Day 78: 1 Samuel 1-3

(1 Samuel was the fourth of the twelve books that made up the historical section of the Old Testament. This book documented the transition from God leading Israel through Judges to kings leading Israel. It is believed this book was compiled by Isaiah (around 700 BC) from notes made by Samuel, David, Nathan, and Gad. Also, 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel were originally considered to be one book. These books were not separated into two books until around 289-294 BC during the Septuagint translation.)

1 Samuel 1

(This book picked up the narrative where the Book of Judges left off. The Book of Ruth gave background to events that occurred during this book.)

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 and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

(Elkanah of Ephraim was the husband of Peninnah and Hannah.)

³ And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto Jehovah, were there.
⁴ And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
⁵ but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.

(Elkanah gave portions to Peninnah and her sons and daughters, but to Hannah he gave a double portion (also translated as a "worthy" portion). God had shut Hannah's womb. The only person God caused to be born was Jesus. Anywhere else in the Bible, God prevented pregnancies.)

⁶ And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.

(Because of Hannah's womb, Peninnah provoked her, more specifically "provoked her to anger.")

⁷ And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
⁸ And Elkanah her husband said unto 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?
⁹ So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah.

(Eli the priest was Israel's fourteenth Judge.)

¹⁰ And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.
¹¹ And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

(Hannah made a vow that if God opened her womb and gave her a son she would give him to God. Also, no razor would come upon his head. This sounded like the same Nazarite Vow as Samson's in Judges 13.)

¹² And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.
¹³ Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

(Hannah prayed to God. Eli marked/watched her mouth and thought she was drunk. Either the prayer was silent or the words were said so said quietly that Eli could not hear her. This verse showed we can pray in our hearts, move our lips, not have our voice be heard by others, and it will be considered as prayer.)

¹⁴ And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
¹⁵ 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 Jehovah.

(Hannah said she was not drunk but had poured out her soul before the Lord, like a drink offering.)

¹⁶ Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

(Eli agreed with her prayer, which was to dedicate the child to God's service, which would have been with Eli.)

¹⁸ And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more sad.
¹⁹ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her.
²⁰ And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying , Because I have asked him of Jehovah.

(God remembered Hannah and opened her womb. God did not cause Samuel to be born, Hannah and Elkanah were responsible for that. She conceived and bore Samuel. Samuel meant "asked of God" or "God hears.")

²¹ And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto Jehovah the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
²² 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 Jehovah, and there abide for ever.

(Hannah did not go to offer the sacrifice until Samuel was weaned so that when she did go she could give Samuel to God forever. She truly meant to fulfill her vow.)

²³ And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.

(Elkanah approved of Hannah staying until Samuel was weaned. Samuel would have stayed with his mother until he was about two or three years old. The husband followed his wife's counsel.)

²⁴ And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Jehovah in Shiloh: and the child was young.
²⁵ And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

(Hannah brought Samuel to Eli.)

²⁶ And she said, Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto Jehovah.
²⁷ For this child I prayed; and Jehovah hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
²⁸ therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.

(A son belonged to his mom until he was married and cleaved to another woman. Here, Hannah released her claim on her son. Eli worshipped God in response to Hannah’s testimony.)




1 Samuel 2

(Verses 1-10: Hannah's prayer.)

¹ And Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exulteth in Jehovah; My horn is exalted in Jehovah; My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation.
² There is none holy as Jehovah; For there is none besides thee, Neither is there any rock like our God.

(Hannah had a great understanding of God.)

³ Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed.

(God is Judge. "Talk" can be seen as an action when it is an effect of pride. God judges our actions according to Justice.)

⁴ The bows of the mighty men are broken; And they that stumbled are girded with strength.
⁵ They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceased to hunger: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth.
⁶ Jehovah killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth up.
⁷ Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, he also lifteth up.
⁸ He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth 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 Jehovah's, And he hath set the world upon them.

(Hannah gave many past examples of God judging in response to Justice. Every verse was stated in past tense. The next verses can be seen as Hannah's request from God for the future stated as a foregone conclusion because of her faith. Notice how each verse used the words will and shall.)

⁹ He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.
¹⁰ They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces; Against them will he thunder in heaven: Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth; And he will give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.

(Again, Hannah had great understanding of God. She included a lot of Doctrine regarding God’s Nature and character in her prayer. Hannah prayed and rejoiced after she gave Samuel to God. Hannah was the ninth example of an excellent woman during the time Israel was led by God through Judges.)

¹¹ And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Jehovah before Eli the priest.

(Samuel served God in Eli's presence. In Hebrews 11:32, Samuel was identified as an example of faith.)

¹² Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah.

(Eli's sons did not know God. They were called "base men." However, the KJV stated that they were "sons of Belial." Belial came from the Hebrew word bĕliya`al which meant "worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, base fellow." The men of Belial, who were in Gibeah, were also the group of people who "abused" the concubine to the death in Judges 20.)

¹³ And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand;
¹⁴ and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
¹⁵ Yea, 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 boiled flesh of thee, but raw.
¹⁶ And if the man said unto him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would say, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
¹⁷ And the sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah; for the men despised the offering of Jehovah.

(Eli's sons despised the offerings of God, also referred to as "abhorring" the offerings of God. If Eli's sons caused the people to despise the offering of the Lord, then this was a sin against God and the nation. It was bad enough what they did themselves but the greater issue was that they caused the Israelites to stumble.)

¹⁸ But Samuel ministered before Jehovah, being a child, girded 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.

(Samuel's mother would come to see him every year.)

