1 Samuel 2-4: Hannah's Prayer and the Ark of God
Hannah's Prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
Hannah, whose name means "grace" or "favor," had been praying for a child for many years. She was barren, and her husband Elkanah's other wife, Peninnah, had given him many children. Every year, Elkanah would take his family to offer sacrifices to the Lord at Shiloh, but Hannah would weep and refuse to eat. Elkanah would try to comfort her, but she was deeply distressed.
One year, Hannah went to the temple and prayed to the Lord, weeping and vowing that if God would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord's service. The High Priest, Eli, saw her praying and thought she was drunk, but Hannah explained her situation, and Eli blessed her, saying "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
The Birth of Samuel (1 Samuel 2:11-20)
Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, which means "heard by God." When Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to the temple, along with a bull, flour, and wine, and presented him to Eli, saying "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord, and he will be dedicated to the Lord for his whole life."
Eli's Wicked Sons (1 Samuel 2:12-26)
Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were wicked and corrupt. They would take the best parts of the sacrifices for themselves and even sleep with the women who served at the temple. Eli knew about their behavior but did not discipline them. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the temple, and the Lord was with him.
The Ark of God (1 Samuel 3-4)
The Call of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-14)
One night, while Samuel was sleeping, he heard a voice calling his name. He thought it was Eli, but Eli told him it was the Lord. This happened three times, and Eli finally realized that the Lord was calling Samuel. Samuel listened to the Lord's voice, and the Lord revealed to him that He would judge Eli's household because of their wickedness.
The Defeat of the Israelites (1 Samuel 4:1-11)
The Israelites went to war against the Philistines and were defeated. They decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred symbol of God's presence, into the battle. However, the Philistines were frightened and fought harder, and the Israelites were defeated again. The Ark was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas were killed.
The Death of Eli (1 Samuel 4:12-22)
When Eli heard the news about the Ark and his sons, he fell backward from his chair and broke his neck. He was 98 years old and had been a judge of Israel for 40 years. The Ark was taken to the city of Ashdod, and the Philistines placed it in their temple. The Lord afflicted the Philistines with tumors and mice, and they eventually returned the Ark to the Israelites.
