1 

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

2 

He had two wives. The name of one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 

This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to The LORD of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to The LORD, were there.

4 

When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions;

5 

but to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.

6 

Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7 

As he did so year by year, when she went up to The LORD's house. Her rival provoked her; therefore she wept, and didn't eat.

8 

Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why don't you eat? Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

9 

So Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of The LORD's temple.

10 

She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to The LORD, weeping bitterly.

11 

She vowed a vow, and said, "The LORD of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head."

12 

As she continued praying before The LORD, Eli saw her mouth.

13 

Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

14 

Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine!"

15 

Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before The LORD.

16 

Don't consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation."

17 

Then Eli answered, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him."

18 

She said, "Let your servant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn't sad any more.

19 

They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before The LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

20 

When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of The LORD."

21 

The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22 

But Hannah didn't go up; for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before The LORD, and stay there forever."

23 

Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish his word."So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.

24 

When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to The LORD's house in Shiloh. The child was young.

25 

They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.

26 

She said, "Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to The LORD.

27 

I prayed for this child; and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him.

28 

Therefore I have also given him to The LORD. As long as he lives he is given to The LORD." He worshiped the LORD there.

1 

Hannah prayed, and said:"My heart exults in The LORD!My horn is exalted in The LORD.My mouth is enlarged over my enemies,because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 

There is no one as holy as The LORD,For there is no one besides you,nor is there any rock like our God.

3 

"Don't keep talking so exceedingly proudly.Don't let arrogance come out of your mouth,For the LORD is a God of knowledge.By him actions are weighed.

4 

"The bows of the mighty men are broken.Those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread.Those who were hungry are satisfied.Yes, the barren has borne seven.She who has many children languishes.

6 

"The LORD kills, and makes alive.He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.

7 

The LORD makes poor, and makes rich.He brings low, he also lifts up.

8 

He raises up the poor out of the dust.He lifts up the needy from the dunghill,To make them sit with princes,and inherit the throne of glory.For the pillars of the earth are The LORD's.He has set the world on them.

9 

He will keep the feet of his holy ones,but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness;for no man shall prevail by strength.

10 

Those who strive with the LORD shall be broken to pieces.He will thunder against them in the sky."The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.He will give strength to his king,and exalt the horn of his anointed."

11 

Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served the LORD before Eli the priest.

12 

Now the sons of Eli were wicked men. They didn't know The LORD.

13 

The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the meat was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand;

14 

and he stabbed it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot. The priest took all that the fork brought up for himself. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.

15 

Yes, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat to roast for the priest; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw."

16 

If the man said to him, "Let the fat be burned first, and then take as much as your soul desires"; then he would say, "No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force."

17 

The sin of the young men was very great before The LORD; for the men despised the offering of The LORD.

18 

But Samuel ministered before The LORD, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod.

19 

Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

20 

Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, "May the LORD give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of The LORD." Then they went to their own home.

21 

The LORD visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before The LORD.

22 

Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

23 

He said to them, "Why do you do such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.

24 

No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear! You make The LORD's people disobey.

25 

If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against The LORD, who will intercede for him?" Notwithstanding, they didn't listen to the voice of their father, because the LORD intended to kill them.

26 

The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with The LORD, and also with men.

27 

A man of God came to Eli, and said to him, "The LORD says, 'Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?

28 

Didn't I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? Didn't I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?

29 

Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?'

30 

"Therefore The LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever.' But now the LORD says, 'Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.

31 

Behold , the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, that there will not be an old man in your house.

32 

You will see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which I will give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

33 

The man of yours, whom I don't cut off from my altar, will consume your eyes and grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house will die in the flower of their age.

34 

"'This will be the sign to you, that will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they will both die.

35 

I will raise me up a faithful priest, that will do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind. I will build him a sure house; and he will walk before my anointed forever.

36 

It will happen, that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and will say, "Please put me into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'"

1 

The child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. The LORD's word was precious in those days. There were not many visions, then.

2 

At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),

3 

and God's lamp hadn't yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in The LORD's temple, where God's ark was;

4 

The LORD called Samuel; and he said, "Here I am."

5 

He ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me."He said, "I didn't call. Lie down again."He went and lay down.

