PEV ▾1 Samuel1 Samuel 22sons both looked after God’s ceremonies, but they were no good. They didn’t respect God.3boys and11After that, Elkanah and his family went home to Ramah. Samuel stayed at Shiloh, and there Eli taught him the way to work for God.12Eli’s13If somebody gave meat to God, those14The worker used to come with a big fork and stick it into the cooking pot to stab some meat. Some bits of meat got stuck on the fork, and that meat was like pay for that ceremony man. Maybe the worker got lots of meat on the fork, maybe a little bit. All the Israel mob used to go to Shiloh to give meat to God. Those15But that was not the right way to do it. They should burn the fat in the fire first. But those16That man might answer, “Wait for me to burn the fat first. Then you can get the meat.” But the worker said, “No. Give it to me right now, or I will just take it from you.”17So Eli’s18The boy Samuel worked for God. He wore special clothes like those of a man that looked after God’s ceremonies.19Every year Hannah went to Shiloh with her husband to burn meat for God, and every year she took a new coat to Samuel.20Eli used to pray to God for Elkanah and Hannah like this, “God, you gave this woman a boy, just as she asked, and she gave him back to you. So give them other kids now instead of him.” Then they used to go back home.21And God was really good to Hannah. After that, she had some other kids. She had22Eli became a really old man. He heard that his23Eli said to his24My sons, stop it. Lots of God’s people talk about you. That bad news is everywhere.25You know, if a man does wrong to another, somebody can ask God not to punish him. But if a man does wrong to God himself, nobody can ask God not to punish him.” But his sons didn’t listen to him. You see, God already made up his mind to kill them.26But the boy Samuel was growing up the right way. God loved him and so did everybody else. (We have not yet translated 2:27-36.)1 Samuel 11 Samuel 3