Looking for Samuel

120) In chapter 2, we are told about Eli’s reaction or lack of reaction

regarding his two sons!


- He was the high priest!


- His two sons were also priests!


- They would commit their sins against God in front of Israel!


- He tried to speak to them but they didn’t listen to them!


- And that was all!


- Nothing else!


- We can’t expect to go against God and think everything will be alright!


- No chance!


- If we follow man’s tradition, we can’t follow God’s word!


- They are two opposed ways!


- Yet, Israel did it!


- Yet, humanity does the same!
 
121) In 1 Samuel 7, we can hear another warning!


- Samuel tells Israel that serving God is not a part-time job but a full one!


- It is not how we want but how he wants us to serve him!


- Israel listens to Samuel and they get rid of the Philistines!


- It was possible because of Samuel who was a faithful servant of God!


- Before that, they had been in big trouble and they were the slaves of the Philistines!


- Just because they were doing it their way not God’s way!


- Thus we can understand that this man was important for God!


- Thus because of him they could live in peace!
 
122) In 1 Samuel 8, we are told that Samuel is now old!


- He has kept serving God all his life!


- He appointed his two sons as judges over Israel!


- But they are corrupted!


- We don’t have any information about how it happened!


- What we know is that Eli was condemned, not Samuel!


- On the contrary, he kept maintaining the quality of his relationship to God!


- And when Israel asked for a human king instead of God, he was displeased!


- It happens because of his sons but it would have happened for any reason because Israel was obstinate and they were used to go away from God!


- So once again we may hear the same warning!


- God says to Samuel that Israel was rejecting him once again as they had always been doing it starting the moment they left Egypt thanks to God!


- And humanity has been doing the same!
 
123) In 1 Samuel 8, we are told that Samuel warned Israel how a human king would treat them!


- And when they would cry out to God, he wouldn’t answer them!


- Because they would have rejected God!


- But they refused to listen to what Samuel told them!


- Israel spent his time rejected God and God rejected them!


- Humanity keeps doing the same!


- But each individual has the opportunity to look for God for himself and encourage others to do the same!


- We have free will!


- It’s up to us to make our choice!


- Nobody else will be responsible for that choice!
 
124) Looking for Samuel

1 Samuel 1:1,2


Biblehub 1 samuel 1:1


Biblehub 1 samuel 1:2


- It is exceptional because here we have information about the family of Samuel!


- His father has two wives: it is not according to what it was supposed to be at the beginning, it is one man and one woman!


- As a consequence, it will bring troubles!


- It is always the same: God says one thing and man wants to take another way and it brings problems!


- It is so evident why humanity is a catastrophe!
 
125) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:3


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:3


Hebrew

Year after year
מִיָּמִ֣ים ׀ (mî·yā·mîm)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

[Elkanah]
הַה֤וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

would go up
וְעָלָה֩ (wə·‘ā·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

from his city
מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ (mê·‘î·rōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

to worship
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֧ת (lə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

and sacrifice
וְלִזְבֹּ֛חַ (wə·liz·bō·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice

to the LORD
לַיהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts
צְבָא֖וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

at Shiloh,
בְּשִׁלֹ֑ה (bə·ši·lōh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7887: Shiloh -- a city in Ephraim

where
וְשָׁ֞ם (wə·šām)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

Eli’s
עֵלִ֗י (‘ê·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

two
שְׁנֵ֣י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

sons,
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

Hophni
חָפְנִי֙ (ḥā·p̄ə·nî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2652: Hophni -- a son of Eli

and Phinehas,
וּפִ֣נְחָ֔ס (ū·p̄in·ḥās)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6372: Phinehas -- three Israelites

were priests
כֹּהֲנִ֖ים (kō·hă·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

to the LORD.
לַיהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


- Right, here is a servant of God who goes to worship and to sacrifice to God as he is supposed to do!


- Nothing special, nothing wrong even if he has two wives!


- But that’s the Israelites: we know they didn’t know how to serve God in the right way even if they were told!


- In fact, they didn’t want to do it the proper way!


- They preferred to have a look at the other nations and copy them!
 
126) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1: 4,5


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:4


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:5


- Yeah, yeah, yeah: Elkannah loves Hannah so there is a competition or a fight between the two women: that’s not a good way to educate children!


- And Peninnah has children and Hannah doesn’t: it means more troubles!


- I should say endless troubles!


- Apparently, God has favored Peninnah and not Hannah to counterbalance the situation!


- It reminds us of many situations due to man’s behavior: he always wants more and it is never enough!
 
127) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:7,8


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:7

Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:8


- Poor man, he has no idea of what happens in his own family!


- Does it remind you of something?


- It usually happens that way among many families!


- And parents don’t understand when something happens because they don’t know anything!


- Well, their children have friends to communicate with or they spend a lot of time in front of TV, the internet or playing video games!


- And the children have nothing to say when they eat with their parents!


- And they want to go outside with their friends or back to the TV, the internet or playing video games!


- What do you call that? Modern life!


- Is that progress?
 
128) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:9-11


biblehub 1 Samuel 1:9

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:10

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:11




- Hannah prays to God with all her heart!


- And she tells him about her bitterness and affliction!


- And she begs God to give her a child!


- And she will offer him to God to serve him!


- She really wants children and for this reason she is ready to lose the first one because he will be working at God’s service!


- So she will be able to see him only once a year!
 
129) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1: 12-14


biblehub 1 Samuel 1:12

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:13

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:14


- When Hannah speaks to God, she is sincere, it comes from her heart and she opens it to him!


- She doesn’t say anything in a hurry or mechanically!


- And Eli thinks she is drunk!


- That’s strange because he is old!


- So he must have seen many people praying!


- Judging by appearance is not good: it only leads to misunderstanding!
 
130) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:15,16


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:15

Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:16


- One word to summarize: HUMILITY!


- Samuel will have a really good mother!


- And she defends herself in front of Eli!


- When she speaks about her great anguish and distress, even if there is no comparison, it reminds me of Job expressing his great anguish and distress to God!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


131) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:17,18


Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:17

Biblehub 1 Samuel 1:18


- Hannah speaks with God!


- Then she speaks with Eli!


- And she finds relief!


- The prayer is supposed to be for that!


- But we must be used to praying with our hearts!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


132) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 1:24-28


biblehub 1 Samuel 1:24

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:25

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:26

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:27

biblehub 1 Samuel 1:28


- Hannah fulfills her promise by bringing Samuel to the house of God in due time!


- It was a good start for Samuel!


- As a matter of fact, Samuel is going to be faithful to God all his life!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


133) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 2:1-10


Biblehub 1 Samuel 2:1



Biblehub 2:10


- What a beautiful prayer for God!


- It could be the prayer of faithful ones like Job, Daniel, Samuel, Moses, Abraham and others when they rejoice!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


134) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 3:1


Biblehub 1 Samuel 3:1


Hebrew

And the boy
וְהַנַּ֧עַר (wə·han·na·‘ar)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

Samuel
שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

ministered
מְשָׁרֵ֥ת (mə·šā·rêṯ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to

to
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Eli.
עֵלִ֑י (‘ê·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

Now in those
הָהֵ֔ם (hā·hêm)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

days
בַּיָּמִ֣ים (bay·yā·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

the word
וּדְבַר־ (ū·ḏə·ḇar-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

was
הָיָ֤ה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

rare
יָקָר֙ (yā·qār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3368: Precious, rare, splendid, weighty

and visions
חָז֖וֹן (ḥā·zō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2377: A sight, a dream, revelation, oracle

were
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

scarce.
נִפְרָֽץ׃ (nip̄·rāṣ)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6555: To break through


- Thus Samuel’s arrival is a good one or comes at the appropriate time!


- The situation in Israel is too bad so God is absent!


- Samuel will be required to put a new start in Israel to improve the situation in a certain way!


- But he will also have to deal with such a bad situation!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


135) Looking for Samuel




1 Samuel 3:2-9


Biblehub 1 Samuel 3:1



Biblehub 1 Samuel 3:9


- Here we have something exceptional!


- Samuel is sent to the House of God to serve him and this when he has just been weaned!


- In fact, he doesn’t know anything about God!


- But God will lead his path from the beginning!


