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1 Samuel / Samuel's Call and the Lord's Word to Eli
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Hannah's Prayer for a Son Hannah Presents Samuel to the Lord Hannah's Song of Praise Eli's Corrupt Sons and Samuel's Childhood Prophecy of Judgment on Eli's House Samuel's Call and the Lord's Word to Eli Israel Defeated and the Ark Captured Eli's Death and the Birth of Ichabod The Ark Brings Judgment in Philistine Cities The Ark Returned to Israel Samuel Judges Israel and Delivers Them at Mizpah Israel Demands a King Saul Chosen and Given Signs Saul Proclaimed King by Lot Saul's Victory at Jabesh-Gilead Saul Confirmed as King at Gilgal Samuel's Farewell and Exhortation to Israel Saul's Unauthorized Sacrifice and Rebuke Philistine Pressure and Israel's Lack of Arms Jonathan's Bold Assault and Victory Saul's Rash Oath and Its Consequences Saul's Pursuit and Jonathan's Exploits Saul's Family and Mighty Men Saul's Disobedience and Rejection as King David Anointed by Samuel David Serves Saul and Eases His Torment David and Goliath David's Rise and Saul's Jealousy Saul's Attempts on David's Life and Jonathan's Intervention David and Jonathan's Covenant David at Nob: Bread and Goliath's Sword David Feigns Madness at Gath David Gathers Followers and Seeks Priestly Aid Massacre at Nob and Abiathar Joins David David Delivers Keilah and Inquires of God Saul's Pursuit, Ziphite Betrayal, and David's Escape David Spares Saul in a Cave Nabal's Folly and Abigail's Intervention David Again Spares Saul in His Camp David Seeks Refuge with Achish Saul and the Witch of Endor The Philistines Reject David David Recovers His Family and Defeats the Amalekites The Death of Saul and His Sons

Samuel's Call and the Lord's Word to Eli

1 Samuel 3:1-4:1

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Chapter 3
1 And the boy Samuel was serving the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no vision breaking forth. 2 And it came about on that day that Eli was lying in his place, and his eyes had begun to grow dim; he could not see. 3 And the lamp of God had not yet been extinguished, and Samuel was lying in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. 4 And the LORD called to Samuel, and he said, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And he said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called Samuel again. And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And he said, "No, I did not call, my son; go back and lie down." 7 And Samuel had not yet known the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel a third time, and he got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 And he said to Samuel, "Go, lie down. And it shall be if he calls to you, you say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant has heard.'" And Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which everyone who hears it—both ears will tingle." 12 On that day I will raise up against Eli all that I spoke against his house, beginning and ending. 13 And I will make it known to him that I am judging his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, that his sons were blaspheming the people, and he did not rebuke them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or by offering forever. 15 And Samuel lay down until morning, and he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 And he called to Eli, "Shemuel." And he said, "Shemuel, my son." And he said, "Here I am." 17 And he said, "What is the word that he spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. In this way may God do to you, and in this way may he add, if you hide from me a word from all the word that he spoke to you." 18 And Samuel told him all the words and did not hide any from him. And he said, "The LORD—he will do what is good in his eyes." 19 And Samuel grew great, and the LORD was with him and did not let any of his words fall to the earth. 20 And all Israel knew—from Dan to Beersheba—that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, for the LORD had revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
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Chapter 4
1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. And Israel went out to meet the Philistines for war. And they encamped by the Stone of the Helper, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.