Page 189 - Bible History

God lls uel
162 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE ENTER THE PRO ISED LAND
stood before thee here, praying to the Lord. For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath gra ed my peti­ tion. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord all the days of his life.''
Then Elcana and Anna returned to their home, but the child was left behind in the care of the high priest. He was called Samuel, and he grew up in the Taber­ nacle. He learned all about the divine services and how to minister to Heli.
Among the priests who took part in the divine wor­ ship in the Tabernacle were the two sons of Heli, whose names were Ophni and Phinees. They were wicked men. They robbed the people who came to o er sacri­ ce. They used their holy o ce to make themselves rich. Heli knew of the wickedness of his sons, but, though he reproved them from time to time, he did not drive them out of the Tabernacle and punish them as they deserved to be punished. For this reason, God was displeased with Heli.
One night while Heli and Samuel were sleeping in the Tabernacle, the boy heard a voice calling ''Samuelr Samuel.'' The boy rose, ran to Heli, and said, ''Here I am, for thou didst call me.'' But Heli said to Samuel, ''I did not call. Go back and sleep.'' A sec­ ond time the voice called, and again Samuel ran to Heli, thinking it was the high priest who had called him. Heli said to Samuel, ''If the voice calleth again, say: 'Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.' '' When Samuel heard the voice calling him the third time, he said, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth." Then the Lord spoke to Samuel and told him of the punish-