<p class="bodytext">There was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. So whenever Saul saw anyone who was a warrior or a brave individual, he would conscript him.p>

You will see trouble in my dwelling place!<n id="1" /> Israel will experience blessings,<n id="2" /> but there will not be an old man in your<n id="3" /> house for all time.<n id="4" />

<p class="bodytext">But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, &#8220;The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Samuel said to all Israel, &#8220;I have done<n id="1" /> everything you requested.<n id="2" /> I have given you a king.<n id="3" />

So Samuel led<n id="1" /> Israel all the days of his life.

<p class="bodytext">So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.

Now David achieved success in all he did,<n id="1" /> for the <sc>Lordsc> was with him.

Then Samuel said to all the people, &#8220;Do you see the one whom the <sc>Lordsc> has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!&#8221; All the people shouted out, &#8220;Long live the king!&#8221;p>

All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented<n id="1" /> gathered around<n id="2" /> him, and he became their leader. He had about four hundred men with him.p>

Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he used to give meat portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

<t /><p class="bodytext">This man Elkanah went up with all his family to make the yearly sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc> and to keep his vow,

Samuel continued to grow, and the <sc>Lordsc> was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled.<n id="1" />

All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the <sc>Lordsc>.

<p class="bodytext">Then Samuel said, &#8220;Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the <sc>Lordsc> on your behalf.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">So Samuel spoke all the words of the <sc>Lordsc> to the people who were asking him for a king.

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us<n id="1" /> and fight our battles.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.

<p class="bodytext">So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all.

The men of Jabesh said, &#8220;Tomorrow we will come out to you<n id="1" /> and you can do with us whatever you wish.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>