So the Lord graciously attended to Hannah, and she was able to conceive and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew up at the Lord’s sanctuary.

Why are you scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel.’

You will see trouble in my dwelling place! Israel will experience blessings, but there will not be an old man in your house for all time.

Now the boy Samuel continued serving the Lord under Eli’s supervision. Word from the Lord was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent.

On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I spoke about his house – from start to finish!

So Samuel told him everything. He did not hold back anything from him. Eli said, “The Lord will do what he pleases.”

Too bad for us! Who can deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues in the desert!

When Eli heard the outcry, he said, “What is this commotion?” The man quickly came and told Eli.

So the men did as instructed. They took two cows that had calves and harnessed them to a cart; they also removed their calves to their stalls.

Then the men of Israel left Mizpah and chased the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car.

Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built an altar to the Lord there.

He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot.

In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.”

They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place.

When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “Here is the man that I told you about! He will rule over my people.”

As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

Then Samuel took a small container of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head. Samuel kissed him and said, “The Lord has chosen you to lead his people Israel! You will rule over the Lord’s people and you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the Lord has chosen you as leader over his inheritance.

Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” Saul replied, “To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel.”

Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found.

When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly.