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The Birth of Samuel
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
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So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
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Hannah Dedicates Samuel
When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,
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But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.
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And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.
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And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
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“‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day.
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The Lord Calls Samuel
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
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The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
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Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
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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.”
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Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
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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.
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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.
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The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
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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.
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Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,
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but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.” Samuel answered, “Here I am.”
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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.”
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The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.
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And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.
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The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
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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, and the Philistines at Aphek.
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Death of Eli
That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
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The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?” They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.
