197 (§60). How did Samuel do as Eli had told him? Note that God tells the boy that a great punishment will come upon Eli's family. How was Eli to blame for the wickedness of his sons?
198 (§60). What did Samuel do as soon as he got up in the morning? What does this show us regarding his duties? What did he think about the vision? But old Eli knew that there was something very important that had happened. Tell in your own words the conversation between them. Note that the poor old man can simply say that he must bear what comes upon him. What do you think of Eli?
199 (§61A). With whom did Israel go to war? Locate the country of these enemies on the map. How did the battle come out? The people thought that if they could have the ark with them they could conquer. They thought the Lord would fight for them. Where did they go to get the ark? Who were with the ark?
200 (§61A). When the two priests brought the ark to the camp, what happened? What effect did this have upon the Philistines? What was the result? What happened to the two priests? What happened to the ark?
201 (§61B). When a Hebrew felt very sad he covered his head with dust and tore his dress. Tell the story of how the news of the defeat was brought to Eli. How old was the priest? What was he doing? Why did he care so much about the ark of God? What happened to him? Eli was a noble man himself, but could he not have done better for Israel than he did? Remember that young Samuel was growing up while these things were going on.
WRITTEN REVIEW
Think of what paragraph 196 means to you. It is at Samuel's age that most young people come into the full membership of the church. Write what you think that means.