Israel Smitten Before the Philistines

Having called Samuel and revealed to him the doom of Eli's house, "the Lord appeared again in Shiloh," so we read, "for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord." As was pointed out, this statement closes the third chapter. The narrative continues at chapter 4:1 as follows, "And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. . . A It is evident, as already has been observed, that here the narrative flows on in unbroken continuity. The word of Samuel that came to all Israel...