[r] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. 12 Those who did not die(GF) were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

The Ark Returned to Israel

6 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners(GG) and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”

3 They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift;(GH) by all means send a guilt offering(GI) to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand(GJ) has not been lifted from you.”

4 The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”

They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number(GK) of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague(GL) has struck both you and your rulers. 5 Make models of the tumors(GM) and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory(GN) to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. 6 Why do you harden(GO) your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel’s god dealt harshly with them,(GP) did they(GQ) not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

7 “Now then, get a new cart(GR) ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked.(GS) Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the Lord and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh,(GT) then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us but that it happened to us by chance.”

10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11 They placed the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.

13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat(GU) in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. 14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering(GV) to the Lord. 15 The Levites(GW) took down the ark of the Lord, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock.(GX) On that day the people of Beth Shemesh(GY) offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. 16 The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.

17 These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the Lord—one each(GZ) for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. 18 And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers—the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

19 But God struck down(HA) some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy[s] of them to death because they looked(HB) into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them. 20 And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand(HC) in the presence of the Lord, this holy(HD) God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”

21 Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim,(HE) saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.” 7 1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark(HF) of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s(HG) house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim(HH) a long time—twenty years in all.

Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.(HI) 3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning(HJ) to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid(HK) yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths(HL) and commit(HM) yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,(HN) and he will deliver(HO) you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

5 Then Samuel(HP) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,(HQ) and I will intercede(HR) with the Lord for you.” 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah,(HS) they drew water and poured(HT) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[t](HU) of Israel at Mizpah.

7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid(HV) because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying(HW) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel(HX) took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.(HY)

10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered(HZ) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic(IA) that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone(IB) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[u](IC) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

13 So the Philistines were subdued(ID) and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron(IE) to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.(IF)

15 Samuel(IG) continued as Israel’s leader(IH) all(II) the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel(IJ) to Gilgal(IK) to Mizpah, judging(IL) Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah,(IM) where his home was, and there he also held court(IN) for Israel. And he built an altar(IO) there to the Lord.

Israel Asks for a King

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed(IP) his sons as Israel’s leaders.[v] 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,(IQ) and they served at Beersheba.(IR) 3 But his sons(IS) did not follow his ways. They turned aside(IT) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes(IU) and perverted(IV) justice.

4 So all the elders(IW) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(IX) 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(IY) to lead[w](IZ) us, such as all the other nations(JA) have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king(JB) to lead us,” this displeased(JC) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen(JD) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(JE) but they have rejected me as their king.(JF) 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(JG) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(JH) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10 Samuel told(JI) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take(JJ) your sons and make them serve(JK) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(JL) 12 Some he will assign to be commanders(JM) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your(JN) fields and vineyards(JO) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.(JP) 15 He will take a tenth(JQ) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[x] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer(JR) you in that day.(JS)”

19 But the people refused(JT) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want(JU) a king(JV) over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,(JW) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated(JX) it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen(JY) to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 1:1 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 6:26-27,33-35; or from Ramathaim Zuphim.
  2. 1 Samuel 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew for heard by God.
  3. 1 Samuel 1:22 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls always. I have dedicated him as a Nazirite—all the days of his life.”
  4. 1 Samuel 1:23 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac your
  5. 1 Samuel 1:24 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text with three bulls
  6. 1 Samuel 1:24 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms
  7. 1 Samuel 2:1 Horn here symbolizes strength; also in verse 10.
  8. 1 Samuel 2:17 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text people
  9. 1 Samuel 2:20 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text and asked from
  10. 1 Samuel 2:25 Or the judges
  11. 1 Samuel 2:29 The Hebrew is plural.
  12. 1 Samuel 3:13 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text sons made themselves contemptible
  13. 1 Samuel 4:7 Or “Gods have (see Septuagint)
  14. 1 Samuel 4:18 Traditionally judged
  15. 1 Samuel 4:21 Ichabod means no glory.
  16. 1 Samuel 5:6 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate tumors. And rats appeared in their land, and there was death and destruction throughout the city
  17. 1 Samuel 5:9 Or with tumors in the groin (see Septuagint)
  18. 1 Samuel 5:11 Or he
  19. 1 Samuel 6:19 A few Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint 50,070
  20. 1 Samuel 7:6 Traditionally judge; also in verse 15
  21. 1 Samuel 7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help.
  22. 1 Samuel 8:1 Traditionally judges
  23. 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
  24. 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men
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