1 Samuel 2-5
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 2
1Then Hannah prayed and said, 'My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. 3Do not go on boasting so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty are broken to pieces, But those who have stumbled strap on strength. 5Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease to be hungry. Even the infertile woman gives birth to seven, But she who has many children languishes. 6The LORD puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and brings up. 7The LORD makes poor and rich; He humbles, He also exalts. 8He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the garbage heap To seat them with nobles, And He gives them a seat of honor as an inheritance; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, And He set the world on them. 9He watches over the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a person prevail.
12Now the sons of Eli were useless men; they did not know the LORD.
13And this was the custom of the priests with the people: when anyone was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was cooking, with a three-pronged fork in his hand.
14And he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; everything that the fork brought up, the priest would take for himself. They did so in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
15Also, before they burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, 'Give the priest meat for roasting, as he will not take cooked meat from you, only raw.'
16And if the man said to him, 'They must burn the fat first, then take as much as you desire,' then he would say, 'No, but you must give it to me now; and if not, I am taking it by force!'
17And so the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD disrespectfully.
18Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.
19And his mother would make for him a little robe and bring it up to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, 'May the LORD give you children from this woman in place of the one she requested of the LORD.' And they went to their own home.
22Now Eli was very old; and he heard about everything that his sons were doing to all Israel, and that they slept with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
23So he said to them, 'Why are you doing such things as these, the evil things that I hear from all these people?
24No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the LORD’S people circulating.
25If one person sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a person sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?' But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.
27Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, 'This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not indeed reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house?
28Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel?
29Why are you showing contempt for My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded for My dwelling, and why are you honoring your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’
30Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father was to walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant.
31Behold, the days are coming when I will eliminate your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
32And you will look at the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all the good that I do for Israel; and there will never be an old man in your house.
33Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar, so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life.
34And this will be the sign to you which will come in regard to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die.
35But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.
36And everyone who is left in your house will come to bow down to him for a silver coin or a loaf of bread and say, 'Please assign me to one of the priest’s offices so that I may eat a piece of bread.'?’?'
2But it happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to be poor and he could not see well),
3and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was,
4that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, 'Here I am.'
5Then he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' But he said, 'I did not call, go back and lie down.' So he went and lay down.
6And the LORD called yet again, 'Samuel!' So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' But he said, 'I did not call, my son, go back and lie down.'
7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.
8So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
9And Eli said to Samuel, 'Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’?' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10Then the LORD came and stood, and called as at the other times: 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening.'
11Then the LORD said to Samuel, 'Behold, I am going to do a thing in Israel, and both ears of everyone who hears about it will ring.
12On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I have spoken in regard to his house, from beginning to end.
13For I have told him that I am going to judge his house forever for the wrongdoing that he knew, because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.
14Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the wrongdoing of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'
15So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.
16Then Eli called Samuel and said, 'Samuel, my son.' And he said, 'Here I am.'
17He said, 'What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do the same to you, and more so, if you hide a single word from me of all the words that He spoke to you!'
18So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, 'He is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.'
19Now Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and He let none of his words fail.
20And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
21And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, because the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
Chapter 4
1So the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle, and they camped beside Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped in Aphek. 2Then the Philistines drew up in battle formation to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield. 3When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, 'Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let’s take the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that He may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.' 4So the people sent men to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of armies who is enthroned above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD was coming into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded.
6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, 'What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?' Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.
7So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, 'God has come into the camp!' And they said, 'Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.
8Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9Take courage and be men, Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; so be men and fight!'
10So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the defeat was very great, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
11Moreover, the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn, and dust on his head.
13When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road keeping watch, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. And the man came to give a report in the city, and all the city cried out.
14When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, 'What does the noise of this commotion mean?' Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli.
15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were fixed and he could not see.
16The man said to Eli, 'I am the one who came from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.' And he said, 'How are things, my son?'
17Then the one who brought the news replied, 'Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great defeat among the people, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas are also dead; and the ark of God has been taken.'
18When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. And so he judged Israel for forty years.
19Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she heard the news that the ark of God had been taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, because her pains came upon her.
20And about the time of her death the women who were standing by her said to her, 'Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.' But she did not answer or pay attention.
21And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel,' because the ark of God had been taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22So she said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God has been taken.'
Chapter 5
1Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and placed it beside Dagon. 3When the Ashdodites got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. 4But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left. 5For that reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who enter Dagon’s house step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He made them feel devastated and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.
7When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, 'The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, because His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.'
8So they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines to them, and said, 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' And they said, 'Have the ark of the God of Israel brought to Gath.' So they took the ark of the God of Israel away.
9After they had taken it away, the hand of the LORD was against the city, creating a very great panic; and He struck the people of the city, from the young to the old, so that tumors broke out on them.
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, 'They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!'
11Therefore they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines, and said, 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people!' For there was a deadly panic throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12And the people who did not die were struck with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
King James Version
Chapter 2
1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. 9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
11And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
12Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
19Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
21And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
22Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.
25If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
27And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
35And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
36And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
Chapter 3
1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
Chapter 4
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. 3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. 6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. 7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. 8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
12And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
13And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
15Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
16And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
17And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
20And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
21And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
Chapter 5
1And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
6But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
7And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
8They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.
9And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
10Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
11So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 2
1Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is lifted up by the Lord. My mouth boasts over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. 2There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you! And there is no rock like our God. 3Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogant words come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him. 4The bows of the warriors are broken, but the feeble are clothed with strength. 5Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more. The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away. 6The Lord brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up. 7The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth; he humbles and he exalts. 8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's; he has set the world on them. 9He guards the steps of his faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness, for a person does not prevail by his own strength. 10Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered; he will thunder in the heavens against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give power to his king; he will lift up the horn of his anointed.
12Eli's sons were wicked men; they did not respect the Lord
13or the priests' share of the sacrifices from the people. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling
14and plunge it into the container, kettle, cauldron, or cooking pot. The priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is the way they treated all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.
15Even before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, "Give the priest some meat to roast, because he won't accept boiled meat from you--only raw."
16If that person said to him, "The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself," the servant would reply, "No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don't, I'll take it by force! "
17So the servants' sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because the men treated the Lord's offering with contempt.
18Samuel served in the Lord's presence--this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.
19Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
20Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife: "May the Lord give you children by this woman in place of the one she has given to the Lord." Then they would go home.
22Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
23He said to them, "Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people.
24No, my sons, the news I hear the Lord's people spreading is not good.
25If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him? " But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them.
26By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
27A man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the Lord says: 'Didn't I reveal myself to your forefather's family when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh's palace?
28Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your forefather's family all the Israelite food offerings.
29Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.'
30"Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: 'I did say that your family and your forefather's family would walk before me forever. But now,' this is the Lord's declaration, 'no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced.
31Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather's family, so that none in your family will reach old age.
32You will see distress in the place of worship, in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.
33Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.
34This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: both of them will die on the same day.
35" 'Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.
36Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.' "
2One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place.
3Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located.
8Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am; you called me."Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.
9He told Samuel, "Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
11The Lord said to Samuel, "I am about to do something in Israel that will cause everyone who hears about it to shudder.
12On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end.
13I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them.
14Therefore, I have sworn to Eli's family: The iniquity of Eli's family will never be wiped out by either sacrifice or offering."
17"What was the message he gave you? " Eli asked. "Don't hide it from me. May God punish you and do so severely if you hide anything from me that he told you."
18So Samuel told him everything and did not hide anything from him. Eli responded, "He is the Lord. Let him do what he thinks is good."
19Samuel grew. The Lord was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.
20All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord.
21The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word.
Chapter 4
1And Samuel's words came to all Israel. Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 2The Philistines lined up in battle formation against Israel, and as the battle intensified, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.
3When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the Lord defeat us today before the Philistines? Let's bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from our enemies."
4So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5When the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a loud shout that the ground shook.
6The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, "What's this loud shout in the Hebrews' camp? " When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp,
7they panicked. "A god has entered their camp! " they said. "Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before.
8Woe to us! Who will rescue us from these magnificent gods? These are the gods that slaughtered the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9Show some courage and be men, Philistines! Otherwise, you'll serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight! "
10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe--thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell.
11The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head.
13When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair beside the road waiting, because he was anxious about the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the entire city cried out.
14Eli heard the outcry and asked, "Why this commotion? " The man quickly came and reported to Eli.
15At that time Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes didn't move because he couldn't see.
17The messenger answered, "Israel has fled from the Philistines, and also there was a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured."
18When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off the chair by the city gate, and since he was old and heavy, his neck broke and he died. Eli had judged Israel forty years.
19Eli's daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news about the capture of God's ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth because her labor pains came on her.
20As she was dying, the women taking care of her said, "Don't be afraid. You've given birth to a son! " But she did not respond or pay attention.
21She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," referring to the capture of the ark of God and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
22"The glory has departed from Israel," she said, "because the ark of God has been captured."
Chapter 5
1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, 2brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue. 3When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. 4But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. This time, Dagon's head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon's torso remained. 5That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon's threshold.
6The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod. He terrified the people of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors.
7When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of Israel's God must not stay here with us, because his hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon."
8So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, "What should we do with the ark of Israel's God? ""The ark of Israel's God should be moved to Gath," they replied. So they moved the ark of Israel's God.
9After they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.
11The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, "Send the ark of Israel's God away. Let it return to its place so it won't kill us and our people! " For the fear of death pervaded the city; God's hand was oppressing them.
12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
New Living Translation
Chapter 2
1Then Hannah prayed: 'My heart rejoices in the LORD! The LORD has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. 2No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
3'Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don't speak with such arrogance! For the LORD is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions.
4The bow of the mighty is now broken, and those who stumbled are now strong.
5Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full. The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away.
6The LORD gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.
7The LORD makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.
8He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD's, and he has set the world in order.
9'He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.
10Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered. He thunders against them from heaven; the LORD judges throughout the earth. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one.'
12Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the LORD
13or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli's sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling,
14the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli's sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way.
15Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal's fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.
16The man offering the sacrifice might reply, 'Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.' Then the servant would demand, 'No, give it to me now, or I'll take it by force.'
