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in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice,

I also will not henceforth drive out any more from before them from the nations which Joshua left when he died: that through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord, to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

Now these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them (even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; only that the generations of the children of Israel might know to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof:)

Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon unto the enter ing in of Hamath.

And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Now the names of the judges whom the Lord raised up to deliver Israel, were these:

Othniel who delivered them out of the hands of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia, whom they served eight years. Ehud, who saved them from Eglon king of Moab, who kept them in subjection eighteen years.

Shamgar, who obtained a great victory over the Philistines. Deborah and Barak, who delivered them from

Jabin king of Canaan, and Sisera the captain of his host, who mightily oppressed Israel.

Gideon, who delivered them from the Midianites, who so oppressed them, and destroyed their land, that they fled to caves and dens, and strong holds, to hide themselves from them.

Tola, who judged Israel twenty and three years. Jair, who judged them twenty and two years. Jephthah, who delivered them from the Ammonites.

Samson, the strongest man that ever lived, who began to deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines. Eli, who was both judge and high priest. Samuel, who was both judge and prophet.

LESSON LXXVIII. 1SAMUEL, CHAP. I.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship, and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions. But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but she had no child. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

And Hannah vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord; I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drank neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial; for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house to Ramah and the Lord remembered Hannah, and she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up: for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good: tarry until thou hast weaned him; only the Lord establish his word.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh; and the child was young.

And they slew a bullock and brought the child to Eli: And she said, O my lord; as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.

For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.

LESSON LXXIX. 1 SAMUEL, CHAP. II.

AND Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord! my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee; neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath borne seven and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail

And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house, and the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial: they knew not the Lord. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord; for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.

But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover, his mother made him a little coat and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home.

And the Lord visited Hannali so that she had three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did.

*And he said unto them, Why do you such things? for I hear of your evil doings by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear; ye make the Lord's people to transgress.

If one man sin against another the judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not to the voice of their father.

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord and also with men.

And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house?

And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice, and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy fathers, should walk before me for ever: But now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed..

Behold, the days come that I will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

And the man of thine whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.

And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon

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