Editing Books of Samuel (section)

====Samuel (1:1–7:17)====

=====The childhood of Samuel (1:1–4:1a)=====
A man named [[Elkanah]], an [[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraimite]] from the city of [[Ramathaim-Zophim]], has two wives, [[Peninnah]] and [[Hannah (biblical figure)|Hannah]], the latter of whom is his favourite wife. A rivalry between the two develops based on the fact that Peninnah has children and Hannah does not. The childless Hannah vows to [[Yahweh]], the [[Sabaoth|lord of hosts]], that if she has a son, he will be dedicated to God. [[Eli (Bible)|Eli]], the priest of [[Shiloh (biblical city)|Shiloh]], where the [[Ark of the Covenant]] is located, thinks she is drunk, but when he realises she is praying, he blesses her. A child named [[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]] is born, and Samuel is dedicated to the Lord as a [[Nazirite]]{{snd}}the only one besides [[Samson]] to be identified in the Bible. Hannah sings a [[Song of Hannah|song of praise]] upon the fulfilment of her vow.

Eli's sons, [[Hophni and Phinehas]], sin against God's laws and the people, specifically by demanding raw rather than boiled meat for sacrifice and having sex with the [[Tabernacle]]'s serving women. However, Samuel grows up "in the presence of the Lord": his family visits him each year, bringing him a new coat, and Hannah has five more children. Eli tries to persuade his sons to stop their wickedness but fails. As punishment for this, a holy man arrives, prophesying that Eli's family will be cut off and none of his descendants will see old age.

One night, God calls Samuel, and, thinking Eli is calling him three times, he rushes to Eli. Eli informs him that God wishes to speak to him, and God informs Samuel that the earlier prophecy about Eli's family is correct. Samuel is initially afraid to inform Eli, but Eli tells him not to be, and that God will do what is good in His sight. Over time, Samuel grows up and is recognised as a prophet.

=====The Ark in Philistine hands (4:1b–7:17)=====
The [[Philistines]], despite their initial worries when hearing the Israelite ritual of the entrance of the [[Ark of the Covenant]], defeat the Israelites at the [[Battle of Aphek]], [[Philistine captivity of the Ark|capturing the Ark]] and killing Hophni and Phinehas, thus fulfilling the earlier prophecy. When Eli hears of these two events, particularly the capture of the Ark, he falls off his chair and dies. His daughter-in-law, in turn, goes into labour at this, and names her son [[Ichabod]] ('without glory') in commemoration of the capture of the Ark.

Meanwhile, the Philistines take the Ark to the temple of their god [[Dagon]], who recognizes the supremacy of Yahweh. The Philistines are afflicted with plagues, are unable to take the Ark into any city on account of the fear of the populations of those cities, and return the ark to the Israelites, but to the territory of the [[tribe of Benjamin]], to the city of [[Beit Shemesh|Beth Shemesh]], rather than to Shiloh, from where it is passed to the city of [[Kiriath-Jearim|Kiriath Jearim]], where a new priest, [[Eleazar, son of Abinadab]], is appointed to guard the ark for the twenty years it is there. The Philistines attack the Israelites gathered at [[Mizpah in Gilead (Judges)|Mizpah]] in Benjamin. Samuel appeals to God, the Philistines are decisively beaten, and the Israelites reclaim their lost territory. Samuel sets up the [[Eben-Ezer]] (the stone of help) in remembrance of the battle, and takes his place as judge of Israel.