Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

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

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.

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.

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.

The people of Israel gather to attack Benjamin to avenge the death of the concubine at the hands of the people of Givon.

We read the horrific episode of the Concubine of Givah, and get a sense of the terrible moral decline of the people of Israel.

We read the very unfortunate tale of the Danites and how the idol of Micah led to the destruction of a peaceful town.

We read of the sorry tale of a young thief named Micah. After confessing his thievery from his own mother, he decides to build an idol and set up a house of worship.

No matter how much Samson tries to avoid his destiny, destiny catches upo to him.  Samson ends his life by destroying his oppressors and the oppressors of Israel.

Samson strays with a prostitute, and then finally meets the woman who will be his ultimate downfall.  He betrays his mission to save the people of Israel and is taken captive by the Phillistines.