LESSON 37

Jehovah Speaks to Samuel

Jehovah Speaks to Samuel

High Priest Eli had two sons who served as priests at the tabernacle. Their names were Hophni and Phinehas. They did not obey Jehovah’s laws, and they treated the people very badly. When the Israelites brought sacrifices for Jehovah, Hophni and Phinehas would take the best meat for themselves. Eli heard about what his sons were doing, but he did nothing about it. Would Jehovah let this keep happening?

Although Samuel was much younger than Hophni and Phinehas, he did not imitate them. Jehovah was pleased with Samuel. One night while he was sleeping, Samuel heard a voice call his name. He got up, ran to Eli, and said: ‘Here I am!’ But Eli said: ‘I did not call you. Go back to sleep.’ Samuel went back to bed. Then it happened again. When Samuel heard the voice a third time, Eli realized that it was Jehovah who was calling Samuel. He told Samuel that if he heard the voice again, he should say: ‘Speak, Jehovah. Your servant is listening.’

Samuel went back to bed. Then he heard: ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ He answered: ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ Jehovah  told him: ‘Tell Eli that I am going to punish him and his family. He knows that his sons are doing bad things in my tabernacle, but he does nothing about it.’ The next morning Samuel opened the doors to the tabernacle, as he always did. He was afraid to tell the high priest what Jehovah had said. But Eli called for him and asked: ‘My son, what did Jehovah say to you? Tell me everything.’ So Samuel told Eli everything.

As Samuel grew up, Jehovah continued to be with him. From one end of the land to the other, all the Israelites knew that Jehovah had chosen Samuel to be a prophet and a judge.

“Remember, then, your Grand Creator in the days of your youth.”​—Ecclesiastes 12:1

 IRUẸMWI 37

E Jehova Keghi Gu E Samuẹl Guan

E Jehova Keghi Gu E Samuẹl Guan

Elai ghaa mwẹ emọ ikpia eva ni vbe gha ga zẹvbe ohẹn vbe ibọkpọ ọghe ugamwẹ. Eni iran ọre Hofnai kevbe Finihaz. Iran ma gha lele uhi ọghe Jehova, iran na vbe gha ya obọ dan mu emwa. Ivbi Izrẹl gha do ya aranmwẹ ru izọese gie Jehova, e Hofnai kevbe Finihaz ghi rri abọ nọ maan sẹ vbọ. Vbe Elai ghi họn vbekpae orukhọ ne ivbi ẹre ru, ọ ma gbe iran hin ọkhọ rre. E Jehova gha kue ne ọna wa gha sunu khian ra?

Agharhemiẹn wẹẹ, ọvbokhan kherhe ẹre Samuẹl ghaa khin vbe ehe ne Hofnai vbe Finihaz ye, ọ ma yegbe taa iran. E Jehova keghi hoẹmwẹ e Samuẹl. E Samuẹl ghi vbiẹ vbe asọn ọkpa, ọ keghi họn vbe ọmwa tie eni ẹnrẹn. Ẹre ọ na kpaegbe rhulẹ bu Elai ya tama rẹn wẹẹ: ‘Ghee mwẹ mwa!’ Sokpan Elai keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ: ‘I ma tie ruẹ. Ya lovbiẹ.’ E Samuẹl na ya lovbiẹ. E Samuẹl na werriegbe họn urhu nii igbava. Vbe Samuẹl ghi bu Elai vbe nogieha, Elai na ghi rẹn wẹẹ e Jehova ẹre ọ tie ẹre na. Ẹre Elai na ghi tama e Samuẹl wẹẹ, deghẹ ọ na ghi werriegbe họn urhu nii, ne ọ wanniẹn ọnrẹn wẹẹ: ‘Ghee mwẹ mwa e Jehova. Mẹ ne ọguọmwadia ruẹ danmwehọ ruẹ.’

E Samuẹl na werriegbe ya lovbiẹ. Ẹre ọ na werriegbe họn vbe ọmwa tie ẹre wẹẹ: ‘Samuẹl! Samuẹl!’ Ẹre Samuẹl na ghi wanniẹn wẹẹ: ‘Ghee mwẹ  mwa. Mẹ ne ọguọmwadia ruẹ danmwehọ ruẹ.’ E Jehova na ghi tama rẹn wẹẹ: ‘Tama Elai wẹẹ te I khian rri irẹn vbe ẹgbẹe ọre oya. Ọ rẹnrẹn wẹẹ emwi ne ivbi irẹn ru vbe ibọkpọ mwẹ i maan, sokpan ọ ma sẹtin dia iran.’ Ẹdẹ ghi gbe, e Samuẹl na ya kie urho ọghe ibọkpọ zẹvbe ne ọ ka ruẹ. Ohan ma gi ẹre tama Elai uhunmwu ne Jehova gie ẹre. Sokpan Elai keghi tama rẹn wẹẹ: ‘Ovbimwẹ, tama mwẹ emwi hia ne Jehova tama ruẹ.’ Ẹre Samuẹl na ghi ta emwi hia ma Elai.

Vbene Samuẹl ya gha waan, erriọ e Jehova ya gha ru iyobọ nẹ. Emwa hia ni ghaa rrọọ vbe ẹghẹ nii keghi rẹn wẹẹ, e Samuẹl ẹre Jehova zẹ nọ gha re akhasẹ kevbe ọbuohiẹn.

“Yee Ayi ne ọ yii ruẹ rre vbe ne u he na re ọvbokhan na.”—Asan-Ibo 12:1