1:1Now
there was a certain man of Ramatayim-Tzofim, of the hill-country of Efrayim,
and his name was Elkana, the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu,
the son of Tzuf, an Efratite: 1:2and
he had two wives; the name of the one was Channah, and the name of other
Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Channah had no children. 1:3This man went up out of his city from year
to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh-Tzva'ot in
1:4When
the day came that Elkana sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all
her sons and her daughters, portions: 1:5but
to Channah he gave a double portion; for he loved Channah, but Yahweh had shut
up her womb. 1:6Her rival provoked
her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb. 1:7as he did so year by year, when she went up
to the house of Yahweh, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not
eat.
1:8Elkana
her husband said to her, "Channah, why weep you? And why don't you eat?
And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
1:9So
Channah rose up after they had eaten in
1:12It
happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that `Eli marked her mouth. 1:13Now Channah, she spoke in her heart;
only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore `Eli thought
she had been drunken. 1:14`Eli said
to her, "How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you." 1:15Channah answered, "No, my master, I am
a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but
I poured out my soul before Yahweh. 1:16Don't
count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint
and my provocation have I spoken hitherto." 1:17Then
`Eli answered, "Go in shalom; and the Mighty One of Yisra'el grant your
petition that you have asked of him." 1:18She
said, "Let your handmaid find favor in your sight." So the woman went
her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn't sad any more.
1:19They
rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Yahweh, and returned, and
came to their house to Ramah: and Elkana knew Channah his wife; and Yahweh
remembered her. 1:20It happened, when
the time was come about, that Channah conceived, and bore a son; and she named
him Shemu'el, saying, "Because I have asked him of Yahweh."
1:21The
man Elkana, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice,
and his vow. 1:22But Channah didn't
go up; for she said to her husband, "I will not go up until the child be
weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and there
abide forever." 1:23Elkana her
husband said to her, "Do what seems you good; wait until you have weaned
him; only Yahweh establish his word." So the woman waited and nursed her
son, until she weaned him. 1:24When
she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one efah of
meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh:
and the child was young. 1:25They
killed the bull, and brought the child to `Eli.
1:26She
said, "Oh, my master, as your soul lives, my master, I am the woman who
stood by you here, praying to Yahweh. 1:27For
this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him: 1:28therefore also I have granted him to
Yahweh; as long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh." He worshipped Yahweh
there.
2:1Channah
prayed, and said:
"My heart exults in Yahweh;
My horn is exalted in Yahweh;
My mouth is enlarged over my enemies;
Because I rejoice in your salvation.
2:2There
is none holy as Yahweh;
For there is none besides you,
Neither is there any rock like our Mighty One.
2:3Talk
no more so exceeding proudly;
Don't let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For Yahweh is a Mighty One of knowledge,
By him actions are weighed.
2:4The
bows of the mighty men are broken;
Those who stumbled are girded with strength.
2:5Those
who were full have hired out themselves for bread;
Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger:
Yes, the barren has borne seven;
She who has many children languishes.
2:6Yahweh
kills, and makes alive:
He brings down to She'ol, and brings up.
2:7Yahweh
makes poor, and makes rich:
He brings low, he also lifts up.
2:8He
raises up the poor out of the dust,
He lifts up the needy from the dunghill,
To make them sit with princes,
Inherit the throne of glory:
For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's,
He has set the world on them.
2:9He
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.
2:10Those
who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces;
Against them will he thunder in the sky:
Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth;
He will give strength to his king,
Exalt the horn of his anointed."
2:11Elkana
went to Ramah to his house. The child did minister to Yahweh before `Eli the
Kohen.
2:18But
Shemu'el ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen efod. 2:19Moreover 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. 2:20`Eli
blessed Elkana and his wife, and said, "Yahweh give you seed of this
woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh." They went to their
own home. 2:21Yahweh visited
Channah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The
child Shemu'el grew before Yahweh.
How Channah Prayed For The Cessation Of Her
Affliction
1:10-11 shows that Channah did not pray to keep the son that she prayed for. She offered to give him to Yahweh, to serve Yahweh all the days of his life. In other words, what Channah considered important to her was the cessation of her affliction, which came about on her because she was barren. And this affliction would cease by her bearing at least one child, whom she offered to give to Yahweh.
Channah Prayed In Her Heart - Silently
1:12-16 shows that Channah prayed in her heart - silently, and not audibly.
1:19-20 shows that Yahweh indeed heard Channah's silent prayer, and gave her a son.
Eli Publicly Worshipped Yahweh
1:28 shows that Eli acknowledged Channah's answered prayer, personified in Shemuel, by worshipping before Yahweh upon Shemuel's presentation before him. It therefore seems that it is quite appropriate to worship Yahweh publicly, in front of other people, when the occasion merits it.
