How we cite our quotes:
Quote #1
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. {continued...: Heb. multiplied to pray} Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. {of a sorrowful...: Heb. hard of spirit} Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. {complaint: or, meditation} Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. (1 Samuel 1:12-17, KJV)
As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, "How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine." But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time." Then Eli answered, "Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him." (1 Samuel 1:12-17, NRSV)
When the priest Eli sees Hannah praying, he thinks that she's drunk. Her lips are moving, but he doesn't hear her speaking. Eli jumps to the conclusion she's wasted, but he's dead wrong. Throughout the book of 1 Samuel, God will continually show that things are not always as they appear. If we only look at the outside of a person, we may get the wrong idea about them.
Quote #2
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. (1 Samuel 9:2, KJV)
He had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else. (1 Samuel 9:2, NRSV)
Several times in the book of Samuel, we hear about the supreme awesomeness of Saul. Apparently, he was a good-looking guy. Plus, he was very tall. Too bad basketball hadn't been invented yet. Saul looks like someone who should be king. Based solely on outward appearance, the people will think that he will be a good ruler. Unfortunately, looks aren't always what they're cracked up to be.
Quote #3
And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. {God...: Heb. Let the king live}. (1 Samuel 10:24, KJV)
Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the one whom the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!." (1 Samuel 10:24, NRSV)
Even Samuel is fooled by Saul's good looks and height. He tells people that there is no one else among them like Saul. He's taller than they are, so he should rule over them, right? Totally logical. The people are easily convinced, and they accept him as their king. But looks can be deceiving. Beneath Saul's handsome face and tall stature, there's a troubled man who proves incapable of effectively leading Israel.