Tuesday 7 November

1 Samuel 3:1-21

Where is Samuel when the Lord first speaks to him? What time is it? Why does Samuel not recognize who is speaking to him? Why do you think Eli doesn't initially recognize who is speaking to Samuel? How does Eli advise Samuel to answer God? Do you notice something unusual about the Lord's final call? What will God do to the house of Eli? Why is Samuel a bit reluctant to tell Eli what God has said? How does Eli react to the message? What reputation does Samuel get in Israel?

4:1-11

Who are the main military opponents of Israel at this time? How many Israelites get killed at Ebenezer? Why do the elders want to take the Ark into battle? Who takes the Ark from Shiloh? How do the Israelites react to seeing the Ark? How do the Philistines react to all the noise? Who wins the battle this time? What happens to the Ark? What happens to Hophni and Phineas?

4:12-22

Who brings news of the battle to Shiloh? Where is Eli? How old is he? How does he react to the news? What is most distressing to him? Who has a baby at this time? What does she name the child? Why? What does Ichabod mean?

5:1-12

Where do the Philistines take the Ark? Where do they put it? What happens to the idol of Dagon? What happens the next morning? What do the Philistines do next? Then what happens? What happens to the people at Ashdod? Why? What do they do with the Ark next? What happens there? What happens when they go to move it again? What do the Philistines want to do with the Ark now?

6:1-9

How long do the Philistines have the Ark? When they go to send it back, what do they send with it? Why? What lesson do the diviners say the Philistines should have learned from the Egyptians? How will the Ark be carried back to Israel? What superstitious test will they use?