17So the sin of these young men was very serious in the LORD's sight, for they treated the LORD's offerings with contempt.
18But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the LORD. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest.
19Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice.
20Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, 'May the LORD give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the LORD.'
21And the LORD gave Hannah three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
22Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
23Eli said to them, 'I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning?
24You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the LORD's people are not good.
25If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede?' But Eli's sons wouldn't listen to their father, for the LORD was already planning to put them to death.
27One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the LORD: 'I revealed myself to your ancestors when the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt.
28I chose your ancestor Aaron from among all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear the priestly vest as he served me. And I assigned the sacrificial offerings to you priests.
29So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me--for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel!
30'Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.
31The time is coming when I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. All the members of your family will die before their time. None will reach old age.
32You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days.
33Those who survive will live in sadness and grief, and their children will die a violent death.
34And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!
35'Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever.
36Then all of your surviving family will bow before him, begging for money and food. 'Please,' they will say, 'give us jobs among the priests so we will have enough to eat.''
2One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed.
3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
8So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. 'Here I am. Did you call me?' Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy.
9So he said to Samuel, 'Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, 'Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.'' So Samuel went back to bed.
11Then the LORD said to Samuel, 'I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.
12I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end.
13I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn't disciplined them.
14So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.'
17'What did the LORD say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!'
18So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn't hold anything back. 'It is the LORD's will,' Eli replied. 'Let him do what he thinks best.'
19As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.
20And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.
21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
Chapter 4
1And Samuel's words went out to all the people of Israel. At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. 2The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 3After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, 'Why did the LORD allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?' Then they said, 'Let's bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.'
4So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of Heaven's Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God.
5When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
6'What's going on?' the Philistines asked. 'What's all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?' When they were told it was because the Ark of the LORD had arrived,
7they panicked. 'The gods have come into their camp!' they cried. 'This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before!
8Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness.
9Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don't, we will become the Hebrews' slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!'
10So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents.
11The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
12A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief.
13Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God. When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town.
14'What is all the noise about?' Eli asked. The messenger rushed over to Eli,
15who was ninety-eight years old and blind.
19Eli's daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth.
20She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. 'Don't be afraid,' they said. 'You have a baby boy!' But she did not answer or pay attention to them.
21She named the child Ichabod (which means 'Where is the glory?'), for she said, 'Israel's glory is gone.' She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead.
22Then she said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.'
Chapter 5
1After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. 2They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon. 3But when the citizens of Ashdod went to see it the next morning, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the LORD! So they took Dagon and put him in his place again. 4But the next morning the same thing happened--Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the LORD again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact. 5That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.
6Then the LORD's heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors.
7When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, 'We can't keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god.'
8So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, 'What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?' The rulers discussed it and replied, 'Move it to the town of Gath.' So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath.
9But when the Ark arrived at Gath, the LORD's heavy hand fell on its men, young and old; he struck them with a plague of tumors, and there was a great panic.
10So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, 'They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!'
11The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, 'Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.' For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town.
12Those who didn't die were afflicted with tumors; and the cry from the town rose to heaven.
English Standard Version
2“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
3Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
5Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
6The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.
8He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.
9“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.
10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest.
12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.
13The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,
14and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
15Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.”
16And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”
17Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt.
18Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.
19And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the LORD give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the LORD.” So then they would return to their home.
22Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
23And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people.
24No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.
25If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.
26Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.
27And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh?
28Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel.
29Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’
30Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.
32Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.
33The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men.
34And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day.
35And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.
36And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, “Please put me in one of the priests’ places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”’”
2At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
4Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”
5and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
6And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”
7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.
9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
11Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
12On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.
13And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.
14Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”
15Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.
16But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.”
17And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.”
18So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”
19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD.
21And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
2The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
3And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.”
4So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5As soon as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.
6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp,
7the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.
8Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.
9Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.”
10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.
11And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.
13When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.
14When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hurried and came and told Eli.
15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see.
16And the man said to Eli, “I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” And he said, “How did it go, my son?”
17He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
18As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
19Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.
20And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention.
21And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”
Chapter 5
1When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.
7And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.”
8So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.
9But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them.
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.”
11They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there.
12The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
New International Version
3Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
4The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
6The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
12Eli's sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD.
13Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled
14and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh.
15But even before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, 'Give the priest some meat to roast; he won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.'
18But Samuel was ministering before the LORD--a boy wearing a linen ephod.
19Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
20Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, 'May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the LORD.' Then they would go home.
21And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.
22Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
23So he said to them, 'Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours.
24No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the LORD's people is not good.
25If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the LORD, who will intercede for them?' His sons, however, did not listen to their father's rebuke, for it was the LORD's will to put them to death.
27Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, 'This is what the LORD says: 'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor's family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh?
28I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor's family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites.
29Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?'
30Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.' But now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.
31The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age,
32and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.
33Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.
34'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you--they will both die on the same day.
35I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.
36Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, 'Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.'''
2One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
8A third time the LORD called, 'Samuel!' And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.' Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
9So Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
11And the LORD said to Samuel: 'See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.
12At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end.
13For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.
14Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.''
17What was it he said to you?' Eli asked. 'Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.'
18So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, 'He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.'
19The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD.
21The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Chapter 4
1And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, 'Why did the LORD bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.'
6Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, 'What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?' When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,
7the Philistines were afraid. 'A god has come into the camp,' they said. 'Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before.
8We're doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.
9Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!'
10So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers.
11The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
12That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
13When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.
14Eli heard the outcry and asked, 'What is the meaning of this uproar?' The man hurried over to Eli,
15who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see.
19His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains.
20As she was dying, the women attending her said, 'Don't despair; you have given birth to a son.' But she did not respond or pay any attention.
21She named the boy Ichabod, saying, 'The Glory has departed from Israel'--because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.
22She said, 'The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.'
Chapter 5
1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. 3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6The LORD's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.
7When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, 'The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.'
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, 'They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.'
11So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, 'Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.' For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy on it.
12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
La Biblia de las Américas
Chapter 2
1Entonces Ana oró y dijo : Mi corazón se regocija en el SEÑOR, mi fortaleza en el SEÑOR se exalta ; mi boca sin temor habla contra mis enemigos, por cuanto me regocijo en tu salvación. 2No hay santo como el SEÑOR ; en verdad, no hay otro fuera de ti, ni hay roca como nuestro Dios. 3No os jactéis más con tanto orgullo, no salga la arrogancia de vuestra boca ; porque el SEÑOR es Dios de sabiduría, y por El son pesadas las acciones. 4Quebrados son los arcos de los fuertes, pero los débiles se ciñen de poder. 5Los que estaban saciados se alquilan por pan, y dejan de tener hambre los que estaban hambrientos. Aun la estéril da a luz a siete, mas la que tiene muchos hijos languidece. 6El SEÑOR da muerte y da vida ; hace bajar al Seol y hace subir. 7El SEÑOR empobrece y enriquece ; humilla y también exalta. 8Levanta del polvo al pobre, del muladar levanta al necesitado para hacerlos sentar con los príncipes, y heredar un sitio de honor; pues las columnas de la tierra son del SEÑOR, y sobre ellas ha colocado el mundo. 9El guarda los pies de sus santos, mas los malvados son acallados en tinieblas, pues no por la fuerza ha de prevalecer el hombre. 10Los que contienden con el SEÑOR serán quebrantados, El tronará desde los cielos contra ellos. El SEÑOR juzgará los confines de la tierra, a su rey dará fortaleza, y ensalzará el poder de su ungido.
12Los hijos de Elí eran hombres indignos ; no conocían al SEÑOR
13ni la costumbre de los sacerdotes con el pueblo: cuando algún hombre ofrecía sacrificio, venía el criado del sacerdote con un tenedor de tres dientes en su mano mientras se cocía la carne,
14lo introducía en la cazuela, la olla, la caldera o el caldero, y todo lo que el tenedor sacaba, lo tomaba el sacerdote para sí. Así hacían en Silo con todos los israelitas que allí iban.
15Asimismo, antes de quemar la grosura, el criado del sacerdote venía y decía al hombre que ofrecía sacrificio: Da al sacerdote carne para asar, pues no aceptará de ti carne cocida, sino solamente cruda.
16Y si el hombre le decía: Ciertamente deben quemar primero la grosura y después toma todo lo que quieras ; él respondía: No, sino que me la darás ahora, y si no la tomaré por la fuerza.
17El pecado de los jóvenes era muy grande delante del SEÑOR, porque los hombres menospreciaban la ofrenda del SEÑOR.
18Samuel siendo niño, ministraba delante del SEÑOR, usando un efod de lino.
19Su madre le hacía una túnica pequeña cada año, y se la traía cuando subía con su marido a ofrecer el sacrificio anual.
20Entonces Elí bendecía a Elcana y a su mujer, y decía : Que el SEÑOR te dé hijos de esta mujer en lugar del que ella dedicó al SEÑOR. Y regresaban a su casa.
21Y el SEÑOR visitó a Ana, y ella concibió y dio a luz tres hijos y dos hijas. Y el niño Samuel crecía delante del SEÑOR.
22Elí era ya muy anciano; oyó todo lo que sus hijos estaban haciendo a todo Israel, y cómo se acostaban con las mujeres que servían a la entrada de la tienda de reunión,
23y les dijo: ¿Por qué hacéis estas cosas, las cosas malas de que oigo hablar a todo este pueblo?
24No, hijos míos; porque no es bueno el informe que oigo circular por el pueblo del SEÑOR.
25Si un hombre peca contra otro, Dios mediará por él ; pero si un hombre peca contra el SEÑOR, ¿quién intercederá por él ? Pero ellos no escucharon la voz de su padre, porque el SEÑOR quería que murieran.
26Y el niño Samuel crecía en estatura y en gracia para con el SEÑOR y para con los hombres.
27Entonces un hombre de Dios vino a Elí y le dijo: Así dice el SEÑOR: “¿No me revelé ciertamente a la casa de tu padre cuando ellos estaban en Egipto, esclavos de la casa de Faraón?
