Perek Summary
Shmeul Aleph 1 – Man called Elkanah has 2 wives; Chanah and Peninah. Chanah has no kids and is mocked by Peninah. Chanah, when they would go up to the mishkan (Shilo), davens hard for a child (a lot of the halachos of tefillah are learnt from Chanah here). She promises that if she had a child it would be given to HaShem as a nazir to work in the mishkan. She gives birth and fulfils her promose in giving th child to the kohen (Eli) in Shilo.
Shmuel Aleph 2 – Chana’s prayer of thanks. Eli’s sons seem to use service of korbanos for personal gain and wealth in accepting bribes. Chana gives birth to another 3 boys and 2 girls. An angel warns Eli about his sons’ behaviour.
Shmuel Aleph 3 – Shmuel receives prophecy about Eli and his sons’ downfall and reluctantly relates it to Eli. Shmuel’s fame as a trustworthy prophet spreads across the land.
