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1 Samuel
Chapters: 1 2
3 4 5
6 7
| Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of
mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of
Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: |
| 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 yearly to
worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two
sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. |
| And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave
to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: |
| But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he
loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. |
| And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to
make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. |
| 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 eat. |
| Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why
weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am
not I better to thee than ten sons? |
| So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh,
and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post
of the temple of the LORD. |
| And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto
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 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
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 have 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 grief have I spoken
hitherto. |
| Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God
of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. |
| And she said, Let thine handmaid 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 in the morning early, and
worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to
Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. |
| Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come
about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his
name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. |
| And the man Elkanah, 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 her, Do what
seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD
establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she
weaned him. |
| And when she had weaned him, she took him up with
her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine,
and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was
young. |
| And they slew a 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 this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me
my petition which I asked of him: |
| Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long
as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD
there. |
| And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in
the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over
mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. |
| There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none
beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. |
| Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy
come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him
actions are weighed. |
| The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that
stumbled are girded with strength. |
| They that were full have hired out themselves for
bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born
seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. |
| The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down
to the grave, and bringeth up. |
| The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth
low, and lifteth up. |
| He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth
up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make
them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the
Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. |
| He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked
shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. |
| The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to
pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge
the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and
exalt the horn of his anointed. |
| And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the
child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest. |
| Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew
not the LORD. |
| And the priests' custom with the people was, that,
when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, 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 for
himself. So they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that came
thither. |
| Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant
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 raw. |
| And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to
burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then
he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I
will take it by force. |
| Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great
before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. |
| But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a
child, girded with a linen ephod. |
| Moreover his mother made him a little coat, 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 is lent to the
LORD. And they went unto their own home. |
| And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived,
and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before
the LORD. |
| Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons
did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. |
| And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I
hear of your evil dealings by all this people. |
| Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear:
ye make the Lord's people to transgress. |
| If one man sin against another, the judge shall
judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat 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 favour both
with the LORD, and also with men. |
| And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto
him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy
father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? |
| And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel
to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an
ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the
offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? |
| Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine
offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy
sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the
offerings of Israel my people? |
| Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said
indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before
me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that
honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly
esteemed. |
| Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine
arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old
man in thine house. |
| And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all
the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old
man in thine house for ever. |
| And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from
mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart:
and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their
age. |
| And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come
upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die
both of them. |
| And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall
do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will
build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. |
| And it shall come to pass, that every one that is
left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver
and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of
the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. |
| And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before
Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no
open vision. |
| And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid
down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; |
| And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of
the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; |
| That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here
am I. |
| And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou
calledst me. And he said, I 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 didst call 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 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 didst call me.
And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. |
| Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it
shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy
servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. |
| And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other
times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant
heareth. |
| And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a
thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it
shall tingle. |
| In that day I will perform against Eli all things
which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make
an end. |
| For I have told him that I will judge his house for
ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves
vile, and he restrained them not. |
| And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli,
that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor
offering for ever. |
| And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the
doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the
vision. |
| Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son.
And he answered, Here am I. |
| And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath
said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and
more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said
unto thee. |
| And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from
him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. |
| And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did
let none of his words fall to the ground. |
| And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that
Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. |
| And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD
revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. |
| And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now
Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside
Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. |
| And the Philistines put themselves in array against
Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the
Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand
men. |
| And when the people were come into the camp, the
elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before
the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of
Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the
hand of our enemies. |
| So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring
from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth
between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
were there with the ark of the covenant of God. |
| And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came
into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth
rang again. |
| And when the Philistines heard the noise of the
shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp
of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come
into the camp. |
| And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God
is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not
been such a thing heretofore. |
| Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of
these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all
the plagues in the wilderness. |
| Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye
Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been
to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. |
| And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten,
and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great
slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. |
| And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of
Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. |
| And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and
came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon
his head. |
| And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the
wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when
the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. |
| And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said,
What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and
told Eli. |
| Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes
were dim, that he could not see. |
| And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of
the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there
done, my son? |
| And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled
before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among
the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and
the ark of God is taken. |
| And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark
of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate,
and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And
he had judged Israel forty years. |
| And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with
child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark
of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead,
she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. |
| And about the time of her death the women that stood
by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast borne a son. But she
answered not, neither did she regard it. |
| And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory
is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because
of her father in law and her husband. |
| And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for
the ark of God is taken. |
| And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought
it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. |
| When the Philistines took the ark of God, they
brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. |
| And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow,
behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of
the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. |
| And when they arose early on the morrow morning,
behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of
the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut
off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. |
| Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that
come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto
this day. |
| But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of
Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod
and the coasts thereof. |
| And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they
said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand
is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. |
| They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of
the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of
the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel
be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of
Israel about thither. |
| And it was so, that, after they had carried it
about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great
destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and
they had emerods in their secret parts. |
| Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it
came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried
out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us,
to slay us and our people. |
| So they sent and gathered together all the lords of
the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and
let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people:
for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of
God was very heavy there. |
| And the men that died not were smitten with the
emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven. |
| And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the
Philistines seven months. |
| And the Philistines called for the priests and the
diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us
wherewith we shall send it to his place. |
| And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of
Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass
offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his
hand is not removed from you. |
| Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering
which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and
five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the
Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. |
| Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and
images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the
God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and
from off your gods, and from off your land. |
| Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the
Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought
wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they
departed? |
| Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch
kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart,
and bring their calves home from them: |
| And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the
cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass
offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may
go. |
| And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast
to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then
we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance
that happened to us. |
| And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and
tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: |
| And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and
the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. |
| And the kine took the straight way to the way of
Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned
not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the
Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh. |
| And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat
harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark,
and rejoiced to see it. |
| And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a
Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they
clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto
the LORD. |
| And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and
the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put
them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt
offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD. |
| And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen
it, they returned to Ekron the same day. |
| And these are the golden emerods which the
Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod
one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; |
| And the golden mice, according to the number of all
the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of
fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of
Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth
unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. |
| And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they
had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty
thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because
the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. |
| And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to
stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us? |
| And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of
Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the
LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you. |
| And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up
the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the
hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. |
| And it came to pass, while the ark abode in
Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all
the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. |
| And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel,
saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put
away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your
hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of
the hand of the Philistines. |
| Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and
Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. |
| And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I
will pray for you unto the LORD. |
| And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew
water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and
said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the
children of Israel in Mizpeh. |
| And when the Philistines heard that the children of
Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines
went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they
were afraid of the Philistines. |
| And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not
to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the
hand of the Philistines. |
| And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a
burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for
Israel; and the LORD heard him. |
| And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering,
the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD
thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and
discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. |
| And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and
pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. |
| Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh
and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the
LORD helped us. |
| So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no
more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the
Philistines all the days of Samuel. |
| And the cities which the Philistines had taken from
Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the
coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines.
And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. |
| And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. |
| And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel,
and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. |
| And his return was to Ramah; for there was his
house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the
LORD. |
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