28“¿No los escogí de entre todas las tribus de Israel para ser mis sacerdotes, para subir a mi altar, para quemar incienso, para llevar un efod delante de mí ? ¿No di a la casa de tu padre todas las ofrendas encendidas de los hijos de Israel ?
29“¿Por qué pisoteáis mi sacrificio y mi ofrenda que he ordenado en mi morada, y honras a tus hijos más que a mí, engordándoos con lo mejor de cada ofrenda de mi pueblo Israel?”
30Por tanto, el SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, declara: “Ciertamente yo había dicho que tu casa y la casa de tu padre andarían delante de mí para siempre ”; pero ahora el SEÑOR declara: “Lejos esté esto de mí, porque yo honraré a los que me honran, y los que me menosprecian serán tenidos en poco.
31“He aquí, vienen días cuando cortaré tu fuerza, y la fuerza de la casa de tu padre, y no habrá anciano en tu casa.
32“Y verás la angustia de mi morada, a pesar de todo el bien que hago a Israel; y nunca habrá anciano en tu casa.
33“Sin embargo, a algunos de los tuyos no cortaré de mi altar para que tus ojos se consuman llorando y tu alma sufra ; pero todos los nacidos en tu casa morirán en la flor de la juventud.
34“Y para ti, ésta será la señal que vendrá en cuanto a tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finees: en el mismo día morirán los dos.
35“Pero levantaré para mí un sacerdote fiel que hará conforme a los deseos de mi corazón y de mi alma ; y le edificaré una casa duradera, y él andará siempre delante de mi ungido.
36“Y acontecerá que todo aquel que haya quedado de tu casa vendrá y se postrará ante él por una moneda de plata o una torta de pan, y dirá: ‘Asígname a uno de los oficios sacerdotales para que pueda comer un bocado de pan.’”
Chapter 3
1El joven Samuel servía al SEÑOR en presencia de Elí. La palabra del SEÑOR escaseaba en aquellos días, las visiones no eran frecuentes. 2Y aconteció un día, estando Elí acostado en su aposento (sus ojos habían comenzado a oscurecerse y no podía ver bien ), 3cuando la lámpara de Dios aún no se había apagado y Samuel estaba acostado en el templo del SEÑOR donde estaba el arca de Dios, 4que el SEÑOR llamó a Samuel, y él respondió: Aquí estoy. 5Entonces corrió a Elí y le dijo: Aquí estoy, pues me llamaste. Pero Elí le respondió: Yo no he llamado, vuelve a acostarte. Y él fue y se acostó. 6El SEÑOR volvió a llamar: ¡Samuel! Y Samuel se levantó, fue a Elí y dijo: Aquí estoy, pues me llamaste. Pero él respondió: Yo no he llamado, hijo mío, vuelve a acostarte. 7Y Samuel no conocía aún al SEÑOR, ni se le había revelado aún la palabra del SEÑOR. 8El SEÑOR volvió a llamar a Samuel por tercera vez. Y él se levantó, fue a Elí y dijo: Aquí estoy, pues me llamaste. Entonces Elí comprendió que el SEÑOR estaba llamando al muchacho. 9Y Elí dijo a Samuel: Ve y acuéstate, y si El te llama, dirás: “Habla, SEÑOR, que tu siervo escucha.” Y Samuel fue y se acostó en su aposento.
10Entonces vino el SEÑOR y se detuvo, y llamó como en las otras ocasiones: ¡Samuel, Samuel! Y Samuel respondió: Habla, que tu siervo escucha.
11Y el SEÑOR dijo a Samuel: He aquí, estoy a punto de hacer una cosa en Israel la cual hará retiñir ambos oídos a todo aquel que la oiga.
12Ese día cumpliré contra Elí todo lo que he hablado sobre su casa, desde el principio hasta el fin.
13Porque le he hecho saber que estoy a punto de juzgar su casa para siempre a causa de la iniquidad que él conocía, pues sus hijos trajeron sobre sí una maldición, y él no los reprendió.
14Por eso he jurado a la casa de Elí que la iniquidad de su casa no será expiada jamás, ni por sacrificio ni por ofrenda.
15Samuel se acostó hasta la mañana; entonces abrió las puertas de la casa del SEÑOR ; pero Samuel temía contar la visión a Elí.
16Pero Elí llamó a Samuel, y le dijo: Samuel, hijo mío. Y él respondió: Heme aquí.
17Y Elí dijo: ¿Cuál es la palabra que el SEÑOR te habló? Te ruego que no me la ocultes. Así te haga Dios, y aún más, si me ocultas algo de todas las palabras que te habló.
18Entonces Samuel se lo contó todo, sin ocultarle nada. Y Elí dijo: El SEÑOR es; que haga lo que bien le parezca.
19Samuel creció, y el SEÑOR estaba con él ; no dejó sin cumplimiento ninguna de sus palabras.
20Y todo Israel, desde Dan hasta Beerseba, supo que Samuel había sido confirmado como profeta del SEÑOR.
21Y el SEÑOR se volvió a aparecer en Silo; porque el SEÑOR se revelaba a Samuel en Silo por la palabra del SEÑOR.
Chapter 4
1Y llegaba la palabra de Samuel a todo Israel. Y salió Israel para enfrentarse en batalla con los filisteos y acampó junto a Eben-ezer, mientras que los filisteos habían acampado en Afec. 2Los filisteos se pusieron en orden de batalla para enfrentarse a Israel. Entablado el combate, Israel fue derrotado delante de los filisteos, quienes mataron como a cuatro mil hombres en el campo de batalla. 3Cuando el pueblo volvió al campamento, los ancianos de Israel dijeron: ¿Por qué nos ha derrotado hoy el SEÑOR delante de los filisteos ? Tomemos con nosotros, de Silo, el arca del pacto del SEÑOR, para que vaya en medio de nosotros y nos libre del poder de nuestros enemigos. 4Y el pueblo envió a Silo, y trajeron de allí el arca del pacto del SEÑOR de los ejércitos que está sobre los querubines ; y los dos hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finees, estaban allí con el arca del pacto de Dios.
5Y aconteció que cuando el arca del pacto del SEÑOR entró al campamento, todo Israel gritó con voz tan fuerte que la tierra vibró.
6Al oír los filisteos el ruido del clamor, dijeron: ¿Qué significa el ruido de este gran clamor en el campamento de los hebreos? Entonces comprendieron que el arca del SEÑOR había llegado al campamento.
7Y los filisteos tuvieron temor, pues dijeron: Dios ha venido al campamento. Y añadieron: ¡Ay de nosotros! Porque nada como esto ha sucedido antes.
8¡Ay de nosotros! ¿Quién nos librará de la mano de estos dioses poderosos? Estos son los dioses que hirieron a los egipcios en el desierto con toda clase de plagas.
9Cobrad ánimo y sed hombres, oh filisteos, para que no lleguéis a ser esclavos de los hebreos como ellos han sido esclavos de vosotros; sed hombres, pues, y pelead.
10Y pelearon los filisteos, Israel fue derrotado y cada cual huyó a su tienda ; la mortandad fue muy grande, pues de Israel cayeron treinta mil soldados de a pie.
11El arca de Dios fue capturada, y murieron los dos hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finees.
12Y un hombre de Benjamín corrió del campo de batalla, y llegó aquel mismo día a Silo, con sus vestidos rotos y polvo sobre su cabeza.
13Cuando llegó, he aquí que Elí estaba sentado en su asiento junto al camino esperando ansiosamente, porque su corazón temblaba por causa del arca de Dios. Así pues, el hombre fue a anunciarlo en la ciudad, y toda la ciudad prorrumpió en gritos.
14Cuando Elí oyó el ruido de los gritos, dijo: ¿Qué significa el ruido de este tumulto? Entonces el hombre se acercó apresuradamente y dio la noticia a Elí.
15Elí tenía noventa y ocho años, sus ojos se habían cegado y no podía ver.
16Y el hombre dijo a Elí: Yo soy el que vine del campo de batalla. Hoy escapé del campo de batalla. Y Elí preguntó: ¿Cómo fueron las cosas, hijo mío ?
17Respondió el que trajo la noticia y dijo: Israel ha huido delante de los filisteos, además ha habido gran matanza entre el pueblo, también han muerto tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finees, y el arca de Dios ha sido tomada.
18Y sucedió que cuando mencionó el arca de Dios, Elí cayó de su asiento hacia atrás, junto a la puerta, se rompió la nuca y murió, pues era entrado en años y pesaba mucho. Había juzgado a Israel cuarenta años.
19Y su nuera, la mujer de Finees, estaba encinta y a punto de dar a luz, y al oír la noticia que el arca de Dios había sido tomada y que su suegro y su marido habían muerto, se arrodilló y dio a luz, porque le sobrevinieron los dolores.
20Al tiempo que moría, las mujeres que estaban junto a ella le dijeron: No temas, porque has dado a luz un hijo. Pero ella no respondió ni prestó atención.
21Y llamó al niño Icabod, diciendo: ¡Se ha ido la gloria de Israel !, por haber sido tomada el arca de Dios, y por la muerte de su suegro y de su marido.
22Y dijo: Se ha ido la gloria de Israel, porque el arca de Dios ha sido tomada.
Chapter 5
1Los filisteos tomaron el arca de Dios y la llevaron de Eben-ezer a Asdod. 2Entonces tomaron los filisteos el arca de Dios y la introdujeron en el templo de Dagón, y la pusieron junto a Dagón. 3A la mañana siguiente, cuando los de Asdod se levantaron temprano, he aquí que Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Y tomaron a Dagón y lo pusieron otra vez en su lugar. 4Pero al levantarse temprano al día siguiente, he aquí que Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Y la cabeza de Dagón y las dos palmas de sus manos estaban cortadas sobre el umbral; sólo el tronco le quedaba a Dagón. 5Por tanto, hasta hoy, ni los sacerdotes de Dagón ni ninguno de los que entran en el templo de Dagón, pisan el umbral de Dagón en Asdod.