- And he gets directly in contact with him from the beginning!


- What an incredible experience!


- Thus he will be taught directly by God from the beginning!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


136) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 3:10-14




Biblehub 1 Samuel 3:10



Biblehub 1 Samuel 3:14


- Imagine the situation: God speaks directly with Samuel who is just a boy!


- We can imagine that he will remember this event during his whole life!


- Something impossible to forget!


- And he tells him personally about his judgment on the house of Eli that is Eli and his sons!


- And he can see how Eli’s sons behave!


- And he can see that Eli doesn’t do anything!


- And he can see that God is patient!


- But when the appropriate time comes, he acts!


- And there is no way to escape!


- Does it remind you something about Israel!


- Do you really understand what it means for the human society!


- And here we can see that God says that Eli’s sons ARE CURSING GOD!


- AND WHEN YOU CURSE GOD YOU CAN’T ESCAPE!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


137) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 3:15


Biblehub 3:15


Hebrew

Samuel
שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

lay down
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב (way·yiš·kaḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the morning;
הַבֹּ֔קֶר (hab·bō·qer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

then he opened
וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח (way·yip̄·taḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

the doors
דַּלְת֣וֹת (dal·ṯō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door

of the LORD’s
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

house.
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

He
וּשְׁמוּאֵ֣ל (ū·šə·mū·’êl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

was afraid
יָרֵ֔א (yā·rê)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

to tell
מֵהַגִּ֥יד (mê·hag·gîḏ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

Eli
עֵלִֽי׃ (‘ê·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

the vision,
הַמַּרְאָ֖ה (ham·mar·’āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4759: A vision, a mirror


- That’s definitely interesting!

- Samuel perfectly understands God’s message!


- He knows it is a condemnation against Eli and his sons!


- But above all against Eli!


- And Eli is like a father to Samuel!


- And he is the one who teaches him about God’s service!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


138) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 3: 16,17


Biblehub 3:16

Biblehub 3:17


Hebrew

but Eli
עֵלִי֙ (‘ê·lî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh

called
וַיִּקְרָ֤א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

to him
שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

and said,
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Samuel,
שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

my son.”
בְּנִ֑י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

“Here I am,”
הִנֵּֽנִי׃ (hin·nê·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

answered Samuel.
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say



Hebrew

“What
מָ֤ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

was the message
הַדָּבָר֙ (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

He gave you?”
דִּבֶּ֣ר (dib·ber)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

Eli asked.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

hide
תְכַחֵ֖ד (ṯə·ḵa·ḥêḏ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3582: To secrete, by act, word, to destroy

it from me.
מִמֶּ֑נִּי (mim·men·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

May God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

punish
כֹּ֣ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

you,
לְּךָ֤ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

and ever so
וְכֹ֣ה (wə·ḵōh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

severely,
יוֹסִ֔יף (yō·w·sîp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you hide
תְּכַחֵ֤ד (tə·ḵa·ḥêḏ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3582: To secrete, by act, word, to destroy

from me
מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ (mim·men·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

anything
דָּבָ֔ר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

He said
דִּבֶּ֥ר (dib·ber)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue


to you.”
אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


- Once again it is really interesting!


- God hasn’t spoken to anyone in Israel for a long time!

- And now he speaks to a child!


- Eli knows what Samuel is going to tell him!


- Because he knows he is wrong!


- Do you remember Job: he knew he was right!


- Do you understand the similitude?


- So he warns Samuel!


- He wants to know each word!


- Because each word is important!


- Do you see the difference between God’s word and man’s tradition?


- Do you understand why they oppose?


- Do you understand that if you follow one you reject the other?


- You can’t serve two masters!


- You must choose one!
 
https://ilearnaboutthebible.blogspot.com/


139) Looking for Samuel


1 Samuel 3:18

- So Samuel tells him everything without hiding anything from him.


- Thus Eli knows definitely each word from God’s message!


- He knows it is too late to change the situation!


- He knows he is going to die!


- And he knows his sons are going to die!


- He knows he is too weak!


- And he knows he is going to pay the price!


- He has no excuse!


- May we listen to this message from God!
 
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