Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Samuel 1:5 - The Holy Ark and the Game of Hot Potato

The Ark is in the hands of the Philistines, and it wreaks havoc wherever it resides.  The Philistines decide that they need to get rid of it and send it back to Israel.

Samuel 1:4b - The House of Eli is No More

Eli hears the news of the ark's capture and he topples over and breaks his neck, and his daughter-in-law goes into early labor and dies in childbirth.  Thus the reign of Eli ends in shame.

Samuel 1:4a - Even the Ark Won’t Save You

The people of Israel are taught that faith in an object will not help, not even the Ark of the Covenant.  Unfortunately, they don't learn the lesson yet.

Samuel 1:3 - Samuel’s Call to Prophecy

We read of Samuel's first prophecy, his humility and how his prophecy began to spread truth among Israel.  The downfall of the house of Eli is now inevitable.

Samuel 1:2c - When a Religious Leader Abuses His Power

We read of the downfall of Eli's family due to corruption and abuse.  The abuse of power leads to the necessity of another source of power, the political power of the King. The religious leadership of Eli's family has utterly failed.

Samuel 1:2b - The Despicable Behavior of Eli’s Son’s

We read of the despicable abuse of the young priests of the pilgrims to Shiloh, and the growth of the young man Samuel as he learned the ways of God.

Samuel 1:2a - Hannah’s Song

We read the beautiful song of Hannah which she sang upon bringing her young som Samuel to the Tabernacle.

Samuel 1:1 - Childless in Ramah

We read the story of Hannah, the childless wife of Elkanah.  She is tormented by her co-wife Peninah, and she presents herself at the tabernacle to pray.  God hears her prayer, and she devotes her son Samuel to a life of holiness.

Judges 21 - Finding Wives for the Surviving Benjaminites

The Book of Judges concludes with another example of the skewed sense of justice and unity among the people of Israel. Somehow, the tragedy of the loss of the tribe of Benjamin sets in, but the people "solve" the problem by slaughtering another town and having the Bejaminites steal women as wives.

Judges 20b - The Tribe of Benjamin is Defeated

The civil war rages on, and the people of Israel deploy an old strategy of feigned retreat.  This exposes the Benjaminites to an attack from the rear, and eventually utter defeat.