7:1The
men of Kiryat-Ye`arim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it
into the house of Avinadav in the hill, and sanctified El`azar his son to keep
the ark of Yahweh. 7:2It happened,
from the day that the ark abode in Kiryat-Ye`arim, that the time was long; for
it was twenty years: and all the house of Yisra'el lamented after Yahweh. 7:3Shemu'el spoke to all the house of Yisra'el,
saying, "If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away
the foreign mighty ones and the `Ashtarot from among you, and direct your
hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand
of the Pelishtim." 7:4Then
the children of Yisra'el did put away the Ba`alim and the `Ashtarot, and served
Yahweh only.
7:5Shemu'el
said, "Gather all Yisra'el to Mitzpah, and I will pray for you to
Yahweh." 7:6They
gathered together to Mitzpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh,
and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against Yahweh."
Shemu'el judged the children of Yisra'el in Mitzpah.
7:7When
the Pelishtim heard that the children of Yisra'el were gathered together at
Mitzpah, the masters of the Pelishtim went up against Yisra'el. When the
children of Yisra'el heard it, they were afraid of the Pelishtim. 7:8The children of Yisra'el said to Shemu'el,
"Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our Mighty One for us, that he will save us
out of the hand of the Pelishtim." 7:9Shemu'el
took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering to Yahweh: and
Shemu'el cried to Yahweh for Yisra'el; and Yahweh answered him.
7:10As
Shemu'el was offering up the burnt offering, the Pelishtim drew near to battle
against Yisra'el; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Pelishtim,
and confused them; and they were struck down before Yisra'el. 7:11The men of Yisra'el went out of Mitzpah,
and pursued the Pelishtim, and struck them, until they came under Beit-Kar. 7:12Then Shemu'el took a stone, and set it
between Mitzpah and Shen, and called the name of it Even-Ha`ezer, saying,
"Hitherto has Yahweh helped us." 7:13So
the Pelishtim were subdued, and they came no more within the border of
Yisra'el: and the hand of Yahweh was against the Pelishtim all the days of
Shemu'el. 7:14The cities which the
Pelishtim had taken from Yisra'el were restored to Yisra'el, from `Ekron even
to Gat; and the border of it did Yisra'el deliver out of the hand of the
Pelishtim. There was shalom between Yisra'el and the Amori. 7:15Shemu'el judged Yisra'el all the days of
his life. 7:16He went from year to
year in circuit to Beit-El and Gilgal, and Mitzpah; and he judged Yisra'el in
all those places. 7:17His return was
to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Yisra'el: and he built
there an altar to Yahweh.
Yahweh's Servants Should Teach The People How To
Serve Yahweh
7:3-5 shows that Yahweh's servants and prophets ought to teach the people how they are to serve Yahweh - wholeheartedly, fearfully and faithfully! And when the people repent of their idolatry, serving other mighty ones, rather than serving Yahweh exclusively, Yahweh's servants ought to pray for the people that Yahweh may forgive them of their iniquities and also remove or abate the consequences of those iniquities.
In Yisrael's case the consequence of their faithlessness was their harassment and subjection under the hand of the Pelishtim. Therefore, by repenting of their sin and being forgiven of both their sin and this consequence of their sin, the Pelishtim would no longer harass or subject them under their hand.
How Yisrael Repented Before Yahweh
7:6 shows that as part of their repentance before Yahweh, Yisrael not only disposed off their idols, they also confessed their sins before Yahweh, and fasted before him.
It therefore appears that heartfelt repentance includes not only forsaking one's erroneous ways, but also confessing one's sins and fasting before Yahweh.
Yahweh Hears His Servants' Prayers On Behalf Of
Those Who Are Repentant
7:8-11 shows that not only did Yahweh hear Shemuel's prayer on behalf of Yisrael, he responded by removing the hand of the Pelishtim from being over Yisrael, subduing Yisrael. Yahweh indeed answers the prayers of his servants on behalf of those who are genuinely repentant.
7:9-10 - why did Shemuel offer up a sucking lamb for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh? What was the significance of Shemuel offering up the burnt offering to Yahweh and Yahweh hearing his prayer?
The People Of Yisrael Demand To Have A King
8:1It
happened, when Shemu'el was old, that he made his sons judges over Yisra'el. 8:2Now the name of his firstborn was Yo'el; and
the name of his second, Aviyah: they were judges in Be'er-Sheva. 8:3His sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned
aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice. 8:4Then all the Zakenim of Yisra'el gathered
themselves together, and came to Shemu'el to Ramah; 8:5and they said to him, "Behold, you are
old, and your sons don't walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like
all the nations." 8:6But the
thing displeased Shemu'el, when they said, "Give us a king to judge
us." Shemu'el prayed to Yahweh.
8:7Yahweh
said to Shemu'el, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell
you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should
not be king over them. 8:8According
to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out
of Mitzrayim even to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other
mighty ones, so do they also to you. 8:9Now
therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them,
and shall show them the manner of the king who shall reign over them."
