Samuel & King Saul

and he saith to them, `Why do ye things like these? for I am hearing of your evil words from all the people--these!

Nay, my sons; for the report which I am hearing is not good causing the people of Jehovah to transgress. --

If a man sin against a man, then hath God judged him; but if against Jehovah a man sin, who doth pray for him?' and they hearken not to the voice of their father, though Jehovah hath delighted to put them to death.

And the youth Samuel is going on and growing up, and is good both with Jehovah, and also with men.

And there cometh a man of God unto Eli, and saith unto him, `Thus said Jehovah, Was I really revealed unto the house of thy father in their being in Egypt, before Pharaoh's house,

even to choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to Me for a priest, to go up on Mine altar, to make a perfume, to bear an ephod before Me, and I give to the house of thy father all the fire-offerings of the sons of Israel?

Why do ye kick at My sacrifice, and at Mine offering which I commanded in My habitation, and dost honour thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat from the first part of every offering of Israel, of My people?

`Therefore--the affirmation of Jehovah, God of Israel--I certainly said, Thy house and the house of thy father, do walk up and down before Me to the age; and now--the affirmation of Jehovah--Far be it from Me! for he who is honouring Me, I honour, and those despising Me, are lightly esteemed.

`Lo, days are coming, and I have cut off thine arm, and the arm of the house of thy father, that an old man is not in thy house;

and thou hast beheld an adversary in My habitation, in all that He doth good with Israel, and there is not an old man in thy house all the days.

`And the man I cut not off of thine from Mine altar, is to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thy soul; and all the increase of thy house do die men;

and this is to thee the sign that cometh unto thy two sons, unto Hophni and Phinehas--in one day they die both of them;

and I have raised up for Me a stedfast priest; as in My heart and in My soul he doth do; and I have built for him a stedfast house, and he hath walked up and down before Mine anointed all the days;

and it hath been, every one who is left in thy house doth come in to bow himself to him, for a wage of silver, and a cake of bread, and hath said, Admit me, I pray thee, unto one of the priest's offices, to eat a morsel of bread.'

And the youth Samuel is serving Jehovah before Eli, and the word of Jehovah hath been precious in those days--there is no vision broken forth.

And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Eli is lying down in his place, and his eyes have begun to be dim--he is not able to see.

And the lamp of God is not yet extinguished, and Samuel is lying down in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God is ,

and Jehovah calleth unto Samuel, and he saith, `Here am I.'

And he runneth unto Eli, and saith, `Here am I, for thou hast called for me;' and he saith, `I called not; turn back, lie down;' and he goeth and lieth down.

And Jehovah addeth to call again Samuel, and Samuel riseth and goeth unto Eli, and saith, `Here am I, for thou hast called for me;' and he saith, `I have not called, my son, turn back, lie down.'

And Samuel hath not yet known Jehovah, and the word of Jehovah is not yet revealed unto him.

And Jehovah addeth to call Samuel the third time, and he riseth and goeth unto Eli, and saith, `Here am I, for thou hast called for me;' and Eli understandeth that Jehovah is calling to the youth.

And Eli saith to Samuel, `Go, lie down, and it hath been, if He doth call unto thee, that thou hast said, Speak, Jehovah, for Thy servant is hearing;' and Samuel goeth and lieth down in his place.

And Jehovah cometh, and stationeth Himself, and calleth as time by time, `Samuel, Samuel;' and Samuel saith, `Speak, for Thy servant is hearing.'

And Jehovah saith unto Samuel, `Lo, I am doing a thing in Israel, at which the two ears of every one hearing it do tingle.