thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household. And the 90 children of Dan went their way and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house. And they took that which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and 95 they burnt the city with fire. And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built the city, and dwelt therein. And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who 100 was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

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LESSON XL

ELI AND SAMUEL

Samuel was born in answer to Hannah's prayer, and was dedicated by her to the service of the temple at Shiloh. Warned by a vision, he predicted the ruin of Eli's race, as a punishment for the sins of Eli's sons. When he grew up, he was recognised as a prophet.

1 SAMUEL I. 1--IV. 1

11 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim,1 of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, an Ephraimite and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto the LORD, were there. And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave 2 to Peninnah 10 his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: but unto Hannah he gave a double portion: for he loved Hannah. And her rival provoked her sore, for to make her fret. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not 15 eat. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thon not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? So Hannah

1 For Ramathaim-zophim read Ramah, a Zuphite.

2 For he gave read he used to give.

rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk.1 Now Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto 20 the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there 25 shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be 30 drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial for out of the abundance of my complaint and my 35 provocation have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thy servant find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up 40 in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah.

20 And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. And the man Elkanah, 45 and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband said unto 50 her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned

1 For in Shiloh, and after they had drunk read she presented herself before the LORD.

him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks,1 55 and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For 60 this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him therefore I also have granted him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he is granted to the LORD.

2 18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a 65 little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which was lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. And the LORD visited 70 Hannah, and she bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they 2 knew not the LORD. And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man 2 offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, 75 while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. Yea, before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant 80 came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but And if the man said unto him, They will surely burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth;

raw.

1 For with three bullocks read with a bullock of three years old (R). 2 For they knew not . . . any man read they knew not the LORD, nor the due of the priests from the people. When any man (R). 3 For presently read first (R).

then he would say, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now and if not, I will take it by force. And the sin of the young men 85 was very great before the LORD for men abhorred 1 the offering of the LORD. [22] Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that 2 I hear : 90 ye make the LORD's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, God shall judge him 3: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. And the child Samuel grew on, and was in 95 favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

3 1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious 4 in those days; there was no open 5 vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun 100 to wax dim, that he could not see), and the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was; that the LORD called Samuel: and he said, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I 105 called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the 110 LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that the

1 For men abhorred read the men (i.e. the sons of Eli) despised (R). 2 For that I hear . . . transgress read that I hear the LORD'S people do spread abroad (R).

3 For shall judge him read arbitrates between them.

4 For precious read rare (R).

5 For open read frequent (R).