6 

The LORD called yet again, "Samuel!"Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me."He answered, "I didn't call, my son. Lie down again."

7 

Now Samuel didn't yet know The LORD, neither was The LORD's word yet revealed to him.

8 

The LORD called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; for you called me."Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9 

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down. It shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, The LORD; for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 

The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"Then Samuel said, "Speak; for your servant hears."

11 

The LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12 

In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.

13 

For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he didn't restrain them.

14 

Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be removed with sacrifice or offering forever."

15 

Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of The LORD's house. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

16 

Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my son!"He said, "Here I am."

17 

He said, "What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don't hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you."

18 

Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him.He said, "It is The LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."

19 

Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.

20 

All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of The LORD.

21 

The LORD appeared again in Shiloh; for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by The LORD's word.

1 

The word of Samuel came to all Israel.Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.

2 

The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. When they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.

3 

When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of The LORD's covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies."

4 

So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, 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 shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6 

When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" They understood that The LORD's ark had come into the camp.

7 

The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before.

8 

Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

9 

Be strong, and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men, and fight!"

10 

The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter; for thirty thousand footmen of Israel fell.

11 

God's ark was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12 

A man of Benjamin ran out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with dirt on his head.

13 

When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching; for his heart trembled for God's ark. When the man came into the city and told about it, all the city cried out.

14 

When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, "What does the noise of this tumult mean?"The man hurried, and came and told Eli.

15 

Now Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set, so that he could not see.

16 

The man said to Eli, "I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army."He said, "How did the matter go, my son?"

17 

He who brought the news answered, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and God's ark has been captured."

18 

When he made mention of God's ark, Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

19 

His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered. When she heard the news that God's ark was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth; for her pains came on her.

20 

About the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Don't be afraid; for you have given birth to a son." But she didn't answer, neither did she regard it.

21 

She named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"; because God's ark was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

22 

She said, "The glory has departed from Israel; for God's ark has been taken."

1 

Now the Philistines had taken God's ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

2 

The Philistines took God's ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

3 

When the people of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before The LORD's ark. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

4 

When they arose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before The LORD's ark; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only Dagon's torso was intact.

5 

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon's house, step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.

6 

But The LORD's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.

7 

When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us; for his hand is severe on us, and on Dagon our god."

8 

They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?"They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath." They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.

9 

It was so, that after they had carried it there, The LORD's hand was against the city with a very great confusion; and he struck the men of the city, both small and great so that tumors broke out on them.

10 

So they sent God's ark to Ekron.As God's ark came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people."

11 

They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, "Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there.

12 

The men who didn't die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

1 

The LORD's ark was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

2 

The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with The LORD's ark? Show us how we should send it to its place."

3 

They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you."

4 

Then they said, "What should the trespass offering be which we shall return to him?"They said, "Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

5 

Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.

6 

Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn't they let the people go, and they departed?

7 

"Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;

8 

and take The LORD's ark, and lay it on the cart. Put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by its side; and send it away, that it may go.

9 

Behold; if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil; but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us. It was a chance that happened to us."

10 

The men did so, and took two milk cows, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

11 

They put The LORD's ark on the cart, and the coffer with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.

12 

The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh. They went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

13 

The people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

14 

The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone. Then they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to The LORD.

15 

The Levites took down The LORD's ark, and the coffer that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to The LORD.

16 

When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

17 

These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to The LORD: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

18 

and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, on which they set down The LORD's ark. That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

19 

He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into The LORD's ark, he struck fifty thousand seventy of the men. Then the people mourned, because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.

20 

The men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before The LORD, this holy God? To whom shall he go up from us?"

21 

They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back The LORD's ark. Come down, and bring it up to yourselves."

1 

The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and took The LORD's ark, and brought it into Abinadab's house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep The LORD's ark.

2 

From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long; for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after The LORD.

3 

Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to The LORD, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."

4 

Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

5 

Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you."

6 

They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before The LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against The LORD." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

7 

When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 

The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't stop crying to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."

9 

Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to The LORD. Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD answered him.

10 

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.

11 

The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar.

12 

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "The LORD helped us until now."

13 

So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. The LORD's hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 

The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 

He went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.

17 

His return was to Ramah, for his house was there; and he judged Israel there; and he built an altar to the LORD there.