6Y la mano del SEÑOR se hizo pesada sobre los de Asdod, y los desoló y los hirió con tumores, tanto a Asdod como a sus territorios.
7Cuando los hombres de Asdod vieron lo que les sucedía, dijeron: El arca del Dios de Israel no debe quedar con nosotros, pues su mano es dura sobre nosotros y sobre Dagón nuestro dios.
8Enviaron, pues, e hicieron venir a ellos a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, y dijeron: ¿Qué haremos con el arca del Dios de Israel? Y ellos respondieron: Que se traslade el arca del Dios de Israel a Gat. Y trasladaron el arca del Dios de Israel.
9Y sucedió que cuando la habían trasladado, la mano del SEÑOR estuvo contra la ciudad causando gran confusión ; e hirió a los hombres de la ciudad, desde el menor hasta el mayor, saliéndoles tumores.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón. Y sucedió que cuando el arca de Dios llegó a Ecrón, los ecronitas clamaron, diciendo: Han traído el arca del Dios de Israel hasta nosotros para matarnos a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.
11Enviaron, pues, y reunieron a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, y dijeron: Sacad de aquí el arca del Dios de Israel, y que vuelva a su sitio, para que no nos mate a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo. Porque había un pánico mortal por toda la ciudad; la mano de Dios se hizo muy pesada allí.
12Y los hombres que no murieron fueron heridos con tumores, y el clamor de la ciudad subió hasta el cielo.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Chapter 2
1Entonces Ana oró y dijo: “Mi corazón se regocija en el SEÑOR, Mi fortaleza en el SEÑOR se exalta; Mi boca habla sin temor contra mis enemigos, Por cuanto me regocijo en Tu salvación. 2No hay santo como el SEÑOR; En verdad, no hay otro fuera de Ti, Ni hay roca como nuestro Dios. 3No se jacten más ustedes con tanto orgullo, No salga la arrogancia de su boca. Porque el SEÑOR es Dios de sabiduría, Y por El son pesadas las acciones. 4Quebrados son los arcos de los fuertes, Pero los débiles se ciñen de poder. 5Los que estaban saciados se alquilan por pan, Y dejan de tener hambre los que estaban hambrientos. Aun la estéril da a luz a siete, Pero la que tiene muchos hijos desfallece. 6El SEÑOR da muerte y da vida; Hace bajar al Seol (región de los muertos) y hace subir. 7El SEÑOR empobrece y enriquece; Humilla y también exalta. 8Levanta del polvo al pobre, Del muladar levanta al necesitado Para hacerlos sentar con los príncipes, Y heredar un sitio de honor; Pues las columnas de la tierra son del SEÑOR, Y sobre ellas ha colocado el mundo. 9El guarda los pies de Sus santos, Pero los malvados son acallados en tinieblas, Pues no por la fuerza ha de prevalecer el hombre. 10Los que se oponen al SEÑOR serán quebrantados, El tronará desde los cielos contra ellos. El SEÑOR juzgará los confines de la tierra, Dará fortaleza a Su rey, Y ensalzará el poder de Su ungido.”
12Pero los hijos de Elí eran hombres indignos; no conocían al SEÑOR
13ni la costumbre de los sacerdotes con el pueblo: cuando alguien ofrecía sacrificio, venía el criado del sacerdote con un tenedor de tres dientes en su mano mientras se cocía la carne,
14lo introducía en la cazuela, la olla, la caldera o el caldero, y todo lo que el tenedor sacaba, lo tomaba el sacerdote para sí. Así hacían ellos en Silo con todos los Israelitas que iban allí.
15Además, antes de quemar la grasa, el criado del sacerdote venía y decía al hombre que ofrecía el sacrificio: “Da al sacerdote carne para asar, pues no aceptará de ti carne cocida, sino solamente cruda.”
16Y si el hombre le decía: “¿Ciertamente deben quemar primero la grasa y después toma todo lo que quieras;” él respondía: “No, sino que me la darás ahora, y si no la tomaré por la fuerza.”
17El pecado de los jóvenes era muy grande delante del SEÑOR, porque despreciaban la ofrenda del SEÑOR.
18Samuel, siendo niño, ministraba delante del SEÑOR usando un efod de lino.
19Su madre le hacía una túnica pequeña cada año, y se la traía cuando subía con su marido a ofrecer el sacrificio anual.
20Entonces Elí bendecía a Elcana y a su mujer, y decía: “Que el SEÑOR te dé hijos de esta mujer en lugar del que ella dedicó al SEÑOR.” Y regresaban a su casa.
21El SEÑOR visitó a Ana, y ella concibió y dio a luz tres hijos y dos hijas. Y el niño Samuel crecía delante del SEÑOR.
22Elí era ya muy anciano; y oyó todo lo que sus hijos estaban haciendo a todo Israel, y cómo se acostaban con las mujeres que servían a la entrada de la tienda de reunión,
23y les preguntó: “¿Por qué hacen estas cosas, las cosas malas de que oigo hablar a todo este pueblo?
24No, hijos míos; porque no es bueno el informe que oigo circular por el pueblo del SEÑOR.
25Si un hombre peca contra otro, Dios mediará por él; pero si un hombre peca contra el SEÑOR, ¿quién intercederá por él?” Pero ellos no escucharon la voz de su padre, porque el SEÑOR quería que murieran.
26Y el niño Samuel crecía en estatura y en gracia para con el SEÑOR y para con los hombres.
27Entonces un hombre de Dios vino a Elí y le dijo: “Así dice el SEÑOR: ‘¿No me revelé ciertamente a la casa de tu padre cuando ellos estaban en Egipto como esclavos de la casa de Faraón?
28‘¿No los escogí de entre todas las tribus (la de Leví) de Israel para ser Mis sacerdotes, para subir a Mi altar, para quemar incienso, para llevar un efod delante de Mí? ¿No le di a la casa de tu padre todas las ofrendas encendidas de los Israelitas?
29‘¿Por qué pisotean Mi sacrificio y Mi ofrenda que he ordenado en Mi morada, y honras a tus hijos más que a Mí, engordándose ustedes con lo mejor de cada ofrenda de Mi pueblo Israel?’
30Por tanto, el SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, declara: ‘Ciertamente Yo había dicho que tu casa y la casa de tu padre andarían delante de Mí para siempre;’ pero ahora el SEÑOR declara: ‘Lejos esté esto de Mí, porque Yo honraré a los que Me honran, y los que Me desprecian serán tenidos en poco.
31Por tanto, vienen días cuando cortaré tu fuerza, y la fuerza de la casa de tu padre, y no habrá anciano en tu casa.
32Y verás la angustia de Mi morada, a pesar de todo el bien que hago a Israel; y nunca habrá anciano en tu casa.
33Sin embargo, a algunos de los tuyos no cortaré de Mi altar para que tus ojos se consuman llorando y tu alma sufra; pero todos los nacidos en tu casa morirán en la flor de la juventud.
34Y para ti, ésta será la señal que vendrá en cuanto a tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finees: en el mismo día morirán los dos.
35Pero levantaré para Mí un sacerdote fiel que hará conforme a los deseos de Mi corazón y de Mi alma; y le edificaré una casa duradera, y él andará siempre delante de Mi ungido.
36Y todo aquél que haya quedado de tu casa vendrá y se postrará ante él por una moneda de plata o una torta de pan, y le dirá: “Asígname a uno de los oficios sacerdotales para que pueda comer un bocado de pan.”’”
Chapter 3
1El joven Samuel servía (ministraba) al SEÑOR en presencia de Elí. La palabra del SEÑOR escaseaba en aquellos días, y las visiones no eran frecuentes. 2Y aconteció un día, estando Elí acostado en su aposento (sus ojos habían comenzado a oscurecerse y no podía ver bien), 3cuando la lámpara de Dios aún no se había apagado y Samuel estaba acostado en el templo del SEÑOR donde estaba el arca de Dios, 4que el SEÑOR llamó a Samuel, y él respondió: “Aquí estoy.” 5Entonces corrió a Elí y le dijo: “Aquí estoy, pues me llamaste.” Pero Elí le respondió: “Yo no he llamado, vuelve a acostarte.” Y él fue y se acostó. 6El SEÑOR lo volvió a llamar: “¡Samuel!” Y Samuel se levantó, fue a Elí y le dijo: “Aquí estoy, pues me llamó.” Elí respondió: “Yo no te he llamado, hijo mío, vuelve a acostarte.”
7Y Samuel no conocía aún al SEÑOR, ni se le había revelado aún la palabra del SEÑOR.
8El SEÑOR volvió a llamar a Samuel por tercera vez. Y él se levantó, fue a Elí y le dijo: “Aquí estoy, pues me llamó.” Entonces Elí comprendió que el SEÑOR estaba llamando al muchacho.
9Y Elí dijo a Samuel: “Ve y acuéstate, y si El te llama, dirás: ‘Habla, SEÑOR, que Tu siervo escucha.’” Y Samuel fue y se acostó en su aposento.
10Entonces vino el SEÑOR y se detuvo, y llamó como en las otras ocasiones: “¡Samuel, Samuel!” Y Samuel respondió: “Habla, que Tu siervo escucha.”
11Y el SEÑOR dijo a Samuel: “Estoy a punto de hacer una cosa en Israel la cual hará retumbar ambos oídos a todo aquél que la oiga.
12Ese día cumpliré contra Elí todo lo que he hablado sobre su casa, desde el principio hasta el fin.
13Porque le he hecho saber que estoy a punto de juzgar su casa para siempre a causa de la iniquidad de la cual él sabía, pues sus hijos trajeron sobre sí una maldición, y él no los reprendió.
14Por tanto he jurado a la casa de Elí que la iniquidad de su casa no será expiada jamás, ni con sacrificio ni con ofrenda.”
15Samuel se acostó hasta la mañana. Entonces abrió las puertas de la casa del SEÑOR; pero Samuel temía contar la visión a Elí.
16Así que Elí llamó a Samuel, y le dijo: “Samuel, hijo mío.” “Aquí estoy,” respondió Samuel.
