1ST SAMUEL.*

SAMUEL CALLED.

CHAPTER IX.

ILL CONDUCT OF ELI'S SONS. THE ARK TAKEN BY THE PHILISTINES.

DIES.

ELI

ELKANAH and his wife Hannah, of the tribe of Ephraim, were good and devout Israelites; and they went yearly up to Shiloh, where was the Tabernacle of the LORD, to offer sacrifice, and to worship. Now Hannah had no child, and was unhappy on this account: and when she went to offer her prayers to God, she wept before him, and prayed earnestly that He would grant her a child.

As she was thus weeping, and making her earnest supplication to that great Being, who has mercifully commanded his faithful children

* The First Book of Samuel, supposed to be written principally by the Prophet Samuel, takes up a period of about eighty years. It contains the history of Eli's high-priesthood, of Samuel's administration, of the anointing of Saul to be king, and of the whole of his reign; the last chapter giving the account of his death. Consequently, this book relates the early part of David's life, and all his achievements and escapes during the reign of Saul. Samuel is believed to have collected and arranged the earlier Books of the Old Testament; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.

to make their requests and petitions known unto him, her lips moved in the earnestness of her prayer; but she uttered no sound, speaking to herself. Eli, the high Priest, was near, and, observing her unusual behaviour, thought she had been drunken, and reproved her. But "Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial, (or a wicked woman): for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto."

"Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition, that thou hast asked of him."

"And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad."

Hannah's earnest prayer was granted, and she was blessed with a son, whom she called Samuel. And as she had made a vow that, if she had a son, she would dedicate him to the service of the LORD, she took the child up with her to Shiloh. Here he was received by Eli, and clothed with the linen ephod, or priest's garment, and employed in the service of the Tabernacle. "And the child Samuel grew before the LORD."

It was early manifested to the people, that the child thus devoted to the service of God from his infancy, was to be endowed with the pro

able home for Ruth. She accordingly commanded her to anoint herself and put on her raiment, (meaning probably her dress of ceremony), and go to Boaz at the threshing floor, when he should have lain down after the fatigue and festivity of the evening, after he and his people had been winnowing the new corn, and there make herself known to him as the widow of his near kinsman, and claim the right to be his wife, according to the law of the Israelites. This appears to have been in strict conformity with the customs of the time and country, and on that account was adopted by Naomi; for Boaz in reply promised to do all that she required, adding as a reason, "for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

Boaz then informed Ruth that there was another kinsman living, nearer in relation to her husband than himself, who must give up his claim before he could lawfully marry her, and that he would himself apply to him.

Accordingly, in the morning, Boaz went up to the gate, or place of public assembly in the city, and, taking ten of the elders as witnesses, he demanded of the man who was next of kin to Ruth's former husband, whether he were willing to buy and redeem the land belonging to the family, which Naomi the widow intended to sell. To this the kinsman replied that he was willing, and would redeem it. Boaz then said, that the day on which he bought the field, he must marry

the wife of the dead, Ruth the Moabitess, "to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance."* This the kinsman refused to do, lest he should mar his own inheritance, and said to Boaz, "redeem thou my right to thyself, for I cannot redeem it." "Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing; for to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe."

The claim of the nearest kinsman being thus formally relinquished, Boaz married Ruth. They had a son who was named Obed; he was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.

* The first child of the second marriage was considered in law as the child of the deceased husband, and was thus said to continue his name in his inheritance. These strict laws with regard to landed property were necessary for preserving the ancient divisions of land amongst the tribes, for preventing one family from enlarging its estates at the expense of its neighbours, and for keeping the genealogy of the families and tribes clear and distinct; so that no question might be raised regarding the descent of the Messiah from David.

phetic spirit. While yet a child, he was chosen to announce a second time the displeasure of the LORD against Eli, because of the wickedness of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. These wretched and depraved men committed crimes of the deepest dye openly, and within the very precincts of the Tabernacle. They performed the sacrifices in the most irreverent and disgraceful manner; seizing for themselves such portions of the meat as gratified their appetites, insulting the devout worshippers, and leading the weak or less virtuously disposed into sin. These scenes of vice and impiety were daily witnessed by the people, and were permitted by Eli; it is true that he disapproved of the conduct of his sons, and remonstrated with them on its extreme sinfulness: but, as their father, it was his duty to have prevented it; and as High Priest, he was doubly guilty in suffering the holy offices of the Tabernacle worship to be profaned with impunity, merely because the offenders were his own children. He who possesses power, is answerable for the just and proper exercise of that power; and this was strikingly proved in the case of Eli. While the crimes of his sons were at their height, a man of God was sent to denounce their punishment; because they had despised the LORD, and paid no regard to his commands; and because Eli honored his sons, more than he honored God, the Prophet declared to him that those very sons should both die in one day, and "there should not be an old man in his