Once she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, an ephah of flour, and a container of wine. She brought him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh, even though he was young.

He said to his servant, “Run, find the arrows that I am about to shoot.” As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him.

When the servant came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called out to the servant, “Isn’t the arrow further beyond you?”

Jonathan called out to the servant, “Hurry! Go faster! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s servant retrieved the arrow and came back to his master.

he sent ten servants, saying to them, “Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name.

But one of the servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail, “David sent messengers from the desert to greet our lord, but he screamed at them.

Once the bull had been slaughtered, they brought the boy to Eli.

I prayed for this boy, and the Lord has given me the request that I asked of him.

Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord. The boy was dressed in a linen ephod.

Now the boy Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the Lord and with people.

The next morning Jonathan, along with a young servant, went out to the field to meet David.

(Now the servant did not understand any of this. Only Jonathan and David knew what was going on.)

So David’s servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in David’s name. Then they paused.

So David’s servants went on their way. When they had returned, they came and told David all these things.

and said to her servants, “Go on ahead of me. I will come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

Now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord.

David replied, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it.

When I send a boy after them, I will say, “Go and find the arrows.” If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them,’ then come back. For as surely as the Lord lives, you will be safe and there will no problem.

Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. Please provide us – your servants and your son David – with whatever you can spare.”

but Hannah did not go up with them. Instead she told her husband, “Once the boy is weaned, I will bring him and appear before the Lord, and he will remain there from then on.”