17Y Elí dijo: “¿Cuál es la palabra que el SEÑOR te habló? Te ruego que no me la ocultes. Así te haga Dios, y aún más, si me ocultas algo de todas las palabras que El te habló.”
18Entonces Samuel se lo contó todo, sin ocultarle nada. Y Elí dijo: “El es el SEÑOR; que haga lo que bien Le parezca.”
19Samuel creció, y el SEÑOR estaba con él. No dejó sin cumplimiento ninguna de sus palabras.
20Y todo Israel, desde Dan hasta Beerseba, supo que Samuel había sido confirmado como profeta del SEÑOR.
21Y el SEÑOR se volvió a aparecer en Silo. Porque el SEÑOR se revelaba a Samuel en Silo por la palabra del SEÑOR.
Chapter 4
1La palabra de Samuel llegaba a todo Israel. Cuando Israel salió para enfrentarse en batalla con los Filisteos, acampó junto a Ebenezer, mientras que los Filisteos habían acampado en Afec. 2Los Filisteos se pusieron en orden de batalla para enfrentarse a Israel. Entablado el combate, Israel fue derrotado delante de los Filisteos, quienes mataron como a 4,000 hombres en el campo de batalla. 3Cuando el pueblo volvió al campamento, los ancianos de Israel dijeron: “¿Por qué nos ha derrotado hoy el SEÑOR delante de los Filisteos? Tomemos con nosotros, de Silo, el arca del pacto del SEÑOR, para que vaya en medio de nosotros y nos libre del poder de nuestros enemigos.” 4El pueblo envió gente a Silo, y trajeron de allí el arca del pacto del SEÑOR de los ejércitos que está sobre los querubines. Los dos hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finees, estaban allí con el arca del pacto de Dios.
5Y aconteció que cuando el arca del pacto del SEÑOR entró al campamento, todo Israel gritó con voz tan fuerte que la tierra tembló.
6Al oír los Filisteos el ruido del clamor, dijeron: “¿Qué significa el ruido de este gran clamor en el campamento de los Hebreos?” Entonces comprendieron que el arca del SEÑOR había llegado al campamento.
7Y los Filisteos tuvieron temor, pues dijeron: “Dios ha venido al campamento.” Y añadieron: “¡Ay de nosotros! Porque nada como esto ha sucedido antes.
8¡Ay de nosotros! ¿Quién nos librará de la mano de estos dioses poderosos? Estos son los dioses que hirieron a los Egipcios en el desierto con toda clase de plagas.
9Cobren ánimo y sean hombres, oh Filisteos, para que no lleguen a ser esclavos de los Hebreos como ellos han sido esclavos de ustedes. Sean hombres, pues, y peleen.”
10Los Filisteos pelearon, Israel fue derrotado y cada cual huyó a su tienda; la mortandad fue muy grande, pues de Israel cayeron 30,000 soldados de a pie.
11El arca de Dios fue capturada, y murieron Ofni y Finees, los dos hijos de Elí.
12Y un hombre de Benjamín corrió del campo de batalla, y llegó aquel mismo día a Silo, con sus vestidos rotos y polvo sobre su cabeza.
13Cuando llegó, Elí estaba sentado en su asiento junto al camino esperando ansiosamente, porque su corazón temblaba por causa del arca de Dios. Así pues, el hombre fue a anunciarlo en la ciudad, y toda la ciudad prorrumpió en gritos.
14Al oír Elí el ruido de los gritos, dijo: “¿Qué significa el ruido de este tumulto?” Entonces el hombre se acercó apresuradamente y dio la noticia a Elí.
15Elí tenía noventa y ocho años, sus ojos se habían cegado y no podía ver.
16El hombre le dijo a Elí: “Yo soy el que vine del campo de batalla. Hoy escapé del campo de batalla.” “¿Cómo fueron las cosas, hijo mío?” preguntó Elí.
17El que trajo la noticia respondió: “Israel ha huido delante de los Filisteos, además ha habido gran matanza entre el pueblo, también han muerto tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finees, y el arca de Dios ha sido tomada.”
18Cuando mencionó el arca de Dios, Elí cayó de su asiento hacia atrás, junto a la puerta, se rompió la nuca y murió, pues era entrado en años y pesaba mucho. Elí había juzgado a Israel durante cuarenta años.
19Su nuera, la mujer de Finees, estaba encinta y a punto de dar a luz, y al oír la noticia que el arca de Dios había sido tomada y que su suegro y su marido habían muerto, se arrodilló y dio a luz, porque le sobrevinieron los dolores de parto.
20Al tiempo que moría, las mujeres que estaban junto a ella le dijeron: “No temas, porque has dado a luz un hijo.” Ella no respondió ni prestó atención.
21Pero llamó al niño Icabod (Sin gloria) y dijo: “¡Se ha ido la gloria de Israel!” por haber sido tomada el arca de Dios, y por la muerte de su suegro y de su marido.
22Ella dijo: “Se ha ido la gloria de Israel, porque el arca de Dios ha sido tomada.”
Chapter 5
1Los Filisteos tomaron el arca de Dios y la llevaron de Ebenezer a Asdod. 2Entonces los Filisteos tomaron el arca de Dios y la introdujeron en el templo de Dagón, y la pusieron junto a Dagón. 3A la mañana siguiente, cuando los de Asdod se levantaron temprano, vieron que Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Así que tomaron a Dagón y lo pusieron otra vez en su lugar. 4Pero al levantarse temprano al día siguiente, otra vez Dagón había caído rostro en tierra delante del arca del SEÑOR. Y la cabeza de Dagón y las dos palmas de sus manos estaban cortadas sobre el umbral; sólo el tronco le quedaba a Dagón. 5Por tanto, hasta hoy, ni los sacerdotes de Dagón ni ninguno de los que entran en el templo de Dagón, pisan el umbral de Dagón en Asdod.
6Y la mano del SEÑOR se hizo pesada sobre los de Asdod, y los desoló y los hirió con tumores, tanto a Asdod como a sus territorios.
7Cuando los hombres de Asdod vieron lo que les sucedía, dijeron: “El arca del Dios de Israel no debe quedar con nosotros, pues su mano es dura sobre nosotros y sobre Dagón nuestro dios.”
8Así que enviaron a buscar e hicieron venir a todos los príncipes de los Filisteos, y les dijeron: “¿Qué haremos con el arca del Dios de Israel?” “Que se traslade el arca del Dios de Israel a Gat,” respondieron ellos. Y trasladaron el arca del Dios de Israel.
9Pero después que la habían trasladado, la mano del SEÑOR estuvo contra la ciudad causando gran confusión; e hirió a los hombres de la ciudad, desde el menor hasta el mayor, saliéndoles tumores.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón. Y sucedió que cuando el arca de Dios llegó a Ecrón, los Ecronitas clamaron y dijeron: “Han traído el arca del Dios de Israel hasta nosotros para matarnos a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.”
11Por tanto, mandaron a reunir a todos los príncipes de los Filisteos, y les dijeron: “Saquen de aquí el arca del Dios de Israel, y que vuelva a su sitio, para que no nos mate a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.” Porque había un pánico mortal por toda la ciudad; la mano de Dios se hizo muy pesada allí.
12Y los hombres que no murieron fueron heridos con tumores, y el clamor de la ciudad subió hasta el cielo.
Nueva Versión Internacional
4»El arco de los poderosos se quiebra, pero los débiles recobran las fuerzas.
5Los que antes tenían comida de sobra se venden por un pedazo de pan; los que antes sufrían hambre ahora viven saciados. La estéril ha dado a luz siete veces, pero la que tenía muchos hijos languidece.
6»Del SEÑOR vienen la muerte y la vida; él nos hace bajar al sepulcro, pero también nos levanta.
7El SEÑOR da la riqueza y la pobreza; humilla, pero también enaltece.
8Levanta del polvo al desvalido y saca del basurero al pobre para sentarlos en medio de príncipes y darles un trono esplendoroso. »Del SEÑOR son los fundamentos de la tierra; ¡sobre ellos afianzó el mundo!
9Él guiará los pasos de sus fieles, pero los malvados se perderán entre las sombras. ¡Nadie triunfa por sus propias fuerzas!
12Los hijos de Elí eran unos perversos que no tomaban en cuenta al SEÑOR.
13La costumbre de estos sacerdotes era la siguiente: Cuando alguien ofrecía un sacrificio, el asistente del sacerdote se presentaba con un tenedor grande en la mano y, mientras se cocía la carne,
14metía el tenedor en la olla, en el caldero, en la cacerola o en la cazuela; y el sacerdote tomaba para sí mismo todo lo que se enganchaba en el tenedor. De este modo trataban a todos los israelitas que iban a Siló.
15Además, antes de quemarse la grasa, solía llegar el ayudante del sacerdote para decirle al que estaba por ofrecer el sacrificio: «Dame carne para el asado del sacerdote, pues no te la va a aceptar cocida, sino cruda».
16Y, si el hombre contestaba: «Espera a que se queme la grasa, como es debido; luego podrás tomar lo que desees», el asistente replicaba: «No, dámela ahora mismo; de lo contrario, te la quito por la fuerza».
17Así que el pecado de estos jóvenes era gravísimo a los ojos del SEÑOR, pues trataban con desprecio las ofrendas que le pertenecían.
18El niño Samuel, por su parte, vestido con un efod de lino, seguía sirviendo en la presencia del SEÑOR.
19Cada año su madre le hacía una pequeña túnica, y se la llevaba cuando iba con su esposo para ofrecer su sacrificio anual.
20Elí entonces bendecía a Elcaná y a su esposa, diciendo: «Que el SEÑOR te conceda hijos de esta mujer, a cambio del niño que ella pidió para dedicárselo al SEÑOR». Luego regresaban a su casa.
22Elí, que ya era muy anciano, se enteró de todo lo que sus hijos le estaban haciendo al pueblo de Israel, incluso de que se acostaban con las mujeres que servían a la entrada del santuario.
23Les dijo: «¿Por qué se comportan así? Todo el pueblo me habla de su mala conducta.