²⁰ And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Jehovah give thee seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Jehovah. And they went unto their own home.
²¹ And Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Jehovah.

(Hannah had three more sons and two daughters because God opened her womb. Hannah's reward for dedicating Samuel to God was five more children.)

²² Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting.
²³ And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.
²⁴ Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make Jehovah's people to transgress.

(Eli asked his sons why they did such evil things. Eli's sons essentially made these Israelite women into prostitutes, which was against God's Law (Deuteronomy 23:17). Eli’s sons caused God’s people to transgress. This verse confirmed the sons had sinned against God and the nation.)

²⁵ If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them.
²⁶ And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Jehovah, and also with men.

(Eli confronted his sons and his sons ignored him. Was this all Eli was required to do towards his sons? Meanwhile, Samuel grew in favor with God and with men.)

²⁷ And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Did I reveal myself unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?
²⁸ and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up unto mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?
²⁹ Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

(A "man of God" (angel?) asked Eli why he honored his sons more than God. It seemed Eli was enabling his sons behavior. Apparently, God wanted more than a confrontation from Eli towards his sons.)

³⁰ Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

(God recognized His promise to Eli, however, God could not be unjust. God's Nature is Right and Just. God is unable to do anything that is wrong or unjust. There were two ways to look at this verse:

1) God changed His Nature and contradicted Himself. God did this when He lied about a promise He made because He knew the future and actually knew it was something He was not going to do.

- or -

2) God is Right and Just. God made a promise that was guided by Right and Just. At the time the promise was made, it was Right and Just to keep. However, at this time, it would be unjust to continue to keep this promise based on the free will choices made by Eli and his sons.

Which option do you believe is right?

The second option was right, which was why God concluded this verse with a statement that referenced Justice. Also, it was impossible for God to lie: Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18.)

³¹ 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 thy house.
³² And thou shalt behold the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.
³³ And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thy heart; and all the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age.
³⁴ And this shall be the sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.

(God declared what was His Just response to Eli's and his sons' choices. Both of Eli’s sons would die on the same day. This was not only Just, but a sign to Eli and Israel that God’s Words were being accomplished. This did not mean Eli did not continue to correct his sons. God gave Eli a big picture explanation of what would happen and how Eli would know when it happened.)

³⁵ And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
³⁶ And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thy house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.




1 Samuel 3
¹ And the child Samuel ministered unto Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.

(The Word of the Lord was precious (scarce) in those days, there was no frequent (open) vision. Remember, the Book of Judges concluded with a time where everyone did what was right in their own eyes because they were not connected to God. In fact, a Levite was hired to be a priest over Micah's graven images for the children of Dan. This chapter ought to be seen as occurring around the time near the end of the Book of Judges.)

² And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to wax dim, so that he could not see),
³ and the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was;
⁴ that Jehovah called Samuel; and he said, Here am I.
⁵ 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.

(God called Samuel but he thought it was Eli. Samuel had not been taught how to hear from God because people during this time were not connected to God.)

⁶ And Jehovah 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.

(God called Samuel a second time and he still thought it was Eli. It still did not occur to Eli it was God talking to Samuel.)

⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know Jehovah, neither was the word of Jehovah yet revealed unto him.
⁸ And Jehovah 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 Jehovah had called the child.

(Verse 7 confirmed Samuel did not know how to hear from God. God called to Samuel a third time. This time, Eli told Samuel that if it happened again to recognize that it was God speaking.)

⁹ Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
¹⁰ And Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

(Eli instructed Samuel how to connect with God. God called to Samuel a fourth time. Notice, God said Samuel's name twice. This verse stated God called Samuel's name twice like He did the other times. Yet, what was recorded was Samuel's name being said once. Were those verses written from Samuel's perspective? Did God call Samuel's name twice, but Samuel only heard it once because he did not know how to hear from God? This time, Samuel recognized that it was God and heard his name twice.)

¹¹ And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
¹² In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even unto the end.
¹³ For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not.

(Eli's sons made themselves vile and Eli did nothing to stop them. God stated He would judge Eli and his sons for everything they did, from beginning to end. God judged in response to Justice.)

¹⁴ And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

(God revealed to Samuel the destruction of Eli's house.)

¹⁵ And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
¹⁶ Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.
¹⁷ And he said, What is the thing that Jehovah hath spoken unto thee? I pray thee, hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he spake unto thee.

(Eli asked Samuel what God said.)

¹⁸ And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is Jehovah: let him do what seemeth him good.

(Samuel told Eli everything. Remember, God had told Eli He would no longer keep His promise. God told Eli he would be judged according to Justice. God confirmed this message with specifics to Samuel. God gave Samuel the small picture version of the judgment against Eli and his sons. Eli was not surprised by what Samuel heard from God. Eli knew judgment was coming and had a sign for when it arrived (both his sons dying in the same day). Now, Eli knew the actual punishment. This also confirmed to Eli that God had chosen Samuel over him. Eli accepted God's judgment, perhaps in hopes that Justice would be equaled out on earth so he and his sons would not have to pay after they died. Again, Eli may have continued to confront his sons.)

¹⁹ And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
²⁰ And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Jehovah.

(All of Israel knew Samuel was established to be a prophet of God. Eli already knew this. Samuel was Israel's fifteenth Judge.)

²¹ And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Jehovah.

(Remember, the children of Dan hired the Levite as priest and set up Micah's graven image during the time that the house of God was in Shiloh: Judges 18:29-31.)

(This post covered the circumstances of Samuel's birth and his establishment as a prophet of God because of God's judgment against Eli's sons.)

Day 79