Samuel grew up with Eli the priest. He grew stronger and wiser each year.

God blessed his parents with many more children. They visited Samuel at the feast every year.

When his mother, Hannah, came to visit, they always brought Samuel a brand new robe. When Samuel worshipped God with Eli in the temple, Samuel always wore his little robe.

Eli the priest had grown up sons but they acted very, very bad. These sons did not want to do what was right. They stole, and they lied, and made God very sad.

But Samuel worshipped God. He always tried to do what was right. Samuel obeyed Eli and obeyed God’s laws. Samuel worshipped God by choosing to do what was right.

A prophet came to Eli the priest to give him a message from God. 'Eli!' The man said, 'Your sons make God so sad. They hurt the people, steal, and go where they don’t belong. You must correct them from doing all these wrongs! If you don’t, God must punish them because

But, Eli’s sons did not worship God. They kept acting very, very bad. They kept on choosing not to do what was right. Eli’s sons made God so very sad.

Samuel’s heart was very tender. Samuel kept worshiping God. Samuel’s love for God grew bigger and bigger. God loved Samuel and Samuel loved God.

God called to Samuel while he was sleeping. Samuel thought it was Eli calling to him, so he asked Eli what he needed. Eli said, 'Samuel, go back to sleep! What needs to be done will keep.'

Again, God called Samuel while he was sleeping. Samuel ran to Eli asking what he needed. Eli said, 'Samuel, go back to sleep! What needs to be done will keep.'

A third time God called Samuel while he was sleeping. Samuel ran to Eli asking what he needed. Eli said, 'Samuel, it is God who is speaking! Next time, tell God, 'I am here, I will listen."'

Again, God called Samuel while he was sleeping. Samuel said, 'Yes God, I am here, I will listen!' God said, 'Tell Eli his sons are doing evil. He must correct them from doing wrong, or they will die because they hurt My people.'

The next morning Eli asked the boy what God had said. With tears Samuel told Eli about his sons doing evil. He must correct them from doing wrong, or they will die because they hurt God’s people.

But, Eli did not correct his sons, and his heart was filled with dread. One day a message came from the battlefield, both of Eli’s sons were dead. When Eli heard the terrible news, he cried so hard that he fell off his chair! Eli died the same day as his sons. Samuel cried and prayed a prayer.

God made Samuel the priest at the Temple. Samuel worshiped God and tried to do what was right. He obeyed God’s laws and blessed God’s people by acting right.

Kish, the Benjamite, had a son named Saul. Saul was so handsome, bright, and very, very tall!

Kish’s prized donkeys got lost. He told Saul to search the grounds. 'Take my servant and find my donkeys. They could get hurt, they must be found!'

Saul and the servant searched the grounds. They looked high and low, but the donkeys couldn’t be found. Saul told the servant, 'We’d better head home or Father will worry, so we better scurry.'

The servant told Saul, 'The prophet Samuel lives near. Let’s visit him. He listens to God and will tell us what he hears. We will ask him where the donkeys can be found. Then, we can bring the donkeys back home, safe and sound

So they looked for a while and saw some girls at a well. Saul asked, “Is the prophet nearby?” 'Yes, he is', the girls replied. 'He is in the town for the sacrifice and the people are waiting. He will feast with the people and give us God’s blessing.

‘Hello Saul, I am Samuel the priest. God told me you would come. Let’s both go to the feast. Your father’s donkeys got lost, you searched the grounds, but your donkeys are already home, they have been found

God spoke to Samuel that Saul would be king. But Samuel knew that Saul was tired. So, they sat down and ate at the feast. Tomorrow Samuel will tell Saul that he will be king. As the first king of Israel God’s hope he will bring