After the record of the miraculous birth of Samuel in chapter one and the praiseful prayer of Hannah in chapter two (1 Samuel 2:1-10), we are introduced to the spiritual famine of this time – which is still the time of the judges.
Adonijah desires to usurp the throne of David, but the throne was to be Solomon's. Adonijah received news that Solomon had been anointed and he ran for his life.
2 Samuel 17:14 stated that the Lord intended to bring evil upon Absalom and it comes to pass in this chapter. The proud one is caught by his head in an oak tree and is killed by Joab’s young armor bearers.
What a difference we see between Saul and David. One impressed men by his exterior appearance; the other impressed God by the condition of his heart.
God is a just God who will and does judge sin. Eli is a perfect example that God will judge just as He has said He will.
