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[341]
I will first despatch what I have to say about the prophet Samuel,
and after that will proceed to speak of the sons of Eli, and the miseries
they brought on the whole people of the Hebrews. Elcanah, a Levite, one
of a middle condition among his fellow citizens, and one that dwelt at
Ramathaim, a city of the tribe of Ephraim, married two wives, Hannah and
Peninnah. He had children by the latter; but he loved the other best, although
she was barren. Now Elcanah came with his wives to the city Shiloh to sacrifice,
for there it was that the tabernacle of God was fixed, as we have formerly
said. Now when, after he had sacrificed, he distributed at that festival
portions of the flesh to his wives and children, and when Hannah saw the
other wife's children sitting round about their mother, she fell into tears,
and lamented herself on account of her barrenness and lonesomeness; and
suffering her grief to prevail over her husband's consolations to her,
she went to the tabernacle to beseech God to give her seed, and to make
her a mother; and to vow to consecrate the first son she should bear to
the service of God, and this in such a way, that his manner of living should
not be like that of ordinary men. And as she continued at her prayers a
long time, Eli, the high priest, for he sat there before the tabernacle,
bid her go away, thinking she had been disordered with wine; but when she
said she had drank water, but was in sorrow for want of children, and was
beseeching God for them, he bid her be of good cheer, and told her that
God would send her children.
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