The Youth and Judgeship of Navi Shemuel
The Anointing and Rejection of Melekh Shaul Yisrael
The Parallel lives of Shaul and David to the Death of Shaul
The Account of Shaul pursuit after David - See Map of Fugiitive-David
Death of Melekh Shaul and Yonatan
1. The youth and judgeship of Shemuel
1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramatayim Tzofim ( הרמתים צופים), of Har Efrayim, and his name [was] Elkanah Ben Yeroham Ben Elihu Ben Tohu Ben Zuph, an Efrati (Ephraimite):
1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Channah (חנּה), and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Channah (חנּה) had no children.
1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to YEHOVAH (יהוה) Tzva'ot in Shiloh. And the two banim of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the Kohanim of YEHOVAH (יהוה), [were] there.
1:4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her banim and her banot, portions:
1:5 But to Channah (חנּה) he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Channah (חנּה): but YEHOVAH (יהוה) had shut up her womb.
1:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because YEHOVAH (יהוה) had shut up her womb.
1:7 And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the beit YEHOVAH (יהוה), so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1:8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her,
"Channah (חנּה), why do you weep? and why do you not eat? and why is your heart grieved? Am I not more to you than ten banim?
1:9 So Channah (חנּה) rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli ha Kohen sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of YEHOVAH (יהוה).
1:10 And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed to YEHOVAH (יהוה), and wept sore.
1:11 Then she vowed a vow, and said,
"O YEHOVAH (יהוה) Tzva'ot, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant, and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give to Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to YEHOVAH (יהוה) all the days of his life, and no razor come upon his head."
1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before YEHOVAH (יהוה), that Eli marked her mouth.
1:13 Now Channah (חנּה), she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
1:14 And Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? put away your wine from your.
1:15 And Channah (חנּה) answered and said, No, my master, I [am] a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before YEHOVAH (יהוה).
1:16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now."
1:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the Elohim (אלהים) of Yisrael grant [you] your petition that you have asked of him.
1:18 And she said, Let your maidservant find grace in your sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more [sad].
1:19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before YEHOVAH (יהוה), and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Channah (חנּה) his wife; and YEHOVAH (יהוה) remembered her.
1:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Channah (חנּה) had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Shemuel (שׁמוּאל), [saying], Because I have asked him of YEHOVAH (יהוה).
1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to YEHOVAH (יהוה) the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1:22 But Channah (חנּה) went not 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 YEHOVAH (יהוה), and there abide for ever.
1:23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seemeth your good; tarry until you have weaned him; only YEHOVAH (יהוה) establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the beit YEHOVAH (יהוה) in Shiloh: and the child [was] young.
1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
1:26 And she said, Oh my master, [as] your soul lives, my master, I [am] the woman that stood by your here, praying to YEHOVAH (יהוה).
1:27 For this child I prayed; and YEHOVAH (יהוה) has given me my petition which I asked of him:
1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to YEHOVAH (יהוה); as long as he lives he shall be lent to YEHOVAH (יהוה). And he worshipped YEHOVAH (יהוה) there.
This book record the life of Shemuel, Yisrael's last judge, the reign and decline of melekh Sha'ul , the first king and the choice and preparation of David, Yisrael's greatest king.
This book begins in the days of the judges and describes Yisrael's transition from a theocracy which was led by Hashem to a monarchy led by earthly kings. Yisrael prospered as long as the people regarded Hashem as their true Melekh. However the people wanted like their neighbour to have an earthly king. Establishing a monarchy did not solve Yisrael's problem
Key people :
Eli, Channah, Navi Shemuel, melekh Sha'ul , Yonatan and David
Key Places
Ramah Shemuel birth place and burial; Shiloh The Focal poin of Yisrael's worship was at shiloh where the tabernacle and the Ark of covenant resided; Kiriat Yearim; Mizpah; Gigal valley of Elah, wilderness of Ziph, Mount Gilboa Ziklag
Tel (mound) Beit Shemesh covers about 7 acres of a low hill, near the modern town of Beit Shemesh, some 20 km. west of Jerusalem. It overlooks the Sorek Valley, which widens here into a fertile valley.
The name Beit Shemesh (House of the Sun) is suggestive of the deity that was worshipped by the Canaanite inhabitants of the ancient city.