One night, while the lamp in the Tabernacle was burning, and Eli was resting, Samuel was sleeping.  A voice came to him calling, “Samuel!” He rose, and ran to Eli saying, “Here am I.”  But Eli had not called, so Samuel lay down again.  A second time the same voice called, “Samuel!” He went to Eli and said, “Here am I; for thou didst call me.”  But Eli replied, “I called not, my son; lie down again.”  The call was repeated a third time; then Eli told Samuel it was the Lord who called him; and bade him answer if the voice came again, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.”  Again God called, and Samuel answered as Eli had commanded him.  Then God told Samuel what terrible things should befall Eli and his sons through their wickedness.

[Illustration:  Samuel coming to Eli.]

DEATH OF ELI AND HIS SONS.

In the morning Samuel feared to tell Eli what the Lord had shown him; but Eli bade him do so, saying to Samuel, “God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all that He said unto thee.”  So Samuel told Eli all God had said, keeping nothing back, and Eli answered, “It is the Lord:  let Him do what seemeth Him good.”

Afterwards there was war between the Israelites and the Philistines, and both sides prepared for battle.  They fought; the Israelites were defeated, and many of them slain.  Then they sent to Shiloh and fetched the ark of the covenant out of the Tabernacle, carrying it to the camp, and thinking that if the ark were with them they would overcome their enemies.  But the ark only signified God’s presence in their midst; it was not God Himself, to give them victory.  It was very sinful of them thus to use what God had made so holy; and God suffered them again to be defeated.  The ark was taken by the Philistines, and many of the Israelites were slain.

Eli, who was then ninety-eight years old, and nearly blind, sat by the wayside, trembling for the safety of the ark, and waiting for messengers to bring news of the battle.  Presently a messenger came who told him the Israelites had fled before the Philistines, that his two sons Hophni and Phinehas were slain, and that the ark of God had been taken.  When he heard that the ark had been taken, he fell backward from off his seat and died.  Thus God’s judgment upon Eli and his sons came to pass.  In our picture we see the messenger, who has just come from the field of battle, telling Eli the sad tidings that caused his death.

[Illustration:  Eli receiving the evil tidings.]

PLAYING ON THE HARP BEFORE SAUL.

We are not told much in the Bible concerning the early life of David.  He was born in Bethlehem.  We have seen who his father was, but I do not find that his mother’s name is given.  His own name means “beloved.”  What a happy name!  He must have been much loved by his parents, and we know he was loved by God.