When the two of them had made a covenant before the <sc>Lordsc>, David stayed on at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then David said to Abigail, &#8220;Praised<n id="1" /> be the <sc>Lord,sc> the God of Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me!

<p class="bodytext">Samuel said, &#8220;Why are you asking me, now that the <sc>Lordsc> has turned away from you and has become your enemy?

<p class="bodytext">Year after year<n id="1" /> this man would go up from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the <sc>Lordsc> of hosts at Shiloh. It was there that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, served as the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s priests.

She made a vow saying, &#8220;O <sc>Lordsc> of hosts, if you will look with compassion<n id="1" /> on the suffering of your female servant,<n id="2" /> remembering me and not forgetting your servant, and give a male child<n id="3" /> to your servant, then I will dedicate him to the <sc>Lordsc> all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife saying, &#8220;May the <sc>Lordsc> raise up for you descendants<n id="1" /> from this woman to replace the one that she<n id="2" /> dedicated to the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221; Then they would go to their<n id="3" /> home.

If a man sins against a man, one may appeal to God on his behalf. But if a man sins against the <sc>Lordsc>, who then will intercede for him?&#8221; But Eli&#8217;s sons<n id="1" /> would not listen to their father, for the <sc>Lordsc> had decided<n id="2" /> to kill them.p>

<p class="bodytext">Therefore the <sc>Lordsc>, the God of Israel, says, &#8216;I really did say<n id="1" /> that your house and your ancestor&#8217;s house would serve<n id="2" /> me forever.&#8217; But now the <sc>Lordsc> says, &#8216;May it never be!<n id="3" /> For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed!

Then the <sc>Lordsc> called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, &#8220;Here I am, for you called me!&#8221; Eli then realized that it was the <sc>Lordsc> who was calling the boy.

<p class="bodytext">When the army<n id="1" /> came back to the camp, the elders of Israel said, &#8220;Why did the <sc>Lordsc> let us be defeated today by<n id="2" /> the Philistines? Let&#8217;s take with us the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc> from Shiloh. When it is with us, it will save us<n id="3" /> from the hand of our enemies.p>

The Levites took down the ark of the <sc>Lordsc> and the chest that was with it, which contained the gold objects. They placed them near the big stone. At that time the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the <sc>Lordsc>.

<p class="bodytext">But the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> struck down some of the people of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>; he struck down 50,070<n id="2" /> of the men. The people grieved because the <sc>Lordsc> had struck the people with a hard blow.

<p class="bodytext">Then the people<n id="1" /> of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark of the <sc>Lord;sc> they brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

Samuel said to all the people of Israel, &#8220;If you are really turning to the <sc>Lordsc> with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth.<n id="1" /> Give your hearts to the <sc>Lordsc> and serve only him. Then he will deliver you<n id="2" /> from the hand of the Philistines.&#8221;

After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the <sc>Lordsc>. They fasted on that day, and they confessed<n id="1" /> there, &#8220;We have sinned against the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221; So Samuel led<n id="2" /> the people of Israel at Mizpah.p>

So all the people went to Gilgal, where<n id="1" /> they established Saul as king in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s presence. They offered up peace offerings there in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s presence. Saul and all the Israelites were very happy.p>

When Jacob entered Egypt, your ancestors cried out to the <sc>Lordsc>. The <sc>Lordsc> sent Moses and Aaron, and they led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.p>

Then they cried out to the <sc>Lordsc> and admitted,<n id="1" /> &#8216;We have sinned, for we have forsaken the <sc>Lordsc> and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth.<n id="2" /> Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.&#8217;<n id="3" />

Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the <sc>Lordsc> so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the <sc>Lordsc> by asking for a king for yourselves.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Samuel said to the people, &#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid. You have indeed sinned.<n id="1" /> However, don&#8217;t turn aside from the <sc>Lordsc>. Serve the <sc>Lordsc> with all your heart.