24No, hijos míos; no es nada bueno lo que se comenta en el pueblo del SEÑOR.
25Si alguien peca contra otra persona, Dios le servirá de árbitro; pero si peca contra el SEÑOR, ¿quién podrá interceder por él?» No obstante, ellos no le hicieron caso a la advertencia de su padre, pues la voluntad del SEÑOR era quitarles la vida.
27Un hombre de Dios fue a ver a Elí, y le dijo: «Así dice el SEÑOR: “Bien sabes que yo me manifesté a tus antepasados cuando estaban en Egipto bajo el poder del faraón.
28De entre todas las tribus de Israel, escogí a Aarón para que fuera mi sacerdote, es decir, para que en mi presencia se acercara a mi altar, quemara el incienso y se pusiera el efod. Además, a su familia le concedí las ofrendas que los israelitas queman en mi honor.
29¿Por qué, pues, tratan ustedes con tanto desprecio los sacrificios y ofrendas que yo he ordenado que me traigan? ¿Por qué honras a tus hijos más que a mí, y los engordas con lo mejor de todas las ofrendas de mi pueblo Israel?”
30»Por lo tanto —dice el SEÑOR—, de ninguna manera permitiré que tus parientes me sirvan, aun cuando yo había prometido que toda tu familia, tanto tus antepasados como tus descendientes, me servirían siempre. Yo, el SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, lo afirmo. Yo honro a los que me honran, y humillo a los que me desprecian.
31En efecto, se acerca el día en que acabaré con tu poder y con el de tu familia; ninguno de tus descendientes llegará a viejo.
32Mirarás con envidia el bien que se le hará a Israel, y ninguno de tus descendientes llegará a viejo.
33Si permito que alguno de los tuyos continúe sirviendo en mi altar, será para arruinarte la vista y abatirte la vida; todos tus descendientes morirán en la flor de la vida.
34Y te doy esta señal: tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finés, morirán el mismo día.
35»Pero yo levantaré a un sacerdote fiel, que hará mi voluntad y cumplirá mis deseos. Jamás le faltará descendencia, y vivirá una larga vida en presencia de mi ungido.
36Y los familiares tuyos que sobrevivan vendrán y de rodillas le rogarán que les regale una moneda de plata o un pedazo de pan. Le suplicarán: “¡Dame algún trabajo sacerdotal para mi sustento!”»
2Elí ya se estaba quedando ciego. Un día, mientras él descansaba en su habitación,
3Samuel dormía en el santuario del SEÑOR, donde se encontraba el arca de Dios. La lámpara de Dios todavía estaba encendida.
11?Mira —le dijo el SEÑOR—, estoy por hacer en Israel algo que a todo el que lo oiga le quedará retumbando en los oídos.
12Ese día llevaré a cabo todo lo que he anunciado, de principio a fin, en contra de Elí y su familia.
13Ya le dije que por la maldad de sus hijos he condenado a su familia para siempre; él sabía que estaban blasfemando contra Dios y, sin embargo, no los refrenó.
14Por lo tanto, hago este juramento en contra de su familia: ¡Ningún sacrificio ni ofrenda podrá expiar jamás el pecado de la familia de Elí!
19Mientras Samuel crecía, el SEÑOR estuvo con él y cumplió todo lo que le había dicho.
20Y todo Israel, desde Dan hasta Berseba, se dio cuenta de que el SEÑOR había confirmado a Samuel como su profeta.
21Además, el SEÑOR siguió manifestándose en Siló; allí se revelaba a Samuel y le comunicaba su palabra.
Chapter 4
1La palabra de Samuel llegó a todo el pueblo de Israel. En aquellos días, los israelitas salieron a enfrentarse con los filisteos y acamparon cerca de Ebenezer. Los filisteos, que habían acampado en Afec, 2desplegaron sus tropas para atacar a los israelitas. Se entabló la batalla, y los filisteos derrotaron a los israelitas, matando en el campo a unos cuatro mil de ellos. 3Cuando el ejército regresó al campamento, los ancianos de Israel dijeron: «¿Por qué nos ha derrotado hoy el SEÑOR por medio de los filisteos? Traigamos el arca del pacto del SEÑOR, que está en Siló, para que nos acompañe y nos salve del poder de nuestros enemigos».
4Así que enviaron un destacamento a Siló para sacar de allá el arca del pacto del SEÑOR Todopoderoso, que reina entre los querubines. Los dos hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finés, estaban a cargo del arca del pacto de Dios.
5Cuando esta llegó al campamento, los israelitas empezaron a gritar de tal manera que la tierra temblaba.
6Los filisteos oyeron el griterío y preguntaron: «¿A qué viene tanto alboroto en el campamento hebreo?» Y al oír que el arca del SEÑOR había llegado al campamento,
7los filisteos se acobardaron y dijeron: «Dios ha entrado en el campamento. ¡Ay de nosotros, que nunca nos ha pasado algo así!
8¡Ay de nosotros! ¿Quién nos va a librar de las manos de dioses tan poderosos, que en el desierto hirieron a los egipcios con toda clase de plagas?
9¡Ánimo, filisteos! ¡Sean hombres! Si no quieren llegar a ser esclavos de los hebreos, tal como ellos lo han sido de nosotros, ¡luchen como hombres!»
10Entonces los filisteos se lanzaron al ataque y derrotaron a los israelitas, los cuales huyeron en desbandada. La matanza fue terrible, pues de los israelitas cayeron treinta mil soldados de infantería.
11Además, fue capturada el arca de Dios, y murieron Ofni y Finés, los dos hijos de Elí.
12Un soldado que pertenecía a la tribu de Benjamín salió corriendo del frente de batalla, y ese mismo día llegó a Siló, con la ropa hecha pedazos y la cabeza cubierta de polvo.
13Allí se encontraba Elí, sentado en su silla y vigilando el camino, pues su corazón le temblaba solo de pensar en el arca de Dios. Cuando el soldado entró en el pueblo y contó lo que había sucedido, todos se pusieron a gritar.
14?¿A qué viene tanto alboroto? —preguntó Elí, al oír el griterío. El hombre corrió para darle la noticia.
15(Elí ya tenía noventa y ocho años, y sus ojos ni se movían, de modo que no podía ver).
19Su nuera, la esposa de Finés, estaba embarazada y próxima a dar a luz. Cuando supo que el arca de Dios había sido capturada, y que tanto su suegro como su esposo habían muerto, le vinieron los dolores de parto y tuvo un alumbramiento muy difícil.
20Al verla agonizante, las parteras que la atendían le dijeron: «Anímate, que has dado a luz un niño». Ella no respondió; ni siquiera les hizo caso.
21Pero, por causa de la captura del arca de Dios, y por la muerte de su suegro y de su esposo, le puso al niño el nombre de Icabod, para indicar que la gloria de Israel había sido desterrada.
22Exclamó: «¡Se han llevado la gloria de Israel! ¡El arca de Dios ha sido capturada!»
Chapter 5
1Después de capturar el arca de Dios, los filisteos la llevaron de Ebenezer a Asdod 2y la pusieron junto a la estatua de Dagón, en el templo de ese dios. 3Al día siguiente, cuando los habitantes de Asdod se levantaron, vieron que la estatua de Dagón estaba tirada en el suelo, boca abajo, frente al arca del SEÑOR. Así que la levantaron y la colocaron en su sitio. 4Pero, al día siguiente, cuando se levantaron, volvieron a encontrar la estatua tirada en el suelo, boca abajo, frente al arca del SEÑOR. Sobre el umbral estaban su cabeza y sus dos manos, separadas del tronco. 5Por eso, hasta el día de hoy, ninguno de los que entran en el templo de Dagón en Asdod, incluso los sacerdotes, pisan el umbral.
6Entonces el SEÑOR descargó su mano sobre la población de Asdod y sus alrededores, y los azotó con tumores.
7La gente de Asdod reconoció lo que estaba pasando, y declaró: «El arca del Dios de Israel no puede quedarse en medio nuestro, porque ese dios ha descargado su mano sobre nosotros y contra nuestro dios Dagón».
8Así que convocaron a todos los jefes filisteos y les preguntaron: ?¿Qué vamos a hacer con el arca del Dios de Israel? ?Trasladen el arca del Dios de Israel a la ciudad de Gat —respondieron los jefes. Y así lo hicieron.
9Pero, después de que la trasladaron, el SEÑOR castigó a esa ciudad, afligiendo con una erupción de tumores a sus habitantes, desde el más pequeño hasta el mayor. Eso provocó un pánico horrible.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón, pero, tan pronto como entró el arca en la ciudad, sus habitantes se pusieron a gritar: «¡Nos han traído el arca del Dios de Israel para matarnos a todos!»
11Por eso convocaron a todos los jefes filisteos y protestaron: «¡Llévense el arca del Dios de Israel! ¡Devuélvanla a su lugar de origen, para que no nos mate a nosotros y a todos los nuestros!» Y es que el terror de la muerte se había apoderado de la ciudad, porque Dios había descargado su mano sobre ese lugar.
12Los que no murieron fueron azotados por tumores, de modo que los gritos de la ciudad llegaban hasta el cielo.
Reina-Valera 1960
Chapter 2
1Y Ana oró y dijo: Mi corazón se regocija en Jehová, Mi poder se exalta en Jehová; Mi boca se ensanchó sobre mis enemigos, Por cuanto me alegré en tu salvación. 2No hay santo como Jehová; Porque no hay ninguno fuera de ti, Y no hay refugio como el Dios nuestro. 3No multipliquéis palabras de grandeza y altanería; Cesen las palabras arrogantes de vuestra boca; Porque el Dios de todo saber es Jehová, Y a él toca el pesar las acciones. 4Los arcos de los fuertes fueron quebrados, Y los débiles se ciñeron de poder. 5Los saciados se alquilaron por pan, Y los hambrientos dejaron de tener hambre; Hasta la estéril ha dado a luz siete, Y la que tenía muchos hijos languidece. 6Jehová mata, y él da vida; El hace descender al Seol, y hace subir. 7Jehová empobrece, y él enriquece; Abate, y enaltece. 8Él levanta del polvo al pobre, Y del muladar exalta al menesteroso, Para hacerle sentarse con príncipes y heredar un sitio de honor. Porque de Jehová son las columnas de la tierra, Y él afirmó sobre ellas el mundo. 9Él guarda los pies de sus santos, Mas los impíos perecen en tinieblas; Porque nadie será fuerte por su propia fuerza. 10Delante de Jehová serán quebrantados sus adversarios, Y sobre ellos tronará desde los cielos; Jehová juzgará los confines de la tierra, Dará poder a su Rey, Y exaltará el poderío de su Ungido.