8:10Shemu'el
told all the words of Yahweh to the people who asked of him a king. 8:11He said, "This will be the manner of
the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them to
him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his
chariots; 8:12and he will appoint
them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will set
some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments
of war, and the instruments of his chariots. 8:13He
will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 8:14He will take your fields, and your
vineyards, and your olive groves, even the best of them, and give them to his
servants. 8:15He will take the tenth
of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his
servants. 8:16He will take your
men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your
donkeys, and put them to his work. 8:17He
will take the tenth of your flocks: and you shall be his servants. 8:18You shall cry out in that day because of
your king whom you shall have chosen you; and Yahweh will not answer you in
that day."
8:19But
the people refused to listen to the voice of Shemu'el; and they said, "No:
but we will have a king over us, 8:20that
we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out
before us, and fight our battles."
8:21Shemu'el
heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.
8:22Yahweh said to Shemu'el,
"Listen to their voice, and make them a king." Shemu'el said to the
men of Yisra'el, "Go you every man to his city."
Shemuel Sought Yahweh's Guidance When Faced With A
Difficult Matter
8:1-6 shows that when Shemuel was faced with a difficult situation, a situation for which he did not have a ready answer, he prayed to Yahweh for guidance, that Yahweh may show him what to do in the situation. Following Shemuel's example, we should likewise seek Yahweh in prayer for guidance in our lives, especially when faced with key decisions.
The Nature Of Man's Rule Over Man
8:9-18 summarises the nature of man's rule over man. It should be noted that man's rule over man is quite different to Yahweh's rule over man, such as was the case with Yisrael right up to this time that they sought a human king for themselves to be over them. For human kings sequestrate that which is in the custody of the people, including making slaves of the people, and using these for their own purposes.
Shemuel Judged Yisrael In Righteousness
12:1Shemu'el
said to all Yisra'el, "Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that
you said to me, and have made a king over you. 12:2Now,
behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray-headed; and, behold,
my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my youth to this day. 12:3Here I am: witness against me before
Yahweh, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I
taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I
taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? And I will restore it you." 12:4They said, "You have not defrauded us,
nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand." 12:5He said to them, "Yahweh is witness
against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found
anything in my hand." They said, "He is witness."
12:6Shemu'el
said to the people, "It is Yahweh who appointed Moshe and Aharon, and that
brought your fathers up out of the land of Mitzrayim. 12:7Now therefore stand still, that I may plead
with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he
did to you and to your fathers. 12:8When
Ya`akov was come into Mitzrayim, and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh
sent Moshe and Aharon, who brought forth your fathers out of Mitzrayim, and made
them to dwell in this place. 12:9But
they forgot Yahweh their Mighty One; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera,
captain of the host of Chatzor, and into the hand of the Pelishtim, and into
the hand of the king of Mo'av; and they fought against them. 12:10They cried to Yahweh, and said, 'We have
sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Ba`alim and the
`Ashtarot: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve
you.' 12:11Yahweh sent Yerubba`al,
and Bedan, and Yiftach, and Shemu'el, and delivered you out of the hand of your
enemies on every side; and you lived in safety. 12:12When
you saw that Nachash the king of the children of `Ammon came against you, you
said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us'; when Yahweh your Mighty One
was your king. 12:13Now therefore
see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for: and, behold,
Yahweh has set a king over you. 12:14If
you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel
against the commandment of Yahweh, and both you and also the king who reigns
over you be followers of Yahweh your Mighty One, well: 12:15but if you will not listen to the voice of
Yahweh, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then will the hand of
Yahweh be against you, as it was against your fathers. 12:16Now therefore stand still and see this
great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes. 12:17Isn't it wheat harvest today? I will call
to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that
your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking
you a king." 12:18So Shemu'el
called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people
greatly feared Yahweh and Shemu'el.
12:19All
the people said to Shemu'el, "Pray for your servants to Yahweh your Mighty
One, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask us a
king." 12:20Shemu'el said to
the people, "Don't be afraid; you have indeed done all this evil; yet
don't turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart: 12:21and don't turn aside; for then would you
go after vain things which can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain. 12:22For Yahweh will not forsake his people for
his great name's sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people to
himself. 12:23Moreover as for me,
far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you:
but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 12:24Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth
with all your heart; for consider how great things he has done for you. 12:25But if you shall still do wickedly, you
shall be consumed, both you and your king."
12:1-5 shows that Shemuel, judging or ruling over Yisrael under Yahweh's instructions, ruled well. He did not sequestrate property belonging to the people, nor make slaves of them for his own service, nor defraud them in other ways. Shemuel was a faithful servant of Yahweh. His rule, under Yahweh's guidance, was a contrast to the rule of human kings as portrayed by Yahweh in 1 Shemuel 8.
The Manner We Should Conduct Our Lives
12:14-15 summarises how we should conduct our lives. We should fear Yahweh, serve Yahweh, listen to Yahweh's voice, not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, and be followers of Yahweh our Mighty One.
12:20-21 shows that Yahweh should be followed and served wholeheartedly.
12:23 shows that it is the duty of a prophet of Yahweh to both pray for the people, and to instruct them in the good and the right way. Failure or ceasing to both pray for the people, and to instruct them in the good and the right way, constitutes sin for a prophet of Yahweh.
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