Young Samuel, the Slaughter Dispute, and Eli's Pardon

"And the lad was a lad" (1 Samuel 1:24) — two years old, as it is written, "Even a child is known by his doings" (Proverbs 20:11). Samuel came and found them standing over their sacrifices. He said to them: Why do you not slaughter? They said to him: We are waiting for the priest to come, as it is written, "And he shall slaughter the bullock before the Lord" (Leviticus 1:5). He said to them: Stand up and slaughter! Have we not learned thus, that slaughter is valid when performed by laymen, by women, and by slaves, even with respect to the most holy offerings? When Eli came and found that they had slaughtered, he said to them: Who permitted you the slaughter? They said to him: A certain lad. He said to them: Bring him. This is what is written, "And they slaughtered the bullock, and brought the child to Eli" (1 Samuel 1:25). He sought to punish him. His mother came and prostrated herself at his feet. This is what is written, "And she said: Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord" (1 Samuel 1:26). He said to her: Did I not pray, and you are standing? He said to her: Let him die, and I will pray and another will come. She said: "For this lad I prayed" (1 Samuel 1:27). From this one and from that one — he is neither mine nor yours. "And I also have lent him to the Lord; he is lent to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:28). At that moment the Holy Spirit sparkled within her: all the days that Samuel exists, Saul will exist.