12Los hijos de Elí eran hombres impíos, y no tenían conocimiento de Jehová.
13Y era costumbre de los sacerdotes con el pueblo, que cuando alguno ofrecía sacrificio, venía el criado del sacerdote mientras se cocía la carne, trayendo en su mano un garfio de tres dientes,
14y lo metía en el perol, en la olla, en el caldero o en la marmita; y todo lo que sacaba el garfio, el sacerdote lo tomaba para sí. De esta manera hacían con todo israelita que venía a Silo.
15Asimismo, antes de quemar la grosura, venía el criado del sacerdote, y decía al que sacrificaba: Da carne que asar para el sacerdote; porque no tomará de ti carne cocida, sino cruda.
16Y si el hombre le respondía: Quemen la grosura primero, y después toma tanto como quieras; él respondía: No, sino dámela ahora mismo; de otra manera yo la tomaré por la fuerza.
17Era, pues, muy grande delante de Jehová el pecado de los jóvenes; porque los hombres menospreciaban las ofrendas de Jehová.
18Y el joven Samuel ministraba en la presencia de Jehová, vestido de un efod de lino.
19Y le hacía su madre una túnica pequeña y se la traía cada año, cuando subía con su marido para ofrecer el sacrificio acostumbrado.
20Y Elí bendijo a Elcana y a su mujer, diciendo: Jehová te dé hijos de esta mujer en lugar del que pidió a Jehová. Y se volvieron a su casa.
22Pero Elí era muy viejo; y oía de todo lo que sus hijos hacían con todo Israel, y cómo dormían con las mujeres que velaban a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión.
23Y les dijo: ¿Por qué hacéis cosas semejantes? Porque yo oigo de todo este pueblo vuestros malos procederes.
24No, hijos míos, porque no es buena fama la que yo oigo; pues hacéis pecar al pueblo de Jehová.
25Si pecare el hombre contra el hombre, los jueces le juzgarán; mas si alguno pecare contra Jehová, ¿quién rogará por él? Pero ellos no oyeron la voz de su padre, porque Jehová había resuelto hacerlos morir.
27Y vino un varón de Dios a Elí, y le dijo: Así ha dicho Jehová: ¿No me manifesté yo claramente a la casa de tu padre, cuando estaban en Egipto en casa de Faraón?
28Y yo le escogí por mi sacerdote entre todas las tribus de Israel, para que ofreciese sobre mi altar, y quemase incienso, y llevase efod delante de mí; y di a la casa de tu padre todas las ofrendas de los hijos de Israel.
29¿Por qué habéis hollado mis sacrificios y mis ofrendas, que yo mandé ofrecer en el tabernáculo; y has honrado a tus hijos más que a mí, engordándoos de lo principal de todas las ofrendas de mi pueblo Israel?
30Por tanto, Jehová el Dios de Israel dice: Yo había dicho que tu casa y la casa de tu padre andarían delante de mí perpetuamente; mas ahora ha dicho Jehová: Nunca yo tal haga, porque yo honraré a los que me honran, y los que me desprecian serán tenidos en poco.
31He aquí, vienen días en que cortaré tu brazo y el brazo de la casa de tu padre, de modo que no haya anciano en tu casa.
32Verás tu casa humillada, mientras Dios colma de bienes a Israel; y en ningún tiempo habrá anciano en tu casa.
33El varón de los tuyos que yo no corte de mi altar, será para consumir tus ojos y llenar tu alma de dolor; y todos los nacidos en tu casa morirán en la edad viril.
34Y te será por señal esto que acontecerá a tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finees: ambos morirán en un día.
35Y yo me suscitaré un sacerdote fiel, que haga conforme a mi corazón y a mi alma; y yo le edificaré casa firme, y andará delante de mi ungido todos los días.
36Y el que hubiere quedado en tu casa vendrá a postrarse delante de él por una moneda de plata y un bocado de pan, diciéndole: Te ruego que me agregues a alguno de los ministerios, para que pueda comer un bocado de pan.
2Y aconteció un día, que estando Elí acostado en su aposento, cuando sus ojos comenzaban a oscurecerse de modo que no podía ver,
3Samuel estaba durmiendo en el templo de Jehová, donde estaba el arca de Dios; y antes que la lámpara de Dios fuese apagada,
4Jehová llamó a Samuel; y él respondió: Heme aquí.
5Y corriendo luego a Elí, dijo: Heme aquí; ¿para qué me llamaste? Y Elí le dijo: Yo no he llamado; vuelve y acuéstate. Y él se volvió y se acostó.
6Y Jehová volvió a llamar otra vez a Samuel. Y levantándose Samuel, vino a Elí y dijo: Heme aquí; ¿para qué me has llamado? Y él dijo: Hijo mío, yo no he llamado; vuelve y acuéstate.
7Y Samuel no había conocido aún a Jehová, ni la palabra de Jehová le había sido revelada.
8Jehová, pues, llamó la tercera vez a Samuel. Y él se levantó y vino a Elí, y dijo: Heme aquí; ¿para qué me has llamado? Entonces entendió Elí que Jehová llamaba al joven.
9Y dijo Elí a Samuel: Ve y acuéstate; y si te llamare, dirás: Habla, Jehová, porque tu siervo oye. Así se fue Samuel, y se acostó en su lugar.
10Y vino Jehová y se paró, y llamó como las otras veces: ¡Samuel, Samuel! Entonces Samuel dijo: Habla, porque tu siervo oye.
11Y Jehová dijo a Samuel: He aquí haré yo una cosa en Israel, que a quien la oyere, le retiñirán ambos oídos.
12Aquel día yo cumpliré contra Elí todas las cosas que he dicho sobre su casa, desde el principio hasta el fin.
13Y le mostraré que yo juzgaré su casa para siempre, por la iniquidad que él sabe; porque sus hijos han blasfemado a Dios, y él no los ha estorbado.
14Por tanto, yo he jurado a la casa de Elí que la iniquidad de la casa de Elí no será expiada jamás, ni con sacrificios ni con ofrendas.
15Y Samuel estuvo acostado hasta la mañana, y abrió las puertas de la casa de Jehová. Y Samuel temía descubrir la visión a Elí.
16Llamando, pues, Elí a Samuel, le dijo: Hijo mío, Samuel. Y él respondió: Heme aquí.
17Y Elí dijo: ¿Qué es la palabra que te habló? Te ruego que no me la encubras; así te haga Dios y aun te añada, si me encubrieres palabra de todo lo que habló contigo.
18Y Samuel se lo manifestó todo, sin encubrirle nada. Entonces él dijo: Jehová es; haga lo que bien le pareciere.
19Y Samuel creció, y Jehová estaba con él, y no dejó caer a tierra ninguna de sus palabras.
20Y todo Israel, desde Dan hasta Beerseba, conoció que Samuel era fiel profeta de Jehová.
21Y Jehová volvió a aparecer en Silo; porque Jehová se manifestó a Samuel en Silo por la palabra de Jehová.
Chapter 4
1Y Samuel habló a todo Israel. Por aquel tiempo salió Israel a encontrar en batalla a los filisteos, y acampó junto a Eben-ezer, y los filisteos acamparon en Afec. 2Y los filisteos presentaron la batalla a Israel; y trabándose el combate, Israel fue vencido delante de los filisteos, los cuales hirieron en la batalla en el campo como a cuatro mil hombres. 3Cuando volvió el pueblo al campamento, los ancianos de Israel dijeron: ¿Por qué nos ha herido hoy Jehová delante de los filisteos? Traigamos a nosotros de Silo el arca del pacto de Jehová, para que viniendo entre nosotros nos salve de la mano de nuestros enemigos. 4Y envió el pueblo a Silo, y trajeron de allá el arca del pacto de Jehová de los ejércitos, que moraba entre los querubines; y los dos hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finees, estaban allí con el arca del pacto de Dios.
5Aconteció que cuando el arca del pacto de Jehová llegó al campamento, todo Israel gritó con tan gran júbilo que la tierra tembló.
6Cuando los filisteos oyeron la voz de júbilo, dijeron: ¿Qué voz de gran júbilo es esta en el campamento de los hebreos? Y supieron que el arca de Jehová había sido traída al campamento.
7Y los filisteos tuvieron miedo, porque decían: Ha venido Dios al campamento. Y dijeron: ¡Ay de nosotros! pues antes de ahora no fue así.
8¡Ay de nosotros! ¿Quién nos librará de la mano de estos dioses poderosos? Éstos son los dioses que hirieron a Egipto con toda plaga en el desierto.
9Esforzaos, oh filisteos, y sed hombres, para que no sirváis a los hebreos, como ellos os han servido a vosotros; sed hombres, y pelead.
10Pelearon, pues, los filisteos, e Israel fue vencido, y huyeron cada cual a sus tiendas; y fue hecha muy grande mortandad, pues cayeron de Israel treinta mil hombres de a pie.
11Y el arca de Dios fue tomada, y muertos los dos hijos de Elí, Ofni y Finees.
12Y corriendo de la batalla un hombre de Benjamín, llegó el mismo día a Silo, rotos sus vestidos y tierra sobre su cabeza;
13y cuando llegó, he aquí que Elí estaba sentado en una silla vigilando junto al camino, porque su corazón estaba temblando por causa del arca de Dios. Llegado, pues, aquel hombre a la ciudad, y dadas las nuevas, toda la ciudad gritó.
14Cuando Elí oyó el estruendo de la gritería, dijo: ¿Qué estruendo de alboroto es éste? Y aquel hombre vino aprisa y dio las nuevas a Elí.
15Era ya Elí de edad de noventa y ocho años, y sus ojos se habían oscurecido, de modo que no podía ver.
16Dijo, pues, aquel hombre a Elí: Yo vengo de la batalla, he escapado hoy del combate. Y Elí dijo: ¿Qué ha acontecido, hijo mío?
17Y el mensajero respondió diciendo: Israel huyó delante de los filisteos, y también fue hecha gran mortandad en el pueblo; y también tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finees, fueron muertos, y el arca de Dios ha sido tomada.
18Y aconteció que cuando él hizo mención del arca de Dios, Elí cayó hacia atrás de la silla al lado de la puerta, y se desnucó y murió; porque era hombre viejo y pesado. Y había juzgado a Israel cuarenta años.
19Y su nuera la mujer de Finees, que estaba encinta, cercana al alumbramiento, oyendo el rumor que el arca de Dios había sido tomada, y muertos su suegro y su marido, se inclinó y dio a luz; porque le sobrevinieron sus dolores de repente.
20Y al tiempo que moría, le decían las que estaban junto a ella: No tengas temor, porque has dado a luz un hijo. Mas ella no respondió, ni se dio por entendida.
21Y llamó al niño Icabod, diciendo: ¡Traspasada es la gloria de Israel! por haber sido tomada el arca de Dios, y por la muerte de su suegro y de su marido.
22Dijo, pues: Traspasada es la gloria de Israel; porque ha sido tomada el arca de Dios.
Chapter 5
1Cuando los filisteos capturaron el arca de Dios, la llevaron desde Eben-ezer a Asdod. 2Y tomaron los filisteos el arca de Dios, y la metieron en la casa de Dagón, y la pusieron junto a Dagón. 3Y cuando al siguiente día los de Asdod se levantaron de mañana, he aquí Dagón postrado en tierra delante del arca de Jehová; y tomaron a Dagón y lo volvieron a su lugar. 4Y volviéndose a levantar de mañana el siguiente día, he aquí que Dagón había caído postrado en tierra delante del arca de Jehová; y la cabeza de Dagón y las dos palmas de sus manos estaban cortadas sobre el umbral, habiéndole quedado a Dagón el tronco solamente. 5Por esta causa los sacerdotes de Dagón y todos los que entran en el templo de Dagón no pisan el umbral de Dagón en Asdod, hasta hoy.
6Y se agravó la mano de Jehová sobre los de Asdod, y los destruyó y los hirió con tumores en Asdod y en todo su territorio.
7Y viendo esto los de Asdod, dijeron: No quede con nosotros el arca del Dios de Israel, porque su mano es dura sobre nosotros y sobre nuestro dios Dagón.
8Convocaron, pues, a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, y les dijeron: ¿Qué haremos del arca del Dios de Israel? Y ellos respondieron: Pásese el arca del Dios de Israel a Gat. Y pasaron allá el arca del Dios de Israel.
9Y aconteció que cuando la habían pasado, la mano de Jehová estuvo contra la ciudad con gran quebrantamiento, y afligió a los hombres de aquella ciudad desde el chico hasta el grande, y se llenaron de tumores.
10Entonces enviaron el arca de Dios a Ecrón. Y cuando el arca de Dios vino a Ecrón, los ecronitas dieron voces, diciendo: Han pasado a nosotros el arca del Dios de Israel para matarnos a nosotros y a nuestro pueblo.
11Y enviaron y reunieron a todos los príncipes de los filisteos, diciendo: Enviad el arca del Dios de Israel, y vuélvase a su lugar, y no nos mate a nosotros ni a nuestro pueblo; porque había consternación de muerte en toda la ciudad, y la mano de Dios se había agravado allí.
12Y los que no morían, eran heridos de tumores; y el clamor de la ciudad subía al cielo.
Biblia del Jubileo
Chapter 2
1Y Ana oró y dijo: Mi corazón se regocija en el SEÑOR, mi cuerno es ensalzado en el SEÑOR; mi boca se ensanchó sobre mis enemigos, por cuanto me alegré en tu salud. 2No hay santo como el SEÑOR; porque no hay ninguno fuera de ti; y no hay Fuerte como el Dios nuestro. 3No multipliquéis hablando grandezas, altanerías; cesen las palabras arrogantes de vuestra boca, porque el Dios de todo saber es el SEÑOR, y las obras magníficas a él le son prestas. 4Los arcos de los fuertes fueron quebrados, y los flacos se ciñeron de fortaleza. 5Los saciados se alquilaron por pan, y cesaron los hambrientos; hasta dar a luz siete la estéril, y la que tenía muchos hijos enfermó. 6El SEÑOR mata, y él da vida; él hace descender al sepulcro, y hace subir. 7El SEÑOR empobrece, y él enriquece; abate, y ensalza. 8El levanta del polvo al pobre, y al menesteroso ensalza del estiércol, para asentarlo con los príncipes; y hace que tengan por heredad asiento de honra. Porque del SEÑOR son las columnas de la tierra, y él asentó sobre ellas el mundo. 9El guarda los pies de sus santos, mas los impíos perecen en tinieblas; porque nadie será valiente por su propia fuerza. 10SEÑOR, serán quebrantados sus adversarios; y sobre ellos tronará desde los cielos. El SEÑOR juzgará los términos de la tierra, y dará fortaleza a su Rey, y ensalzará el cuerno de su Mesías. 11Y Elcana se volvió a su casa en Ramá; y el niño ministraba al SEÑOR delante del sacerdote Elí.
12Mas los hijos de Elí eran hijos de Belial, y no tenían conocimiento del SEÑOR.
13Era la costumbre de los sacerdotes con el pueblo que, cuando alguno ofrecía sacrificio, venía el criado del sacerdote mientras la carne estaba a cocer, trayendo en su mano un garfio de tres ganchos;
14y hería con él en la caldera, o en la olla, o en el caldero, o en el pote; y todo lo que sacaba el garfio, el sacerdote lo tomaba para sí. De esta manera hacían a todo israelita que venía a Silo.
15Asimismo, antes de quemar el sebo, venía el criado del sacerdote, y decía al que sacrificaba: Da carne que ase para el sacerdote; porque no tomará de ti carne cocida, sino cruda.
16Y si le respondía el varón: Quemen luego el sebo hoy, y después tome tanta como quisieres; él respondía: No, sino ahora la has de dar; de otra manera yo la tomaré por fuerza.
17Era, pues, el pecado de los jóvenes muy grande delante del SEÑOR; porque los hombres menospreciaban el presente del SEÑOR.
18Y el joven Samuel ministraba delante del SEÑOR, vestido de un efod de lino.
19Y le hacía su madre una túnica pequeña, y se la traía cada año, cuando subía con su marido a ofrecer el sacrificio acostumbrado.
20Y Elí bendijo a Elcana y a su mujer, diciendo: El SEÑOR te dé simiente de esta mujer en lugar de esta petición que hizo al SEÑOR. Y se volvieron a su casa.
21Y visitó el SEÑOR a Ana, y concibió, y dio a luz tres hijos, y dos hijas. Y el joven Samuel crecía delante del SEÑOR.
22Elí empero era muy viejo, y oía todo lo que sus hijos hacían a todo Israel, y cómo dormían con las mujeres que velaban a la puerta del tabernáculo del testimonio.
23Y les dijo: ¿Por qué hacéis cosas semejantes? Porque yo oigo de todo este pueblo vuestros malos procederes.
24No, hijos míos; porque no es buena fama la que yo oigo; que hacéis pecar al pueblo del SEÑOR.
25Si pecare el hombre contra el hombre, los jueces le juzgarán; mas si alguno pecare contra el SEÑOR, ¿quién rogará por él? Mas ellos no oyeron la voz de su padre, porque el SEÑOR ya había decidido matarlos.
26Y el joven Samuel iba creciendo, y hallando gracia delante de Dios y delante de los hombres.
27Y vino un varón de Dios a Elí, y le dijo: Así dijo el SEÑOR: ¿No me manifesté yo claramente a la casa de tu padre, cuando estaban en Egipto en casa de Faraón?
28Y yo le escogí por mi sacerdote entre todas las tribus de Israel, para que ofreciese sobre mi altar, y quemase incienso, y llevase efod delante de mí; y di a la casa de tu padre todos los sacrificios de los hijos de Israel.
29¿Por qué habéis hollado mis sacrificios y mis presentes, que yo mandé ofrecer en el tabernáculo; y has honrado a tus hijos más que a mí, engordándoos de lo principal de todas las ofrendas de mi pueblo Israel?
30Por tanto, el SEÑOR el Dios de Israel dijo: Yo había dicho que tu casa y la casa de tu padre andarían delante de mí perpetuamente; mas ahora dijo el SEÑOR: Nunca yo tal haga, porque yo honraré a los que me honran, y los que me tuvieren en poco, serán viles.
31He aquí, vienen días, en que cortaré tu brazo, y el brazo de la casa de tu padre, que no haya viejo en tu casa.
32Y verás competidor en el tabernáculo, en todas las cosas en que hiciere bien a Israel; y en ningún tiempo habrá viejo en tu casa.
33Y no te cortaré del todo varón de mi altar, para hacerte marchitar tus ojos, y llenar tu ánimo de dolor; mas toda la cría de tu casa morirá en la edad varonil.
34Y te será por señal esto que acontecerá a tus dos hijos, Ofni y Finees: ambos morirán en un día.
35Y yo me despertaré un sacerdote fiel, que haga conforme a mi corazón y a mi alma; y yo le edificaré casa firme, y él andará delante de mi Ungido todo los días.
36Y será que el que hubiere quedado en tu casa, vendrá a postrársele por un dinero de plata y un bocado de pan, diciéndole: Te ruego que me constituyas en algún ministerio, para que coma un bocado de pan.
