1 Samuel 1-5

We begin with a new story with a familiar plot. Two wives, one barren and ridiculed. This wife is the one who is most loved by the husband. It's not Jacob, Leah and Rachel this time, it's Elkanah, Peninnah and Hannah. Hannah is barren, but stands at the tabernacle, offering a silent prayer for a child whom she promises to give to God. Why does she want a child only to give it away? The shame of being childless in a culture which treasured children. Hannah wanted her shame lifted. Is this a legitimate reason? Apparently God thought enough of the request to grant it -- seemingly right away. The next year, Hannah has a small baby, preventing her from making the journey to Shiloh. Instead she goes after the baby has been weaned and presents him to Eli. In 1:28 Hannah tells Eli her testimony and it causes Eli to worship God. It is a powerful answer to prayer and a faithful woman to keep such a vow. Hannah's prayer at the outset of chapter two is a touching tribute to the the sovereign God. The prayer sounds like it is plucked straight from the Psalter. Hannah's joy is complete.

The narrative takes a turn to focus on Eli's sons who are revealed as wicked men -- stealing from the Lord by taking whatever they felt like taking, rather than receiving only what they were entitled to. The fact that they took their share "by force" only reinforces the picture of renegade, selfish individuals. Contrast this with the picture of the boy Samuel, dressed in an ephod made by his mother. It is a touching scene of Elkanah and Hannah seeing the boy only at festival time, but being rewarded for their sacrifice with five other children.

Eli is portrayed as being uncaring about the corruption in his children. He rebukes them, but does nothing to stop them. At 2:25 we see God hardening the hearts of the two corrupt priests for the reason that the Lord wanted to put them to death. God hardens whom He wants to harden. This isn't exactly double predestination, but it shows a consequence to thumbing one's nose at God too many times.

An unnamed prophet then brings the word of God to Eli. His family would be cut off. This is God going back on a promise because of the disobedience of not only the sons, but also the father. Eli will die, and Hophni and Phinehas will perish on the same day.

The call of Samuel in chapter three is a well-told story. Samuel mistakenly goes to Eli three times before Eli figures out what is going on. We are told explicitly that Samuel did not yet know the Lord at this point (3:7). The message for Samuel is that God is about to carry out the sentence which Eli already knows well.

"The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering," (3:14) shows that there is no real repentance present here.

As Samuel grew all Israel recognized him as a prophet.

Meanwhile, we return to the story of Eli and the boys. The Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant after the Israelites stupidly bring it near the battlefield. In the battle Hophni and Phinehas die. The word of their death causes more trouble. A messenger passes along the news of the Ark's capture to Eli who falls backward off his chair, hitting his head and breaking his neck. Phinehas' wife dies in labor upon hearing the news.

Finally, chapter five tells us of the hot potato that the Ark became for the Philistines. Wherever the Ark was taken, the people were afflicted. First their god Dagon kept falling on his face before the Ark, then the people of the areas where the Ark was present began to be infested with tumors. Finally, the Philistines send the treasured Ark back to Israel to keep